Fresh air + fine art = a combination fit for a great trip. Watching a live outdoor performance is the perfect combination of Madison's vibrant arts scene and lake-city-lake landscape. Our outdoor art spaces vary from open outdoor theaters to rooftop sculpture gardens to lakeshore concert stages and more.
Check out our events calendar for a full lineup of concerts and performances, and jump around to learn more about outdoor art spaces in Madison:
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Outdoor theaters and stages
American Players Theatre
Just about 40 miles west of Madison in Spring Green you'll find the second-largest outdoor theater in the country. The American Players Theatre (APT) sits on 110 acres in Wisconsin's scenic Driftless Region and is home to a professional theater company committed to performing the classics.
The grounds at APT go beyond a typical outdoor theater venue. The campus has two stages: the outdoor Hill Theatre and the smaller indoor Touchstone Theatre. Winding throughout the property is a trail system that will lead you through the campus's native prairies and oak savannah. You'll also find multiple picnic areas and rentable shelters in addition to the box office and gift shop building.
You are welcome to bring your own picnic to the APT grounds or order ahead—picnic baskets or picnic dinners are available from Hubbard Avenue Diner.
Breese Stevens Field
Do you know many places that have hosted USL Soccer, a cheese curd festival and Bon Iver? We're guessing probably not, but we're going to change that. The historic Breese Stevens Field has undergone extensive renovations in the last several years to make it one of the premier Madison summer venues for Forward Madison soccer games, festivals and a summer concert series that brings in huge national touring acts like Greta Van Fleet, Modest Mouse, the Flaming Lips, Phoebe Bridgers, Weezer and more.
Memorial Union Terrace
Free live music, lakeside views and iconic chairs make the Memorial Union Terrace one of the most beloved places to spend a summer evening in Madison. The terrace is located on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus but is open to everyone and hosts live music and performances throughout the season. Last year, they expanded their themed music weekends to include genres like country and jazz. You can watch the stage from the signature sunburst chairs or rent a kayak, canoe or SUP from Outdoor UW and enjoy the show from the water.
Monona Terrace rooftop
The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center is all business by day, hosting hundreds of meetings, conventions and conferences a year. But by night during the summer, the stunning lakeside venue becomes one of the city's most beautiful dance floors. Concerts on the Rooftop is a free live music series held Thursdays in June and July, and welcomes artists from across genres like folk, soul, funk, Latin and more. Dane Dances are free, family-friendly events held every Friday evening in August featuring live music and the opportunity to dance the night away with other movers and shakers. The festivities are held on the rooftop overlooking Lake Monona on one side and incredible views of the Wisconsin State Capitol on the other.
High Noon Saloon
One of Madison's favorite rock clubs for more than 20 years opens up its patios every week throughout the summer for live shows and great vibes. High Noon Saloon has been the stomping grounds for soon-to-be-huge acts on their way to stardom, including the Black Keys, the Avett Brothers, the National, Vampire Weekend, Chance the Rapper, ODESZA, Shakey Graves and many more. Stop by for a patio night and maybe you'll see your next favorite artists and claim the coveted title of "I knew them before they were big."
Patios and hidden gems
The Mill Paoli
Paoli, a small town just 20 minutes outside of Madison, has become the ultimate hidden gem for farm-to-table dining, boutique shopping and live music. The Mill is a gathering space home to Hop Garden brewery, My Tipsy Gypsy spirits, the Lazy Squirrel Cocktail Lounge, Purple Goose Boutique and more. Behind the building is a sprawling, shaded outdoor space where there's live music to enjoy every weekend.
Garver Feed Mill
Sitting back and listening to live music under the twinkling cafe lights at the Garver Feed Mill is what summer is all about. Catch local acts, and enjoy food and drink from Garver shops like Roll Play, Ian's Pizza, Calliope Ice Cream, NessAlla Kombucha and more.
Capital Brewery Biergarten
The biergarten at Capital Brewery has been a staple in nearby Middleton for more than 40 years. Enjoy locally brewed beer in the spacious biergarten while listening to some of the best local bands around. And don't forget to sign up for Madison On Tap to get a discount on your beer while you're there!
The Biergarten at Olbrich Park
Just across the street from the stunning Olbrich Botanical Gardens lies another place to admire the views, and take in some live music while you’re at it. The Biergarten at Olbrich Park is an open-air watering hole that overlooks Lake Monona and serves up plenty of local brews on tap, along with cider and seltzers. They also frequently host live music acts from an array of genres, from Irish to polka.
Galleries and public art
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art rooftop sculpture garden
Live music is certainly not the only art you can enjoy outdoors in Madison. The free Madison Museum of Contemporary Art has a rooftop sculpture garden overlooking State Street that has views that rival the stunning pieces of art on display.
Willy Street
Williamson Street—affectionately known as Willy Street by locals—is a neighborhood historically occupied by artists, and it shows. As you walk along Willy, you'll spot sculptures and murals scattered amidst shops selling work by local artists, thrift stores and the legendary Cafe CODA jazz club.
Madison outdoor public art
In a city where culture is around every corner, there's no shortage of incredible public art to be discovered. Check out the online database created by the Friends of Madison Arts Commission to find more outdoor public art in Madison. For one specific area to spot public art, don’t miss State Street, which spotlights more than 70 murals that focus on social change. Just outside of Madison, you'll find murals and public art all throughout the city of Middleton, Wis.
