Santa Cycle Rampage and SantaCon
This coming week, in events that get to your heart through your stomach.
Highlights
Wednesday, November 30
The weekly Chicago soup dinner/hunger-relief fundraiser book launch tour for the . Soups prepared by Madison chefs from Graze and L'Etoile, the Madison Club, and the Weary Traveler, as well as Leah Caplan of will be ladled up, while bread will be from Weary Traveler and Graze. Music will be provided by DJ 45 Freakout. High Noon Saloon, 701A East Washington Ave., 5:30-7:30 p.m., donations encouraged. Call 239-1804 for more info.
Saturday, December 3
The British institution known as High Tea is not well known in the States, but generally it's a late afternoon meal that's quite substantial, but for the kids. Get a taste of one at Tea & Trains, a fun benefit for the Madison Club, 5 East Wilson St., 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., $35. Call 256-6445 for more info.
Are you raging to take Christmas back from hollow commercialism and return it to the wintertime bicycling extravaganza and serious drinking Saturnalia it once was in the time of the manger and the three wise men? If so, this year's Santa Cycle Rampage and the subsequent Brocach Irish Pub, 7 West Main St., 3:30-6 p.m., moving on to State Street Brats, 603 State St., 6 p.m.-bar time. See Seasonal Treats cooking class, with instructor Jennifer Jones preparing a menu of peanut butter balls, coconut bon-bons, peppermint thins, and peppermint bark. Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Tudor Holiday Dinner Concerts, the 78th annual series of old English-style celebrations hosted by the UW Memorial Union - Great Hall, 800 Langdon St., 5:45 p.m., $49. Reservations required, and call 262-2201 for more info.
Thursday, December 1
Whole Food Market, 3313 University Ave., 6-7:30 p.m., $25. Call 233-9566 for more info.
Friday, December 2
Cambridge Country Christmas and "Vintage Victorian Weekend," an annual three-day holiday festival, featuring hot spiced wine and brats, a cookie walk, cocoa, breakfast and photos with Santa, caroling, strolling Stoughton High School Madrigal Singers, hayrides, a live Nativity, a tree-lighting ceremony, children's activities, more. Holiday Craft Bazaar at Oak Park Place, with a two-day bake sale and arts and crafts vendors. Oak Park Place, 618 Jupiter Dr., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Call 663-8730 for more info.
Christmas in the Country, an annual three-day arts and crafts show and holiday festival in Cedarburg, featuring a bake sale, the "Marine Mud" coffee sale in support of Cedar Creek Winery & Settlement, N70 W6340 Bridge Rd., and Atwood-Winnebago Winter Festival, the sixth annual holiday neighborhood festival on the east side of Madison, featuring food samples, art demonstrations, live music, and more at local merchants. Various businesses along Winnebago St. and Atwood Ave., 5-9 p.m. See Facebook and call 249-9100 for more info.
Seasonal Treats for Teens cooking class, with instructor Jennifer Jones preparing a menu of fudge, cookies, and candy. Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6-7:30 p.m., $10 owners and $20 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Saturday, December 3
Spring Green Country Christmas, an annual holiday festival, featuring breakfast with Santa, a quilt show and a craft fair, a fashion show, home tours, fireworks, more. Stoughton Victorian Holiday, an annual three-day seasonal "A Dickens of a Run & Walk" benefit on Sunday for the , multiple locations downtown, Friday-Sunday. Call 877-4400 for more info.
Cookie Walk, the 15th annual holiday season benefit sale for the Mount Horeb Public Library, 105 Perimeter St., Mount Horeb, 9 a.m. until products are sold, $8.50 per pound. Call 608-437-5021 for more info.
Cookies, Coffee & Conversation at Divine Savior United Methodist Church, with a cookie and book sale. Divine Savior United Methodist Church, 5702 South Hill Dr., 9 a.m.-noon. Call 238-7753 for more info.
Fair Trade Holiday Festival, the 15th annual , featuring artisan food, clothing, arts, and crafts vendors from around the world. Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. See Facebook and call 251-3241 for more info.
Gingerbread Cookie Fun, a family event with stories, games, and cookies. Monroe Street Library, 1705 Monroe St., 10:30-11:30 a.m., free. Call 266-6390 to register and for more info.
Free community meal prepared by volunteers. Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., 11:15 a.m., free. Call 257-4576 for more info.
Whole Food Market, 3313 University Ave., 1-2:30 p.m., $19.99. Call 233-9566 for more info.
Gingerbread Cookie Fun, a family event with stories, games, and cookies. Pinney Library, 204 Cottage Grove Rd., 2-3 p.m., free. Call 224-7100 to register and for more info.
Home for the Holidays, an annual holiday season , featuring performances of the Young St. Nick radio play with live music by Larry Busch Band, with each accompanied by a dessert reception and silent auction. Middleton-Cross Plains Area Performing Arts Center, 2100 Bristol St., Middleton, 7-10 p.m. Saturday and 2-5 p.m. Sunday, $15 Saturday and $10 Sunday. Call 836-7338 for more info.
Sunday, December 4
Savory Sunday, with volunteers need to prepare and serve a fresh, hot meal for the hungry, now serving once again in the Wisconsin Capitol cafeteria. Lutheran Campus Center, 5 N. Mills St., 11 a.m. Call 233-6967 for more info.
Monroe Street Christmas Walk, an annual holiday neighborhood festival on the west side of Madison, featuring refreshments, demonstrations, live music, and more at local merchants. Various businesses along the 1700-1900 blocks of Freedom Pho, a benefit dinner for Bayview Community Center, 601 Bayview, 6-8 p.m., $6 per bowl. Call 661-4089 for more info.
In the Kitchen with Cathy: Raw Candy cooking class, with instructor Cathy Thomas demonstrating how to make raw versions of traditional holiday treats like turtles and fudge. Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Family Dinner Night, a weekly meal hosted by The Crossing, 1127 University Ave., 6:30 p.m., $5. Call 257-1039 for more info.
Save the date
Friday, December 9
Classic English Tea, the closing gathering for the Festival of Wreaths at the Madison Senior Center, 330 W. Mifflin St., 2-4 p.m., $12. Please RSVP by December 2, and call 266-6581 for more info.
