ENJOY A FREE FUN WEEKEND IN YOUR LOCAL PARKS

Activity Permit Fees are Waived January 20 and 21 in Dane County and City of Madison Parks  

Madison Parks and Dane County Parks are offering a permit-free weekend on Saturday and Sunday, January 20 and 21, 2024. Winter activities typically requiring a permit are free to enjoy all weekend! 

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI 
Madison Parks offers seven designated ski trails, with three requiring a ski permit. All ski trails are now open. Door Creek, Elver and Odana Hills, which typically require a permit, are groomed several times per week, as conditions allow. Try one of these locations for free this weekend only. Free-to-use sites include Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park – South, Owen and Turville Point conservation parks. See Cross-Country Ski for the latest grooming dates. 

DISC GOLF 
Try out disc golf in the winter! Hiestand Park disc golf course is open for winter play, as conditions allow. If you have a Madison Public Library card, you can check out disc golf too! Please note, the course may periodically close in the future as the snow melts. Look for more information and updates on the Disc Golf website. 

DOGS IN PARKS 
In addition to nine off-leash dog parks, a dog permit is required for all leashed dogs in parks where allowed. Check out Dogs in Parks for more information.

WINTER FUN IN MADISON PARKS THIS WEEKEND 

ELVER PARK 
The staffed warming shelter at Elver Park is open Wednesdays through Sundays, as conditions allow. This location offers rentals for classic skis, sleds, snowshoes and ice skates when the rinks are open. 

This weekend’s hours at Elver Park: 

• Friday, January 19: 4-8pm
• Saturday, January 20: 12-8pm
• Sunday, January 21: 12-6pm  

ICE SKATING 
In case you didn't know, Parks staff is responsible for priority snow removal areas before snow or ice grooming begins. These priority areas are roads, more than 400 bus stops, bike trails, sidewalks, and parking lots. As we finish cleaning up from last week’s snowstorms, Parks crews are working to open a few of the ice rinks this week. Know before you go -- please check Ice Rinks before heading out. 

FREE EVENTS & MORE
Groove & Glide 
Groove & Glide events are scheduled on Friday evenings throughout the short winter season. Although we rescheduled last week’s event, we are planning to host the first Groove & Glide of the season at Elver Park on Friday, January 19, 6-8pm. 

Bird & Nature Adventures | Sledding at Olbrich Park 
Join Master Naturalist Paul Noeldner and Friends of Starkweather Creek for a free family-friendly sledding party and nature walk on Saturday, January 20.  Some sleds will be provided or bring your own. 

Candlelight Snowshoe Walk
Join Madison Parks & partners on Saturday, January 20, 6-8pm at Warner Park!

Winter Clothing Drive
Donate your new and gently used winter clothing through Sunday, January 28! Madison Parks, in partnership with the St. Vincent de Paul - Madison, is collecting winter clothing at select locations, including Madison Parks Lakeside Offices, 330 E. Lakeside St. 

Madison Parks is a division of the City of Madison with 280+ parks and nearly 6,000 acres to explore through hiking, golfing, swimming, skating, skiing and more! Explore MADISON PARKS.  

For more information, please visit Winter Fun in Madison Parks at cityofmadison.com/parks/winterfun

This permit-free weekend is offered in collaboration with Dane County Parks. Visit Dane County Parks Winter Recreation for more information.