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It’s not a true Madison summer without a weekend or three at a local festival. From jazz at the Memorial Union to cover bands atop Monona Terrace and bluegrass on Lake Waubesa, opportunities to see live, often free, music can be found nearly every weekend around the city.
The east side has historically been a hub for many of these fests thanks to the efforts of the late Bob Queen, who died last fall at age 76. Queen founded the Marquette Waterfront Festival, built up the Orton Park Festival (now more than 60 years old) and created La Fête de Marquette 20 years ago. He ran Sessions at McPike Park — later Sessions at Garver Feed Mill, in 2025 — for more than a decade.
Queen’s celebration of life on Saturday, June 27 (“The Last Session”) will have three bands and be open to the public. Bethany Jurewicz with Garver Events said she intends to talk to the Sessions board about the future of that event.
Closer to September, the details available for these events become more scarce, so use the links and information here to plan and confirm closer to the dates. Happy summer!
Mad With Power Fest
Friday-Saturday, June 5-6
The Sylvee, 25 S. Livingston St.
Nine years ago, the five-piece heavy metal band Lords of the Trident founded a festival combining “power and melodic metal” with pinball machines. Mad With Power Fest has moved earlier in the summer and now calls itself “North America’s largest power‑metal gathering,” with a pre-party at Aftershock Arcade on East Washington Avenue. This year’s bands include Twilight Force (“power metal from Sweden”) and the Boston-based band Seven Spires, plus 10 others. General admission tickets cost $85 (one day) to $140 (two days) with VIP options that include bonuses like a T-shirt, a compilation CD, a sticker, a patch, a pin — and great seats.
Marquette Waterfront Festival
Saturday-Sunday, June 13-14
Yahara Place Park, 2025 Yahara Place
Chicago indie rock band Ratboys will be the first-night headliner at this festival at Yahara Place Park, followed by guitarist/vocalist Adam Greuel and the Space Burritos on Sunday evening. Swing by the park for folk pop and bluegrass, a kids’ “Dandelion Dash” race at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and the colorful, quirky boat parade called the River Alliance Fools’ Flotilla, launching on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. from the Tenney Park locks. (Register in advance at wisconsinrivers.org.) As always, there will be food, beer, wine, local artists and kids’ games.
Madison Jazz Festival
June 19-27
Memorial Union Terrace, 800 Langdon St.
Listen to “everything from cool bossa nova to colossal bop, from world fusion wonders to the future of funk” overlooking Lake Mendota on the Memorial Union Terrace’s iconic sunburst chairs. This year’s event spans nine days, with a mix of free and ticketed events, many focused on June 26-27. Headlining the Terrace on Friday, June 26, will be jazz and pop drummer Nate Smith hosting a jam with friends. The Saturday, June 27 headliner will be Wycliffe Gordon, a jazz trombonist. (He wrote the theme to NPR’s “All Things Considered!”).
Make Music Madison
Sunday, June 21
Various locations
Pretty much everywhere you go on Sunday, June 21, there will be music. Hear singer/songwriters and rock bands, a cappella protest tunes from the Raging Grannies (Bartell Theatre, 12:30 p.m.), classical trios and Celtic folk. The venues range from parks, bus shelters and patios to indoor venues (banks, hotels, theaters). Find music in schools and cafes and even private homes. The count, as of press time, was more than 390 artists in 135 venues.
Concerts on the Square
Wednesdays, June 24-July 29, 7 p.m.
10 S. Pinckney St.
Hosted since 1984 by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Concerts on the Square is a beloved summer tradition. Attendees can lay out blankets in the afternoon before 7 p.m. performances on the King Street side of the Capitol. Sponsors have dedicated tables with catering options, but anyone can bring a picnic or grab dinner from a dozen or so food carts set up around the Square. This year’s performances will feature music by Billy Joel and Elton John, cinematic scores, local hip hop artist Rob Dz and George Gershwin. Inclement weather (rain, wildfire smoke) moves the concert to Thursday. Free.
Live on Queen
Friday, June 26, 7 p.m.
Orpheum Theater, 216 State St.
Celebrate Pride in Madison with this annual celebration of unapologetic self-expression. At a new pre-show party this year, expect roaming drag queens, a live set from DJ Femme Noir, magic from James the Magician and face painting during the Queen’s Court in the Orpheum Lobby. Bianca Lynn Breeze hosts the main event, a high-energy drag variety show, with VIP options that include meet-and-greet and access to the “Pride Pit” near the stage. Also new this year: The Smut Room, stocked with “bold, queer-forward” books by Room of One’s Own. Free; VIP tickets cost $50.
Fête de Marquette
July 9-12
McPike Park, 202 S. Ingersoll St.
The LA-based Mexican American rock group Los Lobos — perhaps best known for their cover of “La Bamba” — will headline this east side summer festival, celebrating 20 years in 2026. Also on the lineup: Rockin’ Dopsie Jr & the Zydeco Twisters, the electronic artist Cinthie, New Orleans-based rock band Flow Tribe, and LowDown Brass Band. This four-day celebration of music and food benefits the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center. Bring a blanket, plan to grab food from a local vendor, check out climbing structures for the kiddos, and stay the day. Free.
