United States · month by month
Madison food calendar
What is in season in Madison, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Madison
The best of January: Friday fish fry and Fried cheese curds.
Eat it now
- Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Madison
The best of February: Friday fish fry and Fried cheese curds.
Eat it now
- Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Madison
The best of March: Friday fish fry and Fried cheese curds.
Eat it now
- Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Madison
The best of April: Friday fish fry, Fried cheese curds and Dane County Farmers' Market season.
In season
- Dane County Farmers' Market on the SquareSaturdays, April to mid-November
Producer-only stalls ring the Capitol, 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Apr–Nov
Eat it now
- Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
On the calendar
- Dane County Farmers' Market season
Saturday market on the Square from April 11, 2026.
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Madison
Shoulder seasonThe best of May: Friday fish fry, Fried cheese curds and World's Largest Brat Fest.
In season
- Dane County Farmers' Market on the SquareSaturdays, April to mid-November
Producer-only stalls ring the Capitol, 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Apr–Nov
Eat it now
- Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
On the calendar
- World's Largest Brat FestMemorial Day weekend
Brats by the thousand at the Alliant Energy Center (May 22 to 24, 2026).
Plan around
- UW commencementmid May
Graduation weekend fills hotels and restaurants.
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Madison
Peak seasonThe best of June: Babcock ice cream on the Union Terrace and Friday fish fry.
In season
- Dane County Farmers' Market on the SquareSaturdays, April to mid-November
Producer-only stalls ring the Capitol, 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Apr–Nov
Eat it now
- Babcock ice cream on the Union Terracesummer
The university's own ice cream, eaten by Lake Mendota.
Jun–Aug - Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Madison
Peak seasonThe best of July: Babcock ice cream on the Union Terrace, Friday fish fry and Art Fair on the Square.
In season
- Dane County Farmers' Market on the SquareSaturdays, April to mid-November
Producer-only stalls ring the Capitol, 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Apr–Nov
Eat it now
- Babcock ice cream on the Union Terracesummer
The university's own ice cream, eaten by Lake Mendota.
Jun–Aug - Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
On the calendar
- Art Fair on the Squaremid July
The Saturday farmers' market moves to Breese Stevens Field that weekend (July 11, 2026).
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Madison
Peak seasonThe best of August: Babcock ice cream on the Union Terrace and Friday fish fry.
In season
- Dane County Farmers' Market on the SquareSaturdays, April to mid-November
Producer-only stalls ring the Capitol, 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Apr–Nov
Eat it now
- Babcock ice cream on the Union Terracesummer
The university's own ice cream, eaten by Lake Mendota.
Jun–Aug - Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Madison
Peak seasonThe best of September: Friday fish fry, Fried cheese curds and Taste of Madison.
In season
- Dane County Farmers' Market on the SquareSaturdays, April to mid-November
Producer-only stalls ring the Capitol, 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Apr–Nov
Eat it now
- Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
On the calendar
- Taste of Madisonearly September
Free food festival on the Capitol Square with about 80 restaurants (Sept 5 to 6, 2026).
Plan around
- Badger football weekendshome football Saturdays
Hotels sell out and breakfast lines grow; book early.
Sep–Nov
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Madison
Shoulder seasonThe best of October: Friday fish fry and Fried cheese curds.
In season
- Dane County Farmers' Market on the SquareSaturdays, April to mid-November
Producer-only stalls ring the Capitol, 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Apr–Nov
Eat it now
- Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
Plan around
- Badger football weekendshome football Saturdays
Hotels sell out and breakfast lines grow; book early.
Sep–Nov
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Madison
The best of November: Friday fish fry and Fried cheese curds.
In season
- Dane County Farmers' Market on the SquareSaturdays, April to mid-November
Producer-only stalls ring the Capitol, 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Apr–Nov
Eat it now
- Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
Plan around
- Badger football weekendshome football Saturdays
Hotels sell out and breakfast lines grow; book early.
Sep–Nov
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Madison
The best of December: Friday fish fry and Fried cheese curds.
Eat it now
- Friday fish fryevery Friday
Supper clubs and taverns fry fish every Friday of the year; Toby's and Kavanaugh's are the classics.
- Fried cheese curdsall year
Beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar at The Old Fashioned and around the Square.
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.