Monday through Friday our routine pretty much stays the same after work: daycare pickup, drive home, start dinner, eat, play, bath, bed, repeat. From time to time it would be nice to break free from our daily routine. Here is a list of places around Madison that offer activities after 5pm during the week. Go ahead and mix it up next week:
Animart Pet Store– Free to explore but beware your little one may want to take a new friend home. Visit the store to see the tanks of fish and pet puppies. Mon-Fri 10am-9pm
Boulders Climbing Gym Enjoy quality time with the whole family while scouring the walls of this inside gym. Thursday: Newcomers to the gym get 50% off your first time, clip in and shoes! Friday: Kids Night! Kids 7-15 pay only $10 for a clip in! Limit 2 children/adult$10 Mon-Fri 9am-10pm
Chuck E. Cheese’s Go on pretend to be a kid again! Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri 11am-10pm
Fast Forward