With area schools finishing this week, those who need something to do, childcare, or a way to entertain family can check out camps, classes, drop-in activities, New Year's Eve, and other fun places to play and explore over the break.
We'll keep updating the list, and let us know what we've missed! Plus, see our cool-weather ideas and experience gift guide for more.
Camps/Classes
- Winter Camp Shalom, 12/27-29, Verona (bus transportation provided)
- Curious Crafter daily school's out craft days @ 11 am. A different project each day, including New Year's Day.
- Verona Area Community Theater vocal/dance workshops 12-27/28, grades 3-8
- If you're feeling the outdoors - Naturing in Madison and Aldo Leopold offer vacation day camps
- Or for your aspiring chef, Sur La Table has a winter cooking series
- Creative Soul (12/27-28) has yoga, art, and other creative outlets
- Gymfinity has half-day camps full of play, crafts, and games 12/27-29
Drop-in day activities
- Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, free kid's art adventures 12/27-29.
- Black Earth has regular play days, plus special balloon twisting, dancing, yoga, and more over the break.
- The Madison Children's Museum has something special each day for their "winter wonder weeks" 12/20-1/1
- Lake City Twisters gymnastics has open gyms on 12/23 and 12/27-30, including drop-off options for kids 6+
- The sensory zone has a range of discounted play times for various ages
New Year's Eve (for kids). Don't worry about staying up late, there are a few fun options, including our pick at KEVA Sports (2-8 pm) with a fall afternoon/evening of games, performances, and the big balloon drop. There's also:
- Noon Year's Eve (Verona, 12/29)
- New Year's Eve Dance Party (Pinney Library, 12/30)
- WiscoKidz party (12/31, am)
- Madison Children's Museum - Baby New Year Party (9-10 am) and outdoor dance party (130-3)
- Noon Year's Eve, Sun Prairie, 11 am [update, event is sold out]
- New Year's Eve Bird & Nature Adventure, Adlo Leopold Nature Center (12/31)
Ongoing/all day adventures
- Downtown story walk. Explore state street while reading a book - through 12/24.
- Monroe Street elf door scavenger hunt. Play games and look for 30 elves on doors as you stroll along Monroe Street, through 12/22
- See Santa (and his cabin) at Hilldale shopping center through 12/23
- OIbrich Gardens holiday model trains and flower show, daily through 12/31
- The lakes aren't frozen yet, but the outdoor rinks at the Edgewater and Monona are open.
- Library reading programs. Several area libraries have prizes and incentives for winter reading, including
- Winter bingo in Monona or Middleton
- Winter reading challenge in Waunakee
- Earn "Dragon Dollars" for reading in DeForest.
- Pick up maker kits, enjoy the play spaces, and online stories, arts, and cooking from Madison libraries
Lights are still up/out
- Zoo Lights. See the Zoo after hours, with free carousel rides and Santa, through 12/23.
- Olin Park fantasy in lights. Drive-through, free (taking donations), through 12/31.
- Country Christmas (Pewaukee), on the way to Milwaukee - see the lights along the Christmas trail, village park, Christmas village, and streets of Bethlehem
- Fitchburg lights tour. Follow the map of homes and vote for your favorite!
- Waunakee Village Park lights, free nightly through 12/31.
If you have other ideas or suggestions please let us know and we'll keep updating our list!
Plus you can always submit your business to our listings or your event for free and don't forget to subscribe for our free weekly newsletter with all the kid-friendly activities for the week in the Madison area.
