Meeting and Event Highlights for the Week of May 26, 2025

Image credit: Bill Tishler

On Monday, May 26, 2025, the Madison community will once again gather at Union Rest in Forest Hill Cemetery (1 Speedway Road) to pay tribute to the men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation. Hosted by the Madison Veterans Council, this annual Memorial Day ceremony is a reminder of the cost of freedom and the importance of remembrance.

A special part of the tradition is the prelude concert by the VFW Post 1318 Volunteer Band, which this year celebrates its 75th anniversary. Under the direction of David Pedracine, the band will perform a stirring selection of patriotic pieces, including “Military Service Medley”, “America the Beautiful”, “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again”, and “Of Honor and Valor Eternal”—a powerful tribute originally composed to honor the Tuskegee Airmen. The concert begins at 9:15 a.m. and continues a rich musical legacy shaped by longtime director and UW–Madison music professor James Latimer.

The formal ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m., and will include:

• Presentation of colors by the Sons of the American Revolution
• The National Anthem, performed by Allison Kelley
• Flag and program distribution by the Daughters of the American Revolution
• John Decker, Dane County Historic Society President will be the keynote speaker
• A rifle salute and the solemn playing of “Taps” by the Madison Veterans Firing Squad
• Sejal Sundaram will close the event with the veteran version of Hallelujah

The ceremony is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and take part in this meaningful tribute.

For more information, visit the event page at: ccbamadison.org/event/memorial-day-concert-and-ceremony
Or contact Fred Campbell at campfred@chorus.net or 608-444-1356.

Join your neighbors in honoring the lives and legacies of those who served.

Updates and Notices

• The City of Madison will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2025, in Observance of Memorial Day.
• Email Scam (Phishing Attempt): We have heard about emails requesting payments for Conditional Use Permits that are pretending to come from the City of Madison. These emails are a scam (phishing attempt). The City of Madison will always send emails from “cityofmadison.com.” If you get an email from any other domain it is fraudulent.

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

• Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 27, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include an overview of 2026 Capital Budget requests.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Announcements and News Releases

• Metro Service Reduced on Monday, 5/26: Due to the holiday, buses will follow Sunday schedules. [posted May 23, 2025]
• Information on Special Election for Dane County Supervisor District 1 : A Special Election is being held on Tuesday, June 17 for the District 1 seat on the Dane County Board of Supervisors. [posted May 23, 2025]
• Lake Vista Café Opens for the Season: Enjoy casual gourmet fare and drinks and sprawling views of Lake Monona and downtown Madison at Lake Vista Café on the Monona Terrace Community… [posted May 22, 2025]
• Madison Police Department invites students to join the 2025 Black Youth Academy: MADISON, Wis. — The Madison Police Department is proud to announce the return of the Black Youth Academy, a free, weeklong summer program designed to build trust, leadership and life skills among Black youth in our community. [posted May 22, 2025]
• Street Closures for Monona Memorial Day Parade: Multiple streets, including Monona Drive, will be closed on Monday, May 26th for the annual Monona Memorial Day Parade. The parade route runs from Monona Grove High School to Sennett Middle School. Street closures will begin at 9:00am with the… [posted May 22, 2025]
• Lane Closures for Run Madtown Races: Multiple streets will be impacted on Saturday, May 24th and Sunday, May 25th for the annual Run Madtown race. Beginning at 7pm, the Twilight 5K will start and end on the 700 block of State St with the route looping through the… [posted May 22, 2025]
• Royal Thai Pavilion Earns 2025 Historic Preservation Award : The Royal Thai Pavilion is the 2025 Historic Preservation Award Recipient for its meticulous revival at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. [posted May 22, 2025]
• How to watch the 2025 MPD Awards Ceremony: The Madison Police Department is hosting its annual Awards Ceremony on Wednesday. The event is a way to honor officers, professional staff and community members for their bravery and commitment to public safety. The event takes place… [posted May 21, 2025]
• Madison Water Utility Releases Annual Drinking Water Quality Report: The report provides an overview of the tens of thousands of drinking water quality tests conducted in 2024 [posted May 21, 2025]
• Announcing Madison’s First Art Trucks: The City of Madison now has two collection vehicles that have been transformed into rolling murals. [posted May 21, 2025]
• Metro Transit and MMSD Partner Again for Free Summer Passes: The Summer Youth Pass allows students to ride Metro FREE all summer long, making it easier to get to jobs, athletic camps, and other fun summer destinations around Madison. [posted May 19, 2025]
• No Streets Division Collections on Monday, May 26, 2025 in Observance of Memorial Day: There will be no recycling, trash, brush, or large item collections performed by the City of Madison Streets Division on Monday, May 26, 2025, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. The Streets Division drop-off sites will also be closed. Trash… [posted May 19, 2025]
• Street Closure – Schewe Road between White Fox Lane and Old Sauk Road: Starting Thursday, May 22nd, Capital Underground will close Schewe Road, between White Fox Lane and Old Sauk Road, for utility installation and road construction associated with the Crest at Eagle Trace development. The street is expected to reopen… [posted May 19, 2025]
• Ordinance Change Proposed to Streamline Entertainment License Process for Local Businesses: A group of alders is introducing a set of changes to the City of Madison’s ordinances to streamline the process for local businesses seeking an Entertainment License for indoor live music. [posted May 19, 2025]
• 2025 Property Tax Base of the City of Madison: The City Assessor is responsible for the assessment process including: Center Garage Fiber Upgrade on May 19: [posted May 19, 2025]

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.

Events

• South Madison Farmer's Market, Tuesday, May 27: The Greater Madison MPO at the South Madison Farmer's Market sharing information about the Active Transportation Plan for Dane County, which focuses on improving biking, walking, and rolling across the region.
• FOOT - Free Concerts in Olin Pavilion, Wednesday, May 28 (This event occurs on multiple dates): FREE concerts return to the Olin Park pavilion on Wednesdays in May from 6 to 8 PM. Mark Croft duo  - Americana with fiddlin' on Wednesday, May 28.
• Basic Household Plumbing by Project Home, Wednesday, May 28: Ever wonder what’s really going on behind your walls when you flush the toilet or turn on the tap? Demystify your home’s plumbing system with Basic Household Plumbing! This hands-on course will take you from clueless to confident, covering everything from how your plumbing works to tackling common repairs like toilet and faucet replacements.
• Yahara Fishing Club Kids Fishing Day, Saturday, May 31: The first 300 kids receive a free fishing rod and bait along with help from Yahara Fishing Club members. The day coincides with the Wisconsin “free fishing weekend”, so adults can fish without a license. A free lunch of hot dogs, chips, and soft drink will be provided after the fishing.
• Gratitude in Nature: Goats and Yoga, Sunday, June 1 (This event occurs on multiple dates): We've partnered with the Friends of Olin Turville (FOOT) for a unique experience blending yoga, goat education, and volunteerism! Stretch, learn about goats, and contribute to local conservation efforts. This event offers something for everyone—yoga lovers, animal enthusiasts, and nature advocates alike!

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.