Monroe Street Festival (September)
Join us for this free family event on Monroe Street in Madison, WI. Live music and entertainment, shopping specials, and food from our local restaurants.
47th Annual Monroe Street Festival
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2025
The Monroe Street Festival is a cherished annual tradition celebrating our many locally owned businesses and our surrounding residential neighborhoods. The purpose of the Festival is to promote and sustain new and existing businesses, enhance the positive and vibrant image of Monroe Street, and attract visitors from all over to our lively sliver of the city. The celebration, which is held annually on a Saturday in September, features a range of activities to bring the community together including local shopping, food and drink specials, outdoor entertainment, children’s activities, and so much more.
This year we had an exciting community scavenger hunt, a great addition to our annual vibrant street festival! Get ready to embark on an adventure that will take you through the heart of our business district, where you'll explore local shops, cozy cafes, and colorful street art. You can print your own copy here, or visit one of our three participating Monroe Street businesses on the day of the Festival to pick one up.
brought to you by our 2025 sponsors
CLICK HERE FOR THE SCAVENGER HUNT FORM
Finish all ten questions and drop this sheet off at one of these three businesses for a chance to win a prize from that Monroe Street shop!
Participating Businesses: Mystery to Me, Garth’s Brew Bar, and Orange Tree Imports.
Monroe Street Festival
The Schedule in 2025:
1700 Block
10am - 3pm 41st annual Monroe Street Library League Book Sale, 1705 Monroe Street
150th Celebration of the Madison Public Library - library ambassadors will be on hand to sign up people for library cards and to invite everyone to share their library stories with a (non-edible) cake decorating activity
10pm-5pm Artsy Fartsy - Sidewalk sale; local artist Rachel Christopolous; and gardening coach Burda Growing Better
10pm-5pm Orange Tree Imports - Free face painting 11am-1pm; all day sidewalk sale
Noon – 5pm Garth’s Brew Bar – Pick-up and/or drop-off the Festival Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win a prize
12am – 2pm Monroe Street Art Center – Tween/Teen Maker's Market
Monroe Commons BY TRADER JOE’S
10am Monroe Street Arts Center Preschool Music Class demo
11am Dave Landau – Interactive kid’s music
Noon Toco Beach Steelpan - Steel Drum Trio
1pm Forward! Marching Band
2pm Grand Aul Day – Irish Music
3pm Fixed Income – Rock and Roll from the 60’s and 70’s
4pm Mad City Funk – Classic Funk, R&B, Soul and Blue
1800 Block
10am – 5pm D-Chai Thai Massage & Wellness expanded location
Chair massage, gift certificates 20% off
10am - 5pm MSN Plant Collective - free plant tattoos and free seed planting for the kiddos
10am – 5pm Psychic Readings by Faith
10am – 5pm Pizza Brutta – Outdoor Pizza Oven (in front of Barriques)
10am – 5pm Kettle Black Kitchen – Monroe Street Festival Grab & Go specials:
Smashburgers and Smoked Brisket Burrito
10am – 5pm I’m Board Games and Family Fun– Indoor and outdoor games and puzzles to play
10am – 2pm Bloom Bake Shop – Bloom Bus will be on Monroe Street selling sandwiches
10am – 1pm Friends of Lake Wingra - learn more about our lake
10am – 5pm Mystery to Me – $1 wrapped books, Booko game (like Plinko!) for prizes, themed book bags
MONROE STREET at Harrison Street
10 am – 5pm Balloon Arch by Funny Faces Balloon Art
Celebrations Selfies Station sponsored by Orange Tree Imports
10 am – 5pm. Edgewood High School booth - free 'Monroe St Vibes' Tote Bags
Photo op: 7'x7' Painted Mural that says 'Be kind and compassionate"
Edgewood Campus School booth - Free face painting
10 am- 4pm Oscar Mayer Wienermobile with free wiener whistles and sticker
Photo op: huge frames from Moore Street Framing
10am – 11am A special walkabout appearance by Henry the Lion from Vilas Zoo
1:30–2:30pm Engine #4 from Madison Fire Department
1900 Block
10am – noon Alvarado Real Estate Group – Mini-carnival with games, free cotton candy, popcorn and prizes. Sponsored by Creando Exploratorium and Alvarado Real Estate Group
10am – 5pm Monroe Street Framing - Take 10% off any custom framing orders placed during the Festival (can't be combined with other discounts/offers).
10am – 5pm Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream food truck
10am – 5pm Monroe Street Farmers Market Vendor Dolce Home
10am - 5 pm Grape Vine Massage and Bodywork - free chair massage; selling eye masks & massage oils (business is located at 1914 Monroe St Ste 2 - will be set up across the street)
10am – 5pm Fya Syde Kitchen - the vibrant flavors of Jamaica, available in the restaurant or to go
10am – 5pm Gallo Men’s Clothier - end-of-summer sale
10am – 5pm Strictly Discs – 10 tables of bargains
10am – 5pm Hive – huge sidewalk sale
Noon - 5pm Clear Path Counseling & Wellness - Free 20-minute "Chat with a Therapist" sessions (1934 Monroe Street)
10am – 5pm Good Day Shop - Pop by to sample Portland Syrups & to shop our end of season sale
2500 Block
10am – 5pm Sunne Boutique – make your own bag chain experience! This is a free event and all bag charm making supplies will be provided. Summer clearance sale; new fall styles to check out.
10am - 4pm Collectivo - Pick-up and/or drop-off the Festival Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win Monroe Street Gift Certificates.
By CHOCOLATE SHOPPE ICE CREAM
10am-Noon Free balloon art – Sponsored by Chocolate Shoppe
11am– 4pm Bouncy Castle – Sponsored by Chocolate Shoppe
11am Madison West Dance Team & the middle school Madison Royals
12 noon Oak Apple Morris Dancers
1pm Breckenridge Scottish Dancers
1pm - 3pm Free face painting – Sponsored by Chocolate Shoppe
2pm The Milkshiners: the Marco Mascitti Duo
3 pm Mideast Salsa – North African Salsa Music
4pm Trinity Irish Dancers - learn the jig!
The Monroe Street Festival Is A
MONROE STREET MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION EVENT
The Monroe Street Festival is a cherished annual tradition celebrating our many locally owned businesses and our surrounding residential neighborhoods. The purpose of the Festival is to promote and sustain new and existing businesses, enhance the positive and vibrant image of Monroe Street, and attract visitors from all over to our lively sliver of the city. The celebration, which is held annually on a Saturday in September, features a range of activities to bring the community together including sidewalk sales, grab and go food specials, outdoor entertainment, children’s activities, and so much more.