City Cast Madison logo

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 😎
see more:things to do

Share article

Hey Madison

Sign up for your free daily toolkit to get the most of the city you love.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Madison's Best

See All
Madison's BestSeptember 1

What To Do in Madison in September 2026

Discover the best things to do in Madison, Wisconsin, in September 2026! From vibrant fall festivals to concerts and athletic events, pla...

A post for the theater show "Steady as She Goes" by Erica Berman. An illustration of a woman with blue flowing hair that looks like ocean waves.
Madison's BestAugust 17

Madison Artist Knocks It Out of the Park With Brewers Mural

Madison artist Emily Balsley unveils her new "Seventh Inning Stretch" mural at Fitchburg’s McKee Farms Park, inspired by her Brewers T-sh...

A woman paints a mural on a wall. The mural has a cornflower blue background and is populated with people and animals in Brewers uniforms and caps..
Madison's BestAugust 6

The Best Fish Fries in Madison

Friday fish fries are a tradition in Wisconsin, and Madison has lots of options. Here are some of our favorites, including Dexter’s Pub,...

A plate of fried fish and french fries.
Madison's BestJuly 31

Madison’s Best: Your Guide To August 2026 in Madison

Discover the best events, festivals, and activities in Madison this August 2026. Don't miss out on the ultimate summer highlights—plan yo...

The City Cast Madison team stands in front of a pop-up tent at the 2025 Magic Pride Festival.
Madison's BestJuly 17

An AC/DC Fan’s Guide to Madison

Get all the details for the AC/DC Power Up Tour at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison! Discover how to get tickets, show times, and where to...

Brian Johnson of AC/DC stands on stage with his arms extended out the side during a concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Madison's BestJuly 7

A Phish Head’s Survival Guide to Madison

Are you going to see Phish in Madison at the Kohl Center this week? Here’s what to know, from your chance to score last-minute tickets to...

A crowd of people wearing colorful t-shirts and bracelets smile at a Phish concert.
Madison's BestJuly 1

Your Guide To July 2026 in Madison

Plan your perfect July in Madison with our ultimate guide. Discover top summer events like Fete de Marquette, Maxwell Street Days, and At...

A large group of people sit at tables on a terrace overlooking the beach.
Madison's BestJune 16

How To Celebrate Juneteenth 2026 in Madison

June 19 is Juneteenth, the day that America celebrates the end of slavery. But there are events all week in Madison to commemorate the ho...

A group of people walk down the street on a sunny day in a parade celebrating Juneteenth. People in the front hold a banner that reads "June 19, 1865."

The latest in Madison

Food & DrinkSeptember 3

Where To Eat Halal in Madison

Madison’s first-ever Halal Restaurant Week runs Sept. 4-13. Discover local restaurants offering special menu options prepared in accordan...

A plate of meat and vegetables.
Madison, ExplainedAugust 31

How Voit Farm Will Transform Madison’s East Side

For 160 years, the 65-acre Voit Farm was a Madison fixture. Explore the ambitious new redevelopment plan bringing hundreds of homes, gree...

Two large blue buildings under construction.
Food & DrinkAugust 27

The Best New Restaurants in Madison

This month’s list of the area’s best new restaurants includes a new outpost for a wildly popular local pizza chain, a new sushi spot near...

A blue bowl filled with a scallop tiradito.
Madison, ExplainedAugust 24

Test Your Madison News Knowledge!

This week's news quiz dives into everything from a new downtown restaurant to a big shake-up at UW-Madison. Can you get every question ri...

Francesca Hong and David Crowley stand on stages.
Madison, ExplainedAugust 20

Uncovering the Ghosts of Madison’s Wonder Bar

Discover the history of Madison's Wonder Bar Steakhouse as neighbors fight to save the Prohibition-era mobster hangout from a developer's...

A two-story brick building with boarded up windows and ivy growing up the side was the location of Wonder Bar Steakhouse. It now sits abandoned.
Madison NewsAugust 19

UW Floats Tuition Freeze in Exchange For State Aid

The Universities of Wisconsin propose a 2027–29 tuition freeze and inflation-capped increases, conditional on a $190 million state fundin...

A UW Madison campus building - red brick with white columns.
Madison, ExplainedAugust 18

Fitchburg Took Down Flock Cameras, But Will Test Others

Fitchburg ends its Flock Safety license plate reader contract over privacy concerns, testing alternatives from Axon and Motorola despite...

A city street on a winter's day with a Flock camera attached to a pole.
Food & DrinkAugust 13

These Madison Restaurants Are Gone But Not Forgotten

We also asked our readers and listeners to share their favorite defunct Madison restaurants, and dozens of you responded. Here are some o...

A strip mall restaurant with a green-and-white sign.