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Your Guide to Madison in August 2024

Posted on July 31, 2024   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Ava Wojnowski

Ava Wojnowski

The inside of Camp Randall.

Fall is just around the corner, but here is how you can make the most of August. (Ava Wojnowski / City Cast Madison)

As students begin to make their return to campus and summer winds down, there are still a ton of events to celebrate August in Madison. Wondering where to begin? You’ve come to the right place.

🎸 Keep the Festivities Going

The Mustard Museum will host the annual celebration of National Mustard Day in downtown Middleton. With a ton of different vendors and live music, National Mustard Day is turning the town yellow! Listen up for more about the Mustard Museum.

Sugar Maple Music Festival will occur Aug. 2-3 at W.G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park. Three different stages show off various types of music, dances, workshops, and more.

The Taste of Madison will take over the Capitol Square Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. There will be more than 80 different food vendors from all around the Madison area for folks to try out and enjoy. There will also be a bunch of different musical artists.

Also, a quick shoutout to Ride the Drive which will take place Aug. 11. The community takes advantage of blocked off streets, allowing them to bike openly on the roads to different Madison parks.

✏️ Welcome Back Students

Many leases on and around the isthmus start in mid-August, which means Hippie Christmas is here! This unofficial local tradition is a time when residents put out their unwanted household items for other Madisonians to scoop up. This is a hectic time for Madison, so make sure to be prepared!

On Aug. 30, the Badger football team will be back in Camp Randall to kick off the 2024 season. (Literally.) The Badgers will play Western Michigan at 8 p.m. U Rah Rah!

☀️ Soak in the Sun

While Madison is still warm, take advantage and bike the Capital City Trail. This beautiful trail takes you along rolling hillsides and tree-covered canopies. You can get onto this trail from the Southwest Commuter Bike Path.

Rent different waterfront equipment from Outdoor UW to kick off the return to school! Or, just soak in the final days of summer in Madison. Grab a paddleboard or a kayak and head out on Lake Mendota.

Catch a Madison Mallards or Night Mares game to cap off the perfect Madison summer. The Madison Mallards will have home games on Aug. 2, 4, 5, 8, and 9. The Night Mares will have home games on Aug. 1, 3, and 6.

Support Madison’s soccer team, Forward Madison FC at Breese Stevens Field on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. They will be playing the Charlotte Independence. Can’t make that game? No worries! There’s also one on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. against Union Omaha.

The August Agenda 😎
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