Family Halloween

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Tiffany Kenney

A group of kids in Halloween costumes.

Revelers at a past Downtown Madison Family Halloween event.

media release: An afternoon of Halloween family fun and free/low cost activities for kids 12 and under! Trick-or-Treat at 60+ Downtown Locations and spend time visiting YOUR City. This event is presented by Madison's Central Business Improvement District.

Our candy partner - IT'SUGAR - is located downtown at 542 State Street.

All activities are from 3:00 - 6:00 pm, free, and include trick-or-treating unless otherwise noted.

Stick around after the event for a FREE showing of Coco in partnership with Madison Parks! Find the movie in the Forum (100 State St) at 6pm.

A link to the digital map will be provided at https://www.facebook.com/events/1287138075335578/.

2023 FAMILY FUN

Trick-or-Treat at more than 50 downtown locations!

Photos with Bucky Badger at 4pm at Lisa Link Peace Park (452 State St)

Giant Pumpkin photo spot - Head to Lisa Link Peace Park (452 State St) any time during the event for the best Halloween photos with our Giant Pumpkin made out of balloons!

Overture Center for the Arts & Kids in the Rotunda -

Halloween fun abounds! Head over early to trick or treat in the lobby and take part in a special Halloween coloring contest! Don’t miss TWO Kids in the Rotunda shows at 4 & 5pm with Ken Lonnquist! Ken loves Halloween and has an entire album of original songs about the season called “Pumpkenland”! He’ll be playing songs from that album about black cats, witches, zombies, pumpkins, space-aliens and more—with some of his Halloween-loving musical pals.

YOUR Downtown Movie Night: Coco - Join us at the Forum (100 State St) for a FREE showing of this fun movie, great for all ages! Movie starts at 6pm. In partnership with Madison Parks. Paired with our movie is a special craft activity - create your own Sugar Skull with Midwet Mujeres!

2023 ACTIVITIES

Looking for these stops? You can identify them in person via the listed 'Activity Stop #' below and on signs at the locations.

All activities from 3:00 - 6:00 pm, free, and include trick-or-treating unless otherwise noted.

Activity Locations Include:

Artists and Craftsman Supply - 203 W. Gorham St. - Check out their facepainting station with DIY paint and stencil designs!

Downtown Madison Visitor Center - 452 State St. - Now's your chance for a special Halloween photo with Bucky!! Special appearance by Bucky Badger from 4-5pm. Take your cutest Halloween pictures yet - with our Giant Pumpkin photo station! All day photo stop with the Giant Pumpkin!

Madison Children's Museum - 100 N. Hamilton St. - Make MCM your first stop on a hayride around the Capitol Square! Enjoy a free, family-oriented Halloween celebration for kids 12 yrs and younger in downtown Madison. Join us for free outdoor activities from 3-6 pm. Break ou t your best costume for playtime, trick-or-treating, and hands-on brains with UW Neuroscience in the Wonderground (rain or shine, entrance on Dayton Street.) Then head up to Rotary Plaza for some hands-on fort building with MCM Roadshow (weather permitting). This event is free to the public, no ticket required!

Madison Museum of Contemporary Art - 227 State St. - Join us for Halloween-themed crafts and art-making activities inspired by works on view at the museum! Families are invited to explore the Federico Uribe: Metamorphosis exhibition on the first floor and enjoy treats in the lobby from 3-6pm. (Admission to MMoCA is always free.)

Madison Parks - Madison Parks has a fun stop planned for you! Enjoy a tractor hayride around the Capitol Square. Rides leave approximately every 20 minutes; two hay wagons will be running at the event. ($3.00/person, children 2 and under are free, no reservations required.) Candy spot too!

Madison Police Department - Outside at “The Grove” at the Top of State - Join Neighborhood Officers at Trunk or Treat! Officers will decorate a squad car and have plenty of free swag to hand out. Get your own junior officer badge!