Art Fair on (and off) the Square
July 11-12
Capitol Square
Hundreds of artists ring the Capitol Square each July, bumping the Dane County Farmers’ Market to Breese Stevens Field for a day and filling downtown with astonishing pieces. Think big at this fair — artists sell hand-carved furniture, kinetic sculpture, statues as tall as a person, glass work big enough for a prominent picture window. There are smaller things too: 6-by-6 inch encaustic paintings, nature photographs, exquisite one-of-a-kind necklaces and rings, glazed ceramics and more. Art Fair Off the Square, a companion event on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, runs the same days and features more local vendors from the Wisconsin Alliance of Artists and Craftspeople. Hours are Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
Dane County Fair
July 16-19
Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way
Entertainment takes many forms at the Dane County Fair. Visitors can see a model horse show and rank the cutest guinea pigs, watch a rooster crowing contest and remember a golden age of country music at a Cornfield Keg Party (think Shania Twain, Garth Brooks and Toby Keith, RIP). There are carnival rides, too, all at the Alliant Energy Center. Advance tickets cost $13 for one day or $44 for four days for adults, with discounts for kids.
Opera in the Park
Saturday, July 18, 8 p.m.
Garner Park, 333 S. Rosa Road
Madison Opera has programmed “Carmen” for next spring as part of its 2026-27 season, so two of the opera’s most famous arias — “Habanera” and the “Toreador Song” — will be featured on the program for this popular evening of opera outdoors. Also on the program: “Song to the Moon” from Dvořák’s “Rusalka,” some arias from Scott Gendel’s lovely opera “Everlasting Faint,” “Casta Diva” from Bellini’s “Norma” — the opera that opens next season — and a little Sondheim, with “A Little Priest.” (The opera notes that this program is subject to change.) Set to perform are soprano Kathryn Henry, mezzo Zoie Reams, tenor Joshua Stewart and baritone Thomas Glass, all under the baton of maestro John DeMain with the Madison Opera Chorus. Set up a blanket on the Garner Park hill, bring a picnic and wave a light stick as the sun goes down. If this “grand night for singing” gets rained out, it reschedules for the following (Sunday) night. Free.
AtwoodFest
Saturday-Sunday, July 25-26
2000-2100 Atwood Avenue
Boasting more than 30,000 attendees over two days with three stages and 30-some performers, AtwoodFest takes over a few blocks on the east side each July. Expect different genres on each stage — the Sugar Maple Stage, for example, hosts mostly bluegrass — and lots of local vendors selling gifts, food and art. Saturday the fest goes noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday it’s noon to 7:30 p.m., with musicians announced by early June.
Sugar Maple Festival
Friday-Saturday, July 31-Aug. 1
Lake Farm County Park, 4330 Libby Road
Celebrate traditional music rooted in American culture at the two-day Sugar Maple Festival, hosted each year by the Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective. On three stages, attendees can enjoy live performances, educational workshops and interactive jams — all inspired by bluegrass, folk and soul music. Tickets start at $40 for Friday, $50 for Saturday or $60 for a two-day pass. Free admission for kids 17 and under with a ticketed adult.
Jazz at Five
Wednesdays, Aug. 5-Sept. 2, 4-8 p.m.
King Street side of the Capitol Square
From classic modern to bossa nova, enjoy five weeks of free jazz performances outside the Wisconsin State Capitol. Cheer on youth performers at 4 p.m and stick around for both local and national jazz musicians at 5 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. On-site food carts offer food and beverages, with all beer sale revenue going back to Jazz at Five. Bring a chair (or rent one). No carry-in alcohol or beverages in glass containers are allowed. Free.
Dane Dances!
Fridays, Aug. 7-28
Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Drive
Shake the roof and dance the night away at Monona Terrace this August with Latin, R&B, disco, rock, pop and funk music every Friday. Free dance lessons start at 5:30 p.m. with doubleheader live music performances at 6 and 8 p.m. Some names on this year’s lineup: Orquesta Salsoul del Mad, a Madison-based Latin fusion band; the all-woman pop band Klymaxx from Los Angeles; Madison’s disco band VO5; and R&B group The Voices. Get up, get down and get together at Dane Dances! Free.
Orton Park Festival
Aug. 28-30
Orton Park, 1103 Spaight St.
Back for its 61st year, Orton Park Festival is ready to dazzle the east side with music, food and an aerial dance performance by local group Cycropia. No lineup has been announced yet, but expect a mixture of both local and touring bands. Free admission.
Taste of Madison
Sept. 5-6
Capitol Square
The 2026 Taste of Madison music lineup is yet to be announced, but given past performances, expect a taste of both local and national artists. Along with two full days of live music, explore dozens of food and beverage options from local vendors. Grab your fellow foodies and enjoy a weekend of eats and entertainment on the Capitol Square. Free.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source captimes.com ’
