Annual Events
Nobody Festivals like Stoughton!
Destination Stoughton (spring)
The Stoughton Norwegian Summit Group, an informal group of Norwegian themed businesses, groups and organizations, builds a weekend of Norse opportunities around a signature event. The group was organized in 2011 under the leadership of Sons of Norway- Mandt Lodge to bring “all those things Norwegian” together to help promote each other’s events, activities, businesses and organizations. The group helps promote two Destination Weekends each year and of course, all are busy Syttende Mai Weekend!
Wisconsin Craft Cider Tasting V
The Fifth installment of the Wisconsin Craft Cider Tasting has over 20 unique Cideries and Wineries participating to bring you the most amount of Wisconsin made ciders in one place. See all the state has to offer in this one of kind event that features Only Cider, Apple Wine and Mead.
Featuring a Bottle shop for purchasing Cider from participating brands.
Re-entry is allowed to this event.
April 12, 2025 2pm-6pm
Mershon’s Cidery
124 W Main St, Stoughton, WI 53589
Syttende Mai Festival
Stoughton's Syttende Mai festival is a weekend-long celebration of Norwegian heritage featuring fun activities and cultural experiences for the whole family. Come join us for three days of parades, amazing food and drink, arts and music, athletic competitions, and kids’ activities steeped in centuries of Norwegian culture.
The city-wide festival takes place every year on the weekend closest to Norway’s May 17th Constitution Day, also known as Syttende Mai. From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Stoughton enjoyed an influx of Norwegians, and at one time, as many as 75 percent of its residents spoke Norwegian. These immigrants celebrated Syttende Mai unofficially, but it became an annual, city-wide tradition in the 1950s. 2020 would’ve marked the 67th consecutive year the festival has been organized by the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce.
Taste of Stoughton
The Taste of Stoughton is an annual event located in Nordic Ridge Park on the SW side of town. It occurs every 3rd Saturday in June, so mark your calendars for next year! Kids can enjoy the splash pad, local park & entertainment. Vendors will have food for sale, as well as beer & wine. General admission is FREE. ALL proceeds go back to local non-profits in the community of Stoughton!
Bring your blankets, chairs & kids to enjoy a day of local food, drink, music all while supporting the community!
Stoughton Fair
Providing family fun for all ages, the Stoughton Fair is a free community event which strives to provide good clean family entertainment to people of all ages and economic backgrounds.
The Stoughton Fair Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and works with hundreds of area volunteers to manage and carry out this event, which provides an invaluable venue for learning. 4-H, FFA, FHA, Scouts, Sr. Citizens and Adults to compete and learn valuable life skills such a good sportsmanship, good work ethic, responsibility for themselves and others as well as leadership and community involvement.
Catfish River Music Festival
Be the first to find out what’s coming up during 2024-2025 at the Stoughton Opera House!
Stoughton Fireworks
Join us at the Stoughton Fair or Catfish River Music Festival for the annual Fourth of July Fireworks!
Show starts at dusk and is sponsored by The Stoughton Fair, City of Stoughton, and Visit Stoughton.
Victorian Holiday Weekend
Come and experience old world charm during Stoughton’s magical, Victorian Holiday Weekend! Shopping specials, Madrigal Singers, arts and crafts, fire truck parade, and so much more!
Thursday, December 5th
Love Light Presentation 4:30pm
Sponsored by Partners of Stoughton Hospital. A significant and traditional tree lighting ceremony to remember, honor and recognize those who have touched our lives.
Stoughton Hospital Lobby. 900 Ridge St
Friday, December 6th
Holiday Light Display 5:30pm
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Stoughton, holiday lights are timed to music station, 88.5.
Rotary Park 324 S 6th StStoughton Center for the Arts Presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas the Musical
Stoughton Center for the Arts presents Irving Berlin's White Christmas the Musical, based on the beloved 1954 movie starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. Performances are at SHS Auditorium Friday December 6th at 7pm, Saturday December 7th at 2pm and 7pm.
An Acoustic Christmas with Over the Rhine
Performance at 7:30pm Call for ticket availability: 608-877-4400
Stoughton Opera House 381 E Main St
Saturday, December 7th
Cookie Walk & Vintage Sale 8am-12pm
A wide assortment of holiday cookies and candy will be available as well as Scandinavian almond cakes. The Vintage Sale will include many quality items with something for everyone. Come fill up your cookie jar and shop for that special holiday gift!
