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| What Madison's Talking About |
| | 😎 Dane County Saw a Tourism Boom in 2025 | - In 2025, 9.6 million people visited Madison and Dane County, according to a newly released report from Tourism Economics. That was a record number of visitors, up 5% from the year before. The tourists spent a total of $1.6 billion in the county.
- The record tourism was part of a statewide boom in visitors in 2025. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism said there were a record 117.9 million visits to Wisconsin last year, generating $27 billion in revenue. [WKOW, Travel Wisconsin]
| | 👷 Plan Other Routes Around Midvale and West Dayton | | | 🏢 Master Hall’s Future: Demolition or Landmark? | |
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| | | Harness the power of solar and wind energy and renewable natural gas to power your household or business. Save energy with smart devices. MGE’s optional programs help customers reduce their environmental footprint and support a more sustainable energy future as we work together toward net-zero carbon electricity. Learn more about options from your community energy company at mge.com. |
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| How to Celebrate Pride Month 2026 in Madison |
|  | Middleton Pride Festival returns this weekend with food, drink, live music and family activities. (Middleton Pride Festival) |
| June is Pride Month, and Madison is a place that has celebrated LGBTQ+ culture since the early ‘70s. The city’s biggest LGBTQ+ gathering, OutReach Magic Pride Festival, isn’t actually until August, but there are still plenty of ways to celebrate this month in Madison. | | But how queer-friendly is Madison, really? On today's episode of City Cast Madison, host Bianca Martin tackles this question with producer Jade Iseri-Ramos and Sanders Weinberg, program coordinator with the Gender and Sexuality Center at UW–Madison.
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Here are 11 ways to celebrate Pride Month in Madison.
| | | The theme of June’s Night Market on State Street and the Capitol Square is “Celebrating Madison’s LGBTQ+ Culture.” In addition to downtown retailers and food vendors, the market will feature performances by Wisconsin drag icons and Marvelous Michelle, the Bubble Lady of Madison. | | | Historian and educator Vince Tripi will lead this free workshop at Pinney Library, looking at how Milwaukee activists responded to the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and identifying strategies that can be applied to today’s community resistance efforts. | | | Madison’s LGBTQ+ theater company, StageQ, takes over the Bartell Theatre for a weekend of new play readings, one-act plays, and short scenes from new queer playwrights from across the country. | | | This family-friendly event in Stone Horse Green returns with a day of live music, food and drink, family activities, and queer-affirming businesses. | | | Atwood Music Hall will host this queer warm-weather event series, featuring live local DJs, drag kings, and more. | | | The three-day event returns to the Alliant Energy Center with queer artisans, a youth fair, a clothing swap, drag shows, and more. The Friday night event is 18+, while masks are required on Sunday. | | | Every month is Pride Month when you’re Damsel Trash, the Madison/Brooklyn queer punk duo. They’re celebrating their new album, “Battle Hymn of the Queerpublic,” at the Bur Oak in a joint album release show with fellow punkers Hey Ghost. | | | Bring your appetite and your dollar bills to the Bur Oak for this all-star lineup that includes host Bianca Lynn Breeze. Anya K Thunderkat, Bambii Banx$, Taaysty C Infiniti, and Aryiah J StKlare will be serving looks while Bur Oak serves pancakes and mimosas. | | | On the last Wednesday of every month, A Room of One’s Own hosts an open mic in its Reading Room. There are only 15 slots to perform, so get there early if you want a turn at the mic! | | | The Orpheum Theater transforms into a celebration of Madison’s LGBTQ+ community for this annual event. Get there early for “The Queen’s Court” in the lobby, featuring face painting, magic, and a pre-show soundtrack by DJ Femme Noir. | | Then enjoy a high-energy drag show curated by Bianca Lynn Breeze, grab a themed cocktail at the bar, or browse for your next queer-forward read in The Smut Room pop-up bookstore. It’s a free event, although a limited number of VIP tickets are available that include access to the Pride Pit. | | | Come to Sun Prairie West High School for an afternoon of fun events, including face painting, drag story time and a parade, with the aim of surrounding all kids with love and support. | |
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| |  | Did you know where this outdoor setup is located? (Rob Thomas / City Cast Madison) |
| ⬆️ Last Week’s Photo | | Yeah, this was a tough one. The living room setup is located in the parking lot of Next Wave Studios, a production studio on Helgesen Drive! | | 🎉 Congratulations to Gretta W.M. and Melissa S. for being the only two people to guess right!
| ⬇️ This Week’s Photo
|  | Do you know where this mural is located? (Rob Thomas / City Cast Madison) |
| Where is this sign located? A few clues:
| - It’s on the near west side
- It’s inside a restaurant
- Put your heart and “soul” into your answer!
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| | | How do you celebrate 100 years of music in Madison? You welcome more than 50 artists across five stages for two days at the Overture Center—and you make it all free! | | Madison Symphony Orchestra’s gift to the community will feature artists of all genres, including dozens of Madison area favorites, local food vendors and family activities, capped by the Madison Symphony’s Centennial Concert. This Saturday and Sunday, celebrate 100 years with your Madison Symphony. |
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📰 Extra! Extra! Did you hear the nudes...er, news about the Madison World Naked Bike Ride? The unclothed tradition will be back June 20, with hundreds of cyclists riding 12 miles to support body positivity and oppose oil dependency 🚲 |
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