Picture this. You're walking around the Capitol Square in downtown Madison in sight of the beautiful Wisconsin State Capitol building. The smells of sizzling jerk chicken, freshly popped popcorn, savory arepas and warm donuts fill the air while the sounds of the band playing at the nearby stage linger in the atmosphere. The just-perfectly-warm September sun is high in the sky and the buzz of excitement is hitting at just the right moment.
That's the feeling of being at Taste of Madison, the largest food and music festival in Madison and the official end-cap to summer. Hosted every year on Labor Day weekend, Taste of Madison is a two-day celebration of some of the best flavors in the capital city and the perfect event to center your weekend getaway around.
Jump around to plan your end-of-summer getaway
What is Taste of Madison?
In short, Taste of Madison is a free food and music festival with more than 90 food vendors and multiple stages for live music, with proceeds going to local charities. But it's so much more than that.
The Food
This food festival is a chance to try foods from dozens of local restaurants, food trucks and caterers, many of which are BIPOC and/or women-owned. Each food station offers a small menu with portions that cost no more than $7 each. Small entrees, snacks, desserts and beverages are all available.
The Entertainment
For entertainment, multiple stages are set up on side streets along the Capitol Square, with at least one stage dedicated to country music and another stage dedicated to rock music. The concerts are totally free to enjoy, even if you don't get food (but we highly recommend you do). Check out Taste of Madison's website for this year's musical lineup.
Check out the Backyard Tailgate on East Washington Ave. just off the Square. Enjoy free arcade games, a climbing wall, pop-a-shot, live music by DJ Fusion and on Saturday at 4 p.m., don't miss Bernie Brewer™ and the Milwaukee Brewers' Famous Racing Sausages®!
On the other side of the Capitol building on West Washington Ave., you'll find the Recharge Zone. Take a breather and kick back in the shade, charge up your phone and enjoy chill lawn games before heading back out for more food and fun!
The Impact
This big event makes an even bigger impact on the community each year. Madison Festivals, the organization that runs Taste of Madison, has donated more than $2.3 million to community nonprofits since its inception.
Know Before You Go
Dates: Saturday, Sept. 5 & Sunday, Sept. 6
Time: 2 to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday
Location: Capitol Square
Cost: Free, food samples available for purchase
Parking and transportation: There’s plenty of street parking near the Capitol Square, along with nearby parking garages.
More things to do this weekend
Visiting Madison during Taste weekend is a gateway into Madison's incredible culinary scene, known for its fresh, local ingredients prepared by beloved and award-winning chefs. Discover the city's best restaurants, including locations featuring outdoor dining, rooftop patios, fabulous brunches and global culinary options.
Dane County Farmers' Market
One of the must-dos when visiting Madison for Taste weekend is stopping by the Dane County Farmers' Market hosted on the Capitol Square the Saturday morning before Taste kicks off. This is the largest producer-only farmers' market in the country and is the core of Madison's robust food system. Shop for fresh produce, meat, baked goods, snacks and other artisanal items to take home or enjoy while you're here.
Madison Eats Food Tours
Another way to try several of Madison's best restaurants at once is by going on a Madison Eats Food Tour. Tours are offered based on types of foods and experiences, and will guide you on an exploration of some of Madison's best neighborhoods and hidden gems.
Self-Guided Tours & Tastings
With our free experience passes, you can choose your own adventure and explore the city your way! Discover the most iconic food in the capital city with Madison’s Iconic Eats Experience—a self-guided food tour where you can earn prizes while eating at delicious local spots. For our craft beverage lovers, sign up for Madison on Tap—your free roadmap to 30+ breweries, distilleries and wineries throughout the Madison area. Get discounts and win prizes along the way!
Catch the first Wisconsin Badgers Football Game of the Season
Badger Football will be back on Sunday, September 6, as they take on Notre Dame at Lambeau Field for the Shamrock Series. Even though the game will be in Green Bay, you can still watch with your fellow Badger fans in Madison at local watch parties, and don’t forget to snap a picture with your crew at Camp Randall, which celebrates its 165th birthday this year!
Other Must-Do Madison Activities
- Get on the lakes with Brittingham Boats or Wingra Boats
- Tour the Wisconsin State Capitol building
- Learn while you play at the Madison Children's Museum
- Tour the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace
- Get a scoop at the Memorial Union Terrace
Recommended Places to Stay
The long Labor Day weekend, paired with the biggest food fest in the city, calls for a weekend getaway, and we know just the places to stay.
Downtown hotels will give you easy, walkable access to the fest and many of the best things to do, eat and see while you're in Madison.
- Best Western Premier Park Hotel (the only hotel on the Capitol Square and lets you walk right out onto the festival street)
- The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club
- AC Hotel Madison Downtown
- Hyatt Place Madison/Downtown
- Hilton Madison Monona Terrace
- Mansion Hill Inn
- The Edgewater Hotel
- The Saddlery Madison
- The Dylin
Upcoming Foodie Festivals + Events
With events happening every night of the week in Madison, there's always more to look forward to. Check out upcoming fairs and festivals like Sugar River Fire & Smoke BBQ Festival in Paoli, True North Music & Food Festival, Madison Vegan Fest or recurring events like Madison Night Market, Bodega Night Markets and more!
