Fall Things to Do in Madison

Madison is a fall-in-one destination where all your favorite things to do come together. You can wander through apple orchards, forage a pumpkin patch and traverse a corn maze just minutes from downtown.

Fall is a time to embrace tradition, and there's no tradition quite like jumping around in one of America's favorite college towns for a Badger football game. You can get the most out of fall by turning gameday into a weekend getaway.

Get all the Oktoberfest in Madison vibes by diving into our craft beverage scene and exploring beer, bubbles, bourbon and beyond at our dozens of craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries. Sign up for the FREE Madison On Tap Craft Beverage Trail pass, get discounts on 30+ locations and win prizes.

Fall adventure is all around in the capital city. Jump to your favorite fall to-dos:

Fall colors
Fall flavors
Badger sports

Picnic Point is a mile-long hike on a peninsula that offers great views of fall colors and Lake Mendota. Plus, you can rent cozy campfire spots for you and your friends.

Fall in love with the Outdoors

Why watch the fall colors change from your window when you could be out exploring? With more than 270 parks and miles and miles of hiking and biking trails, there are plenty of opportunities to watch rich greens fade to vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. Want an extra special view of the changing colors? Take a look from a kayak, canoe or motorboat on one (or all) of Madison's five lakes.

The Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report is the best tool for helping you plan a fall trip to Madison that lines up with peak fall colors.

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Fall food is a mood

Taste your way through Madison's food and drink scene during a season known for deliciousness. Follow your necessary pumpkin spice latte with an ice-cold craft beverage and a pretzel so good at Oktoberfest you'll shout "prost!"

The freshest flavors come forward at the largest producer-only farmers' market in the country on the Capitol Square every Saturday morning. Want to taste all the farm-fresh flavor without any of the preparation? It's time to dive headfirst into Madison's farm-to-table culture.

Looking for a tasty family-friendly fall trip? You won't want to miss apple cider donuts, caramel-coated goodness and pumpkin pastries at some of the Madison-area's best farms for fall fun.

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Jump Around Season

It's no secret that Madison is one of the greatest cities in the country for college sports, and it all starts in fall.

The best tradition in college sports happens at Camp Randall Stadium during home Badger football games, when 80,000 fans Jump Around during the House of Pain classic between the third and fourth quarters, which is just the cherry on top of all you can do in Madison on a Badger fall sports weekend.

Football isn't the only sport that dominates fall in Madison. The UW women's volleyball team won the 2021 NCAA Championship and have continued to create an electric environment on gamedays at the Kohl Center. Bringing the whole family along is a must. Kids are invited to welcome the starting lineup on the court, which makes for a fall memory they will keep with them for years.

Game time is only half the fun. You'll find there are a whole lot of things to do before the clock starts and after the buzzer sounds in Madison.

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