Celebrate Summer with Free Live Music
Madison comes alive each summer with a vibrant array of free outdoor concerts that transform the city and surrounding area into a musical haven. One of the most iconic events is the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra’s Concerts on the Square, held on Wednesday evenings on the Capitol lawn. This series, often dubbed “The Biggest Picnic of Summer,” attracts thousands who gather with blankets and picnics to enjoy classical and pops music under the stars.
For a midday musical break, Lunch Time LIVE! offers free performances every Tuesday from June through August on the King Street walkway of the Capitol Square. Attendees can enjoy live music while grabbing lunch from nearby downtown eateries.
Beyond the Capitol, Madison's lakeside venues host a variety of free concerts. The Memorial Union Terrace on Lake Mendota features live music throughout the summer, providing a laid-back atmosphere with iconic sunburst chairs and stunning lake views . Similarly, the Monona Terrace rooftop hosts Concerts on the Rooftop on Thursdays and Dane Dances! on Fridays, offering diverse musical genres and panoramic views of Lake Monona and the Capitol.
These free concert series not only showcase local and regional talent but also foster a strong sense of community, making Madison's summer nights truly special. Here’s a guide to your free summer listening options:
5/1-10/26 Concerts at The Mill - Paoli/The Mill (multiple concerts weekly)
5/7-5/28 Free Concerts in Olin Pavilion - Madison/Olin-Turville Park (Wednesdays)
5/7-9/24 Biergarten at the Beach - Monona/Schluter Park (various Wednesdays)
5/15-8/23 Music on the Terrace - Madison/Memorial Union Terrace (multiple shows per week)
5/16 - 8/28 Summer Series - DeForest / Fireman’s Park Fireman’s Park (movies & music)
5/17-8/2 Summer Concert Series - Madison/The Boneyard (1018 Walsh Rd.)
5/23-9/12 Bluegrass Fridays - Madison/Edgewater Hotel (Fridays on Grand Plaza)
5/25 BobFest 2025 - Spring Green/General Store (137 S Albany St.)
6/3-6/17 June Tunes - Sauk City/Meyer Oak Grove Market
6/3-8/26 Lunch Time LIVE! - Madison/State Capitol (King St. Walkway on Tuesdays)
6//5-7/24 Concerts on the Rooftop - Madison/Monona Terrace (Thursdays)
6/8-8/17 Summer Concerts - UW Campus/Allen Centennial Gardens (1st & 3rd Sundays)
6/9-7/28 NewBridge Summer Concerts - Madison/Warner Park (Mondays)
6/10-8/22 Concerts in the Park - Sun Prairie/Wetmore Park (2nd & 4th Tuesdays)
6/10-7/29 Summer Concerts - DeForest/various locations (Tuesdays)
6/11-8/27 Concerts in The Park - Edgerton/Central Park
6/17-7/29 Live from the Park - Waunakee/Village Park Gazebo (Tuesdays)
6/19-8/14 Capitol City Band - Madison/Rennebohm Park (Thursdays)
6/19-8/21 Concerts in the Park - Verona/Century School Park (Thursdays)
6/21 Make Music Madison - Madison/citywide (one Saturday only)
6/24-8/12 Olbrich After Hours - Madison/Olbrich Botanical Gardens (Tuesdays)
6/25-7/30 Concerts on the Square - Madison/Capitol Square (Wednesdays)
7/5-8/30 Music on the Mound - Blue Mounds State Park (Saturdays)
7/8-7/29 Summer Concerts - Monona/Winnequah Park (Tuesdays)
7/9-8/13 Wednesday Night Live - Mt. Horeb/Grundahl Park (Wednesdays)
7/11-8/1 Summer Nights at Segoe - Madison/Segoe Park (Fridays)
8/1-8/29 Dane Dances! - Madison/Monona Terrace (Fridays)
8/6-9/3 Jazz at Five - Madison/State Capitol (S Hamilton St. walkway on Wednesdays)
Want to add your series to the calendar? Email mark@magic98.com