Stoughton United Methodist Church 525 Lincoln AveVictorian Holiday Artisan Market 9am-5pm
Share the holiday spirit with us at Chorus Public House for Stoughton's annual Victorian Holiday Artisan Market. This festive event features a wide variety of unique and handcrafted gifts from local artisans perfect for your holiday shopping needs, including quality crafts, jewelry, baked goods, and more! Enjoy live music and cafe service all while supporting local businesses this holiday season. The event is free to attend and sponsored by the Stoughton Community Farmer's Market.
Chorus Public House, 154 W Main StStoughton High School Madrigal Singers 9:45am-11:45am
Singers will be preforming downtown Stoughton in costume and will begin with a 10 minute performance at the Stoughton Library at 9:45 AM. Caroling will continue up and down Main Street until 11:45 AM.Pictures with Santa, Elsa & The Grinch 11am-12:30pm
Bring your own camera. Free community event.
Inspire Martial Arts, 1740 E Main St, Suite BSanta’s Magical Mailbox & Coloring Fun
Stop by the store to pick up one of our adorable holiday postcards! Kids can color and complete their postcard with their holiday wishes. Once finished, drop it into Santa’s magical mailbox. It’s a fun and festive way to make sure every wish reaches the North Pole in style!
The Next Generation 161 E Main StHoliday Crafts
Make a wooden snowman necklace, kid’s drop-in activity $7. Make wood holiday coasters, all ages $6 each or 4 for $20.
Necklace $7 - Coasters $6 each or 4 for $20
Grand Inspired Gallery and Makerspace 501 E Main StLive Nativity Scene 12:30-4:30pm
This is free family-friendly interactive event. You can ride a camel, lead a sheep, see the manger, wisemen, shepherds, angels, and more to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Good Shepherd by the Lake, 1860 Hwy 51.Nordic Food & Fun at Holiday Time 1pm
Stop on in at 1pm for a treat bag and listen to Folklorist Marcus Cedarstrom.
Livsreise 277 W Main St.Fire Truck Light Parade 5:30pm
Traveling east on Main. Cookies and treats to follow at the Fire Station.
401 E Main StStoughton Center for the Arts Presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas the Musical
Stoughton Center for the Arts presents Irving Berlin's White Christmas the Musical, based on the beloved 1954 movie starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. Performances are at SHS Auditorium Friday December 6th at 7pm, Saturday December 7th at 2pm and 7pm.
Performance at 7:30pm Call for ticket availability: 608-877-4400
Stoughton Opera House 381 E Main St
Sunday, December 8th
Performance at 4pm Call for ticket availability: 608-877-4400
Stoughton Opera House 381 E Main St
Shopping Specials
Autumn Pearl : $5 off retail coffee bags plus signature holiday drinks all weekend long! 175 E Main Street
Gemini Games : 25% discount on Victorian and mystery themed games and dice, double Loyalty Points and when you purchase a $50 gift certificate, you'll get a FREE $20 bonus certificate! 193 W Main Street
Grasshopper Goods : Treats, giveaways and surprises all day long! 171 W Main St
Main Street Kitchen : FREE Bucky Book with a $50 purchase. Gift Certificates make a Great Stocking Stuffer. Order your Holiday Party - Cake, Sub Wreath, Dips, Hors d'oeuvres and more. 120 East Main St
Sun & Lace : 20% off little kid purses and clothing 160 E Main Street
The Crazy Dog Mom : Purchases $50+ get to spin the wheel to win prizes! 161 W Main St
The Next Generation : Double Stamps on Your Loyalty Card
Earn 2 stamps for every $10 spent during Victorian Holiday Weekend! It's the perfect opportunity to tackle your holiday shopping list with our selection of new toys, books, and gifts! Plus, don’t miss out on stocking up on children’s and women’s clothing all while earning rewards twice as fast! 161 E Main St
Zovar Fine Art : 20 % off everything! 143 E Main St
Destination Stoughton (fall)
There is only one place to be from October 25 to 27—Destination Stoughton. A weekend full of activities will keep you entertained.
