AtwoodFest
2026
For one weekend every July, Madison's near-east side closes Atwood Avenue to traffic and opens it to music. AtwoodFest returns July 25–26, 2026 for two days of free, all-ages live music, food, and neighborhood celebration in the heart of the Schenk-Atwood district.The festival is produced by the SASY Neighborhood Association — the volunteer-run nonprofit that has represented the Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara neighborhoods since 1999 — in partnership with the historic Barrymore Theatre on Atwood Avenue. It's a genuine community endeavor: proceeds fund SASY's neighborhood grant program and east-side initiatives, so the party pays the neighborhood back. Over the years AtwoodFest has grown into one of the city's signature summer events, drawing more than 30,000 attendees and earning the Madison Area Music Association's award for Madison's Best Music Festival in both 2023 and 2024.This year's lineup brings roughly 30 artists to three stages, each named for a music great with Madison ties — the Clyde Stubblefield, Luther Allison, and Sugar Maple stages. Saturday runs noon to 10 PM and closes with Madison disco-funk supergroup VO5, with Chicago blues guitarist Toronzo Cannon and a deep bench of local favorites along the way. Sunday runs noon to 7:30 PM, opening with the 14-piece Steely Dan tribute Steely Dane and rolling through brass, blues, country, and indie rock to the finish. A neighborhood parade called "Convergence" kicks off the weekend, while KidsFest and community art projects round out the family-friendly mix.Vendor Alley stretches up and down Atwood Avenue with around 75 vendors, 20 local food stands, and 14 Wisconsin beers, plus wine. The food is a tour of Madison's global east side: Laotian (Lao Laan-Xang, serving the neighborhood since 1990), Senegambian (Keur Fatou), Ghanaian (Mary's Kitchen), Venezuelan (La Taguara), Filipino, Jamaican, Thai, Mexican, and Costa Rican kitchens, alongside hometown sweets from Atwood Creamery and Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream.AtwoodFest runs on community support. Lake Ridge Bank returns as a leading sponsor, joined by partners including United Way of Dane County, Dane Arts, Festival Foods, Monty's BluePlate Diner, and Tex Tubb's Taco Palace, with media partners WORT 89.9 FM, Isthmus, and Civic Media.Admission is free. Organizers encourage biking — bike corrals line the Capital City Trail — and the 2000 block of Atwood Avenue goes car-free for the weekend. Leave pets at home (service animals welcome), and stop by the SASY tent for water, first aid, an ATM, and lost-and-found.
Organizers: AtwoodFest, SASY Neighborhood Association, Barrymore Theatre Music festivals Rock, Blues, Reggae
Day 1
Day 2
Clyde Stubblefield Stage
Luther Allison Stage
Sugar Maple Stage
Sponsors
bad dog frida