A full summer’s worth of fun on the Memorial Union Terrace has officially begun, complete with outdoor movie screenings, live music performances, lakeside adventures and a variety of new food and beverage options.
Home to 40,000 square feet of outdoor dining and entertainment space, the Memorial Union Terrace’s summertime offerings are set to run through the end of August, with the full lineup of events available on terracesummer.com.
“Summer on the Terrace is truly something to be savored,” said Susan Dibbell, Wisconsin Union deputy director. “You’ve got everything at your fingertips: lakeside views, live entertainment and a litany of dining spots to choose from. All you have to do is pull up a chair to celebrate the season with us."
Some highlights of what patrons can enjoy include:
Weekly Lakeside Cinema outdoor movies: June 1 to Aug. 24 at 9 p.m., featuring $1 hot dogs, chips and sodas from the Brat Stand starting at 8 p.m. on movie nights
Outdoor recreation: starting May 24, including rentals of kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards as well as guided hikes and paddle adventures
Four nights of live music every week: open mic nights Wednesdays at 7 p.m., starting May 27; as well as local and national artists/bands Thursdays at 7 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Terrace Art Zone and Terrace Art Cart: a new free artmaking project every week Thursdays-Saturdays from 5-8 p.m. June 11-Aug. 22, as well as do-it-yourself art kits and handmade works for purchase
Bucky-n-Booms, July 4: an Independence Day celebration presented with The Edgewater, complete with fireworks, water skiing show, and live Americana music
Music festival weekends: Madison Jazz Festival on the Terrace: June 26-27; Terrace Country weekend: July 9-11; Irish Fest on the Terrace: July 25
Refreshing new dishes and beverages: including frosty Terrace Lemonade milkshakes at Daily Scoop, pretzel board with charcuterie offerings at Lakeview Lounge, and housemade craft cocktails at der Stiftskeller
Teeny-Tiny Terrace Trot: a micro-marathon that takes participants in a 0.26-mile loop around Memorial Union on July 25 at 11 a.m.
Biweekly game events: including bingo, trivia, board game rentals, and other game-centric activities
Lakefront Live: a concert best enjoyed from paddlecraft on Lake Mendota, featuring bluegrass band The MilBillies on July 16 from 6-8:30 p.m.
- Kick-backs before Madison’s major concerts: with music on the Terrace on July 7 from 5-8 p.m., featuring band STEEZ; and July 19 from 5-8 p.m., featuring band Foo Foo Dolls
The student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Film, Music, and Games Committees are the planners behind the Terrace’s film, music, and game event line-ups. The Wisconsin Union’s open art studio, Wheelhouse Studios, hosts the Terrace Art Zone and Terrace Art Cart. Outdoor UW is home to the Wisconsin Union’s year-round outdoor excursions and recreation equipment rentals.