It’s December already? Yep, the holidays are upon us. On the City Cast Madison podcast today, we give you the rundown on what’s happening in Madison that you need to know about.
Here’s some more fun events for you to know about to ring in the season and finish out 2025.
🩰 Visions of Sugarplum Fairies
There’s all kinds of holiday events going on in December, including some weird and wild ones, but this is also a season to really enjoy some of the city’s finest dancers. It just isn’t the holidays without Madison Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” (Dec. 12-21) at Overture Hall, with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra bringing Tchaikovsky’s iconic score to life.
Kanopy Dance celebrates the season with “Winter Fantasia: Reimagined” (Dec. 4-7), including stagings of two stories from Scandinavian folklore and “Chalo Ramiye,” an ancient community folk dance known as “garba,” and choreographed by South Asian guest artist Udbhav Desai.
And Dance Wisconsin will stage its version of “The Nutcracker” (Dec. 20 and 21) at Wisconsin Union Theater, featuring an orchestra and vocals from the Monona Grove High School singers.
😆 Lighten Up!
Things can get a little stressful during the holidays, and going to see a comedy show is a terrific way to blow off some steam. Madison native Nate Craig, who frequently opens for Bill Burr in his arena shows, will be back home to play the Majestic Theatre (Dec. 27).
Demetri Martin will bring his deadpan absurdism to the Comedy Club on State (Dec. 12 and 13). High-energy viral sensation Michael Blaustein takes over the Orpheum Theater (Dec. 5). The great Margaret Cho will be at the Barrymore Theatre on Dec. 7. And one of my favorite comedians, Rory Scovel, will play at Atwood Music Hall on Dec. 6.
Or, catch a hilarious comedy flick with Wisconsin roots. On Dec. 4, Civic Media radio host Pete Schwaba will present a 20th anniversary screening of his comedy “The Godfather of Green Bay,” starring Lauren Holly, Thomas Lennon, and Tony Goldwyn in a mullet. And the hilarious slapstick “Hundreds of Beavers” will be back on the big screen for one night only at the Barrymore Theatre on Dec. 5.
🥳 Ring In 2026!
2025 has been a real one, but the good news is we can start looking forward to 2026! Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Madison’s basketball-loving covers band Granny Shot at the Majestic Theatre. Or head over to Lola’s Hi/Lo Lounge, where DJs Nick Nice and Fuzzy Duck will be celebrating the last 100 years of music with their “DecaDance” extravaganza.
The High Noon Saloon has Irish rock band The Kissers doing a family-friendly New Year’s show at 5 p.m. Then, after the sleepyheads have gone home to bed, Madison’s all-star funk band Wonderfunk plays Madison into the new year.
