14 FAMILY-FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE MADISON AREA THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

A happy German Shepherd sits in front of a decorated Christmas tree, with Santa Claus seated in the background.

You might want to be home for the holidays, but that doesn’t mean never leaving your house for the next month! 

Dane County and the surrounding areas offer a sleigh-ful of family-focused holiday events — many of them free! Here’s a chronological rundown of 14 ideas to help celebrate the season (and still be home in time for the holidays).

• Holiday Fantasy in Lights: Now through Jan. 1, nightly from dusk to dawn (and free candy canes from 4:30-10 p.m.) — Olin Park, 1156 Olin Court, Madison

• Berbee Derby 10k • 5k Run/Walk: Nov. 24 — Fitchburg Business Park, 5500 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg

• Madison Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk: Nov. 24 — Start and finish lines at the Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison

• Santa Express at Mid-Continent Railway Museum: Nov. 26-27 and Dec. 3-4 — E8948 Museum Road, North Freedom 

• Garver Holiday Craftacular: November 27, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. — Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, Madison

• Victorian Holiday Weekend: Dec. 1-4 — Throughout Stoughton

• All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914: Four Seasons Theatre at Overture Center, Dec. 1-11 (recommended for ages 12 and older) — 201 State St., Madison

• New Glarus Christkindli Market: Dec. 2-4 — Downtown New Glarus 

• Ice Skating at the Edgewater Icehouse Ice Rink: Opens Dec. 2 (weather permitting), Wednesdays-Sundays — 1011 Wisconsin Place, Madison 

• Winter Wonderland in the Village – Holiday Pet Photos with Santa: Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. — McFarland Animal Hospital , 5620 U.S. Highway 51, McFarland

• Holiday Express Flower & Model Train Show: Dec. 3-31, daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison

• Run Santa Run: Dec. 4 — Start and finish lines at Downtown Madison’s Capitol Square

• A Christmas Carol: Children’s Theater of Madison at Overture Center, Dec. 10-23 (recommended for ages 7 and older) — 201 State St., Madison

• Christmas Craft Fair & Cookie Walk for OccuPaws: Dec. 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Windsor Elementary School, 4352 Windsor Road, Windsor

Whatever you do and wherever you go, I wish you a safe and happy holiday season. 

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