Friday, October 25th
Livsreise-Norwegian Heritage Center- 277 W. Main Street Hours 9:30a - 5:00p (closed 12-12:30p) Free Admission
New Exhibit: Innovators and Inventors, on loan from the Vesterhiem Museum, celebrates the creativity and ingenuity of Norwegian immigrants and their descendants in America.
Stoughton Opera House- 381 E. Main Steet
Harp Twins Rockin’ Haloween Concert from 7:30p-10p This stunning live show features virtuoso harp arrangements of classic rock, metal, and their Nordic Celtic originals with the Harp Twins own exciting, comedic, and interactive performance audiences cannot forget! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online: Click here
Art Walk Stoughton
Art Walk Stoughton 2024 returns for its sixth annual art event to take place in Stoughton’s Arts & Entertainment District. It takes place the last Saturday of September, rain or shine, in Stoughton, WI’s historic downtown Arts & Entertainment District. Here, fine artists, fine craftsmen, musicians, and more will be hosted by our own local shops to showcase their work and present an expansive gallery tour experience.
There is a diversity of art mediums and range of prices available for art collectors and new art buyers.
Art Walk Stoughton is a celebration of art, food, music. Come support local and regional artists while shopping and dining with us – experience all that Stoughton can offer!
Half Pint Resale
Half Pint Resale 2024 Fall/Winter Sale Madison Area’s Largest Children’s Consignment Sale! High quality consignment shopping for pregnant moms, expecting parents, and young families, featuring items of all types for ages 0-12.
Friday Sept 13th- Sunday Sept 15th
Mandt Center, Stoughton
Friday: Volunteer and Consignor pre-sale (No Public Shopping)
Saturday: Public Sale 8am-6:30pm
Sunday: Public Sale Half Price 8am-1pm
Coffee Break Festival
Coffee Break Festival is held the third Saturday in August with a Coffee Brew-Off, Cup O' Joe All Wheels Show, Arts and Crafts, Beer Garden, More!
All-Wheels Show Awards include: Best American Bike, Best Antique, Best Camaro, Best Camper Trailer, Best GM, Best Convertible, Best Cruising Car, Best Ford, Best Hod Rod, Best Import, Best Investment, Best Mopar, Best Mustang, Best Paint, Best Saturday Night, Best Sunday Drive, Best Tractor, Mayor's Choice, People's Choice, Young Gun, and more!
Stoughton National Night Out
With summer in full swing, please join us for the 2024 National Night Out, a gathering at Nordic Ridge Park, located at 1300 Hoel Avenue, Stoughton, WI, from 5 PM to 8 PM on August 6, 2024.
National Night Out is an event celebrated nationwide and this year will be the fifth year our department will host the community of Stoughton. This event is open to all ages, FREE to the public and food will be provided.
MedFlight is scheduled to land around 5 PM, depending on weather and emergency needs. Come attempt to dunk one of our officers in the Dunk Tank, check out all of the different booths and get your Scavenger Hunt card completed for your chance at winning a prize!
A HUGE Shout Out to our Sponsors for keeping this event running through the years and to our Partners, who stay involved to help maintain our #1 goal; to come together as a community and put on an event that allows the community and its members a fun, free event that strengthens the relationship between public safety and the community.
Stoughton Spring Gallery Night
Come to Stoughton for Spring Gallery Night at six fine art galleries!
Art aficionado or not, come enjoy Stoughton Gallery Night, with over 150 artists’ work displayed in six locations, all in the beautiful Arts & Entertainment District of downtown Stoughton. Many artists will be on hand to demonstrate and discuss their art.
Saturday, May 11, 2024, 4-9 p.m.
These fine art galleries look forward to hosting you for an evening of art appreciation:
Abel Contemporary Gallery, 524 East Main Street
Zovar Fine Art, 143 East Main Street
Grand Inspired, 501 East Main Street
Woodland Studios, 195 East Main Street
Overt Space, 130 East Main Street
Green Road Pottery (Yahara Chocolate & Tea), 261 West Main Street
Syttende Mai Festival
Our annual Syttende Mai Festival in Stoughton, Wisconsin is a three-day celebration of our city's Norwegian heritage and culture. The Syttende Mai takes place annually on the weekend closest to Norway's Constitution Day. Enjoy a full weekend of family-friendly activities in Stoughton, from parades and delicious food & drinks, to arts & crafts.
There are many reasons to Visit Stoughton!
Visit the Community Calendar for more community events.