Last weekend was the time when I officially accepted the change of the seasons, putting away my short-sleeved shirts and hauling out the sweaters. But along with the cardigans comes a lot of great stuff to do in November in Madison.
On the City Cast Madison podcast today, the gang shares what we’re looking forward to doing and eating this month, as well as what we’re going to do to stay cozy in November.
But one podcast isn’t enough to cover everything happening around town. Here’s some more fun things to do this November!
🎭 A Month of Musicals
It’s a busy November on the local theater scene, and for some reason we’re getting a lot of musicals this month. On the podcast I mentioned Forward Theater’s production of the hit comedy musical “Gutenberg! The Musical!,” running Nov. 6-30 in the Overture Center Playhouse.
Meanwhile, Overture Hall will host the touring Broadway production of “Some Like It Hot,” a musical adaptation of Billy Wilder’s classic movie comedy. It plays Nov. 11-16.
Opera is sort of a musical, right? Madison Opera is bringing Puccini’s “La Boheme” to the Overture Hall stage Nov. 7 and Nov. 9.
Capital City Theatre is bringing back its original musical adaptation of one of the greatest holiday movies ever, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” to the Orpheum Theater for one matinee show on Nov. 16.
🛍️ Shop ‘Til You Drop
Canny gift-givers know to get a jump on their holiday shopping early, and November offers some great ways to find something special for that person on your list. Local record stores are celebrating Record Store Day Black Friday on Nov. 28 with a bunch of exclusive releases from Bob Dylan, Talking Heads, Chappell Roan, and many more.
The 2025 Native Art Market brings over 40 Native artists to Arts + Literature Laboratory on Nov. 8, including beadwork, quilting and leatherwork. Learn more about the art at special workshops, and maybe sign up for a class yourself.
Garver Feed Mill is hosting its SAUCED Night Market on Nov. 21. Grab a beverage and peruse the wares of Wisconsin artisans while DJ Dudley Noon lays down the beats.
And get some holiday cheer at the Winter Holiday Bodega at Breese Stevens Field on Nov. 29, coinciding with Small Business Saturday. Shop local vendors, enjoy sweet holiday treats, play games, and listen to TubaChristmas blow some carols.
🍿 Classic Movies
Thanksgiving is actually the biggest movie weekend of the year, and expect theaters to be crowded for hotly-anticipated movies like “Wicked: For Good” and “Zootopia 2.”
But you can also see classic movies in Madison this month, often for free. UW Cinematheque has the Charlie Chaplin anti-fascist classic “The Great Dictator” (Nov. 8) and Charles Burnett’s poetic 1977 film “Killer of Sheep” (Nov. 21).
The Union South Marquee Theatre is showing an incredible double feature of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” and Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” (Nov. 8). And on Nov. 28 the Bartell Theatre is showing “The Wizard of Oz,” followed by “Dark Side of the Rainbow,” which syncs up the film to Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” for a trippy cinematic experience.
