Halloween festivities, Southwest Area Plan, Announcements and Events

Hello neighbors,

It’s Halloween week! Remember that Madison does not have set trick-or-treating hours. If you are offering allergy-free treats, please set out a teal pumpkin to indicate that to families. Here are neighborhood offerings today:

• Halloween parade at Sunset Park, Sunday, October 26, starting at 2pm.
  • Halloween on the Green, Sunday, October 26, starting at 4:30pm at Hillington Green triangle park.
  • Hilldale-O-Ween, Sunday, October 26, 3-5pm. Meet at the Green, outside the Apple store.

Halloween will be celebrated in the Shepherd Terrace cul-de-sac starting at 6pm on October 31. Please bring a dish to pass and your own family’s beverages. Please bring a donation for pizza!

Updates and Notices

City of Madison Parking: Finding convenient parking should be easy! Visit the Parking page on the City of Madison website to find locations of city garages and lots, current availability, and information on parking permits.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

• Southwest Area Plan Public Meeting: Virtual Option, Wednesday, October 29: This meeting will provide an overview of issues and opportunities in the planning area and offer a chance to review and comment on draft plan actions. Presentations at the virtual meetings will be followed by discussion and feedback.
• Public Input Meeting - Canter and Woods Farm Parks, Wednesday, October 29: The City of Madison Parks Division is starting the design process for both Woods Farm Park and Canter Park on the northeast side of the city. Each park is approximately 5 acres. In anticipation of further growth in the neighborhood, a master plan is being put together to guide the development of these two existing parks.
• Southwest Area Plan Public Meeting: Virtual Option, Thursday, October 30:The City of Madison Parks Division is starting the design process for both Woods Farm Park and Canter Park on the northeast side of the city. Each park is approximately 5 acres. In anticipation of further growth in the neighborhood, a master plan is being put together to guide the development of these two existing parks.

Announcements and News Releases

• City, County Officials Encourage Flu & COVID Vaccination This Fall: Public Health Madison & Dane County is reminding everyone that getting up to date on flu and COVID vaccines is the best defense against getting seriously sick this respiratory virus season.
• Overnight Closures Scheduled for Northbound John Nolen Drive Next Week: Beginning Monday night, October 27, the northbound lanes of John Nolen Drive will be closed overnight between Olin Avenue and North Shore Drive to accommodate storm sewer installation work.
• Food Scraps Recycling at Farmers’ Markets Ends November 1, 2025: You are running out of time to bring food scraps to a farmers’ market drop-off site. We are also short on time to reach the food scraps drop-off goal for this season.

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

• Wright Design Series: Possible Future, Monday, October 27: Presented by Chandler Ahrens. Chandler Ahrens enjoys thinking about the potential of underutilized buildings, finding inspiration in the challenges and opportunities of adaptive reuse projects. As chair of the Graduate School of Architecture at Washington University and co-founder of AVV A architecture firm, his work illustrates innovative techniques in architecture and public art.
• Hayride Around the Capitol | Movie at the Top of State, Wednesday, October 29: We've partnered with Madison's Central BID for the Downtown Madison Family Halloweento bring you back-to-back events! Take a haywagon ride around the Capitol Square and see a movie at the Top of State Street.
• Warner Family Fun Night | Halloween Celebration, Friday, October 31: Join us at WPCRC for Warner Family Fun Night! Families can create art projects, play in the game room or the gym, watch a movie or win some prizes playing bingo!
• Vaccination Clinic at Goodman Community Center, Saturday, November 1: All vaccines are free for eligible individuals. Children six months and older who lack insurance, are under 19, and are either Alaskan Native or American Indian, as well as those with BadgerCare or most other types of insurance, can receive vaccinations at no cost.

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

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 Monday, October 27, at 4:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include deliberations on the 2026 Executive Operating Budget.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 28, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include allowing anyone to submit a complaint to the Ethics Board, as well as adopting the 2025-2030 Park and Open Space Plan.
  • Meeting Details
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Register for Public Comment
  • Watch Online
• Board of Public Works: The Board of Public Works meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 29, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include the updated Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan.
  • 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.

Best wishes,

Regina Vidaver