Tomorrow is the first day of November and the month promises to be, as usual, a busy one with tons of events in Madison. If you need a breather choose from among some of the fun Madison events in our November calendar. 

November 4 and 5

Holidays Galore and More

Kick off your holiday shopping at Attic Angel Association’s holiday shopping event. You’ll find holiday décor, stocking stuffers, made-in-Wisconsin food treats and Green Bay Packer stuff as well. You won’t go hungry either because there will be a food table with local goodies, coffee baked goods and more. Proceeds from all this shopping help fund local groups that assist kids ages 3 to 5 in learning to read. Shop between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, November 4 and on Saturday,…

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While Lake and City Homes wouldn’t turn down a haunted listing, we think that in October it’s more fun to visit “haunted” houses and other spooky attractions. While we can’t list all of them, we’ve polled our friends, family and clients to determine which ones are the most popular. Here they are, just in time for Halloween.

Wisconsin Scaryland

Ever wonder what it feels like to be buried alive? You’ll wonder no more after you visit the Coffin Ride at Wisconsin Scaryland. In fact, they promise that “our job is to scare the living daylights out of you!”

Geared more toward teens and adults (although kids 12 and under are allowed in if accompanied by a paying adult), the nearly-20,000 square-foot Scaryland has been called “one of the freakiest and…

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Autumn is officially underway and there are lots of ways to get out and enjoy it in Madison. 

Through October 31

Wisconsin Scaryland

It’s the month of scariness and it kicks off in Madison at Wisconsin Scaryland, billed as the state’s only “professional haunted house.” There are, in fact, three “houses” to this one: Hotel Fuego, Mineshaft and Carnival of the Damned. One ticket gets you into all three and the creators have created a seamless transition from one to the other so you won’t have to wait in line three times. Get the details online, at wisconsinscaryland.com.

October 1

Badger Childhood Cancer Superhero Run

Keva Sports Center (8312 Forsythia St.) in Middleton plays host to this benefit run to raise funds for the Badger…

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Judging by how packed September’s event calendar is, we’re trying to eke out every last drop of Summer, 2016.

September 3 and 4

A Taste of Madison

If it’s Labor Day Weekend, it’s time for A Taste of Madison. Now in its 33rd year, it’s your chance to enjoy bargain-priced menu items from more than 80 local caterers and restaurants. The two date fete also offers three stages, hosting live music all weekend. Who needs to travel on Labor Day Weekend? A Taste of Madison runs from Saturday (2 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.) and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., in Downtown Madison. Find details online at tasteofmadison.com.

September 10

Ironkids Fun Run

This is Ironman Wisconsin weekend and one of the events is set aside especially for kids – age 3…

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According to a recent ranking of the 100 largest cities and their park systems, Madison sits at number 10 in the nation. The Trust for Public Land was impressed with Madison’s 6,358 acres of parkland, sure, but they really like the fact that, regardless of age or income, access to our city parks is shared pretty much equally by all.

How about some fun Madison park trivia to impress your friends with at your next get together?

  • The median size of a Madison park is 4.7 acres
  • There are 7.3 playgrounds per 10,000 Madison residents
  • We have 4.2 dog parks per 10,000 residents
  • The oldest municipal park in Madison is Orton, which was established in 1850
  • Our largest park is Cherokee Marsh, with 1,299 acres
  • The most popular park (the most…

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Hey, welcome to August, 2016! There’s a lot going on in Mad City this month – so much that it was a bit challenging to narrow it down. Check out just some of the fun August events in Madison.

August 1

Million Dollar Shootout

It’s time for the 20th Annual Million Dollar Shootout Charity Golf Outing, held at Maple Bluff Country Club (500 Kensington Dr. in Madison). A benefit for the Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, the 18-hole scramble offers all a chance to win $1 million! Register your foursome online here. Registration is at 10:30 a.m. and the shot gun start an hour later. After, stay for the awards dinner and raffle. Questions? Call 608-232-3410

August 1 to August 29

FoMLASH

The Friends of Monona Library are holding…

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Lake - Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/leshaines123/5835538829

Blessed are Madisonites, with five lakes to call our very own. Whether your favorite is Kegonsa, Monona, Mendota, Wingra or Waubesa, our lakes offer us ample opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy life in Wisconsin.

Take a swim

Or, just laze around on the beach on a summer afternoon. With clean, Lake Monona water and lifeguards in the summer, B.B. Clarke beach is popular with Madison’s isthmus resdents. You can also fish, canoe and kayak here. The park and beach are located at 835 Spaight St.

Lake Mendota’s Tenney Beach (1300 Sherman Ave.) is probably the most popular beach. Large and well-lifeguarded, it also offers a swim rope and volleyball.

Launch the boat

With the exception of Vilas Park, all of Madison’s boat launches require a…

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Dog Park - Image Credit: http://pixabay.com/en/users/Mariamichelle-165491/

Judging by the number of animal rescues and pet-related businesses in Madison, we’re a bunch of pet-happy residents. It would be interesting to know the number of pets per household here in Madison; I imagine we’d be at the top of the list nationwide.

Just as they all go to heaven, all dogs need exercise. Yup ― even those that people swear are the ideal apartment dwellers because of their lack of the need to stretch their legs and run. Whether your pooch is a cuddly Maltese or an uber energetic border collie, getting outdoors with it (if you can stand the humidity!) is not only good for the dog, but for the person it owns as well.

The City of Madison offers eight off-leash dog areas in various parks. You’ll need a dog license to take advantage…

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Bottle of Wondermint

I always wonder if I’m supposed to give a warning when writing about liquor retailers, as they do on their websites. So, if you’re not of legal drinking age, please don’t read this.

That said, the rest of us occasionally shop for wine, beer and distilled spirits and Death’s Door Spirits is a local favorite. It’s no wonder, too, because they appreciate the value of keeping it local by working with local farmers in their distillery operation. Death’s Door’s juniper (for the gin), wheat for the white whiskey and coriander and fennel (for the vodka) are sourced from Brooklyn, WI and the barley they use for vodka is grown in Chilton. Buying your liquor from Death’s Door is like buying a bottle of Wisconsin.

Located in Middleton, Brian Ellison started…

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musical instruments

Has the DJ killed live music? Not if you live in Madison he or she hasn’t.

Whether you’re looking for jazz, a loud and unique Irish band at a local pub, dueling pianos or a club atmosphere, Madison’s bars and restaurants have you covered. Here is a look at where you should go around Madison for live music.

The Frequency

What we love most about The Frequency is that it isn’t a huge venue; it seats only 125 live-music-loving customers. Second highest on our list is that they offer shows seven nights a week and features lots of local artists as well as national and even international acts. Add the selection of made-in-Wisconsin beers to the “keeping it local” vibe and The Frequency is a very Madison venue. Stop in for pizza and a beer and,…

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