Get Updated COVID & Flu Shots

Respiratory season is here and getting your shots is the best way to stay healthy. The updated COVID vaccines were created to more closely target currently circulating strains. Vaccines are one of our best tools to avoid ending up in a hospital or worse with severe illness. If you’re uninsured or your plan doesn’t cover vaccines, come get your updated COVID and flu shots at a Public Health vaccine clinic. If you have health insurance, most plans will cover COVID vaccines at no cost to you, as long as it is given at a pharmacy or healthcare provider who is in your network. 

Order Free COVID Tests 

You can now order a new round of free at-home COVID tests on COVIDTests.gov. Every U.S. household is eligible to receive four free rapid tests to be delivered directly to your home via the U.S. Postal Service. You can also pick up at-home tests from area libraries (call ahead to check supply) or at Public Health Madison & Dane County’s South Park Street or East Washington locations, during business hours. Also, before you throw out expired tests check to see if the expiration dates have been extended.

Mayor’s Message

I was honored to meet with First Lady Jill Biden, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, and Governor Evers recently to thank our state and federal partners for the substantial financial support they have sent the City of Madison! In the past four years with the help of our Congressional representatives, Madison has benefited from a whopping $428 million in federal funding,  for which we are immensely grateful. We receive ongoing funding $42.3 million from the State and of course regularly get support from our partners in Dane County government, like this week’s proposed $600,000 investment in the Madison CARES program.   When you see them please thank them for lifting up Madison priorities!  

Fall Leaf Collection

Fall leaf collection gets underway the week of October 8.  If you have more leaves you can mulch into your lawn or compost, you’ll have three curbside collection opportunities.  Get the dates on when you can set out your yard waste for pickup at www.cityofmadison.com/YardWaste. You get the set out dates by entering your address into the form on the yard waste website, or you can try out the new map lookup tool the Streets Division is testing out this this year. The yard waste website has all of the rules, and guidelines on how to set out yard waste correctly.

Protect Your Trees This Fall

This fall you can take action to protect your trees from spongy moth caterpillars before they hatch in the spring. Check your trees, and other outdoor surfaces like sheds, RVs, picnic tables, and firewood piles for egg masses.  The masses look like fuzzy brownish lumps. Each mass can contain up to 1,000 eggs, so destroying them correctly makes a difference. The masses are too strong to just be squished by the heel of your shoe, so you have to destroy them the right way. After you find the masses, you should scrape them off whatever surface you find them on. Submerge the mass in soapy water for two days. Finally, toss the waterlogged mass into your trash.  You can learn more details about the spongy moth, including links to photos of the egg masses and links to additional resources, at www.cityofmadison.com/SpongyMoth.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

This year’s celebration is underway at various city agencies and throughout our City, including Madison’s Latinx Community Engagement Team and Madison Public Library hosting the “Immigrant Journeys” display at the Central Library from September 25-October 13 in partnership with the Wisconsin Humanities Council’s Love Wisconsin project. Stop by most open hours to view this display and learn about the many immigration paths that bring people from Latin and South America to the United States. Madison Public Library and the Wisconsin Book Festival is hosting a series of events for the month and the Madison Senior Center and NewBridge Madison will host Celebración de la Herencia Hispana on Saturday, September 30, 12-4pm.  At that event, held at the Madison Senior Center, hosts will offer music, dance, food and more.  Please call MSC at 608-266-6581 to register. 

22nd Wisconsin Book Festival Annual 

More than 50 authors are scheduled to speak about their latest published works at the Wisconsin Book Festival’s 22nd annual Fall Celebration October 19–22 at Madison Public Library’s Central Library. The lineup features a diverse group of writers, both new and accomplished, whose work spans a broad range of genres. See the entire schedule at https://www.wisconsinbookfestival.org.

Celebrate Fire Prevention Week

Join the Madison Fire Department and other Dane County fire departments for the annual Fire Truck Parade & Display! The fun begins Sunday, October 8 at 1:00 p.m. with a parade up State Street, followed by a fire truck display on the Capitol Square until 4:00 p.m. The annual event kicks off Fire Prevention Week, observed nationally during the second week of October. Follow Madison Fire on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (X) for daily safety tips during Fire Prevention Week, and remember: Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.

Haywagon Rides with Madison Parks

Climb aboard a haywagon this fall! Madison Parks is hosting haywagon rides at a number of special events including Hayrides & Hikes and through Olin Park’s Holiday Fantasy in Lights. You may also reserve your own haywagon ride through the Holiday Fantasy in Lights for up to 20 adults with a campfire and s’mores. See Hayrides for more information.

Teejop & Beyond with Madison Libraries

Teejop & Beyond: Celebrating Native Nations, a program created by Madison Public Library in partnership with Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison, will return to libraries on Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Monday, October 9). Program participants will also have the opportunity to try hands-on crafts like beading, basketweaving and quillwork and understand the way techniques and approaches vary depending on the tribal traditions guiding them. This year, presenters represent the Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida, and Ottawa nations. Learn more about each presenter online at madpl.org/teejopandbeyond and save the date for October 9 when programs will be announced.

Get Involved in Local Government

We encourage all City of Madison residents to get involved in the decision-making processes of their local government. By participating in Common Council meetings, you can have a say in policies, services and developments that directly affect your lives! All council meetings are open to the public to attend in-person or virtually by watching live on Madison City Channel.  To learn more:

• Visit Common Council Meeting Calendar.Visit the Common Council website.Email or call your alder. Find your alder.Contact the Common Council Office by filling out the online contact form.Call the Common Council Office at (608) 266-4071 to leave a message for the entire Common Council. Council staff will compile and forward messages to the Common Council members.

MSC Health & Resource Fair

The Madison Senior Center’s annual Health & Resource Fair will feature health screenings, a brain health presentation, a yoga class, and local vendors that provide senior servicesTuesday, October 17, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.  Free event. No registration required.