It’s spring in Wisconsin, which means the weather is a rollercoaster and your coat closet is full of both heavy winter parkas and light spring jackets, just in case. You decide what to wear, and I’ll tell you about some of the great things in Madison this month to go out and experience! Deal?
🍅 The Farmers’ Market Goes Back Outside
Along with the nicer weather comes the return of the Dane County Farmers’ Market to the Capitol Square on April 11. The market will be there every Saturday through November 14, except for July 11, where it will move to Breese Stevens Field to make room for Art Fair on the Square.
📚 Physical Media Lives!
On April 18, Madison record stores will be packed for Record Store Day, with exclusive limited-edition vinyl releases and used records for sale. A week later, on April 25, a dozen Madison indie bookstores are getting together to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, with in-store parties and readings and special giveaways, including a free print by Madison artist Megan Stout featuring all 12 bookstores.
In 2024, a wheelchair racer races past the starting line while participating in the 42nd Annual Crazylegs Classic 8K race and two-mile-walk. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison)
👟 Get Those Crazy Legs Moving!
It just isn’t spring in Madison until the Crazylegs Classic, which for 44 years has brought thousands of Madisonians together to celebrate UW-Madison. This year’s race is on April 25, and includes an 8K run, an 8K wheelchair race, and a 2-mile walk through downtown and the campus.
🎭 Much Ado About Theater
Forward Theater closes out its 2025-26 season with a biggie, the world premiere of “Lady Disdain” running in the Overture Center Playhouse April 9-26. Lauren Gunderson’s comedy is an update on “Much Ado About Nothing” set in the world of romantasy audiobook narrators.
Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant of the “Stuff You Should Know” podcast are coming to the Orpheum Theater. (Stuff You Should Know)
🤔 Learn More Stuff
The “Stuff You Should Know” podcast is coming to the Orpheum Theater on April 16, as hosts Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark take an amusing deep dive into a surprise topic. They’ve recorded 2,000 episodes, but there’s always something new to learn!
🐴 Just Horsing Around
The Midwest Horse Fair returns to the Alliant Energy Center from April 17-19. It’s the largest three-day horse fair in America, with 300 clinics, seminars and educational events, over 500 vendors, and of course hundreds of horses.