Madison Public Library - 201 W. Mifflin St. – Wand Making Station - Let Madison Public Library make your downtown Halloween a little bit more magical by stopping by our Wand Making station at Madison Public Library's Central Library ! Stop by the children's desk at the lower level of the library for a sweet treat and take a minute to craft a glittery, sparkly, spooky, or even light up wand to go with your costume.

Madison Reading Project - Outside at “The Forum” at the Top of State - Come aboard the Big Red Reading Bus and select a free book!

Madison Senior Center - 330 W. Mifflin St. - Visit the Madison Senior Center for candy and some fun games! While you're there, take advantage of their Halloween photo booth!

Wisconsin Historical Museum – Outside at “The Grove” at Top of State.

2023 Trick-or-Treat Stops

• Anthology - 230 State St. Stop 1
• Art Gecko - 510 State St.
• Atmosphere Madison – 644 State St.
• Best Western Premier Park Hotel & The Post – 22 S. Carroll St.
• Black Men Coalition of Dane county – 5 N. Pinckney St.
• Boulder’s Climbing Gym – 129 S. Carroll St.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County
• Chase Bank - 22 E. Mifflin St.
• Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream – 468 State St. - Don't miss this spooktacular trick-or-treat stop where you'll get free mini cones during the event!
• City of Madison Clerk’s Office – 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
• The Cooper’s Tavern - 20 W. Mifflin St.
• Destination Madison - 22 E. Mifflin St. Suite 200
• Facial Collective – 426 W. Gilman St.
• Fair Trade Coffee House - 418 State St.
• Fjallraven - 559 State St.
• Fontana Sports Specialties - 216 N. Henry St.
• Good News Ice Cream – 117 King St.
• Goodman’s Jewelers - 220 State St.
• Hawk's Bar and Grill - 425 State St.
• Ian’s Pizza - 100 State St.
• IT'SUGAR - 542 State St. - Proud Candy Partner
• Jalisco Cocina Mexicana – 108 King St.
• Jewelers on State Street – 550 State St.
• JustVeggiez – 540 State St.
• Kilwins - 208 State St.
• Lake City Books – 107 N. Hamilton St.
• Little Luxuries - 230 State St. Stop 2
• Los Gemelos Restaurant - 244 W. Gilman St.
• Lucille - 101 King St.
• Mad Seafood Boiler - 201 W. Gorham St.
• Merchant - 121 S. Pinckney St.
• Michelangelo’s Coffee House – 114 State St.
• Mimosa Books & Gifts – 409 State St.
• Mochi - 631 State St.
• Mohs, Widder, Paradise LLC - 20 N. Carroll St.
• The Old Fashioned – 23 N. Pinckney St.
• Old National Bank - 25 W. Main St.
• Orange Shoe Personal Fitness – 1 E. Main St. - Find their trick-or-treat booth on the 100 block of State St!
• Orpheum Theater – 216 State St.
• Park Bank - 33 E. Main St.
• Parthenon Gyros - 316 State St.
• Paul's Book Store - 670 State St.
• Pediatric Allergy at UW Madison - Find them on the 100 block of State St! Stop by to learn about food allergies and how your family could help with food allergy research being done here in Madison. They have a game, information, and teal pumpkins to help raise allergy awareness.
• Poke Plus Teriyaki - 615 State St.
• Progress Center for Black Women – 30 W. Mifflin St.
• Sencha Tea Bar - 224 State St.
• Short Stack Eatery – 301 W. Johnson St.
• The Soap Opera - 319 State St.
• Strategic Brand Marketing – 30 W. Mifflin St.
• Sunshine Daydream - 619 State St.
• Supra Sneakers - 224 State St. Suite 102
• The Tipsy Cow - 102 King St.
• Todofresco – 114 E. Main St.
• U.S. Bank - Retail Branch 1 S. Pinckney St., Suite 101 (U.S. Bank Plaza)
• The University Book Store - 711 State St. (Library Mall)
• The Wisconsin Veterans Museum - 30 W. Mifflin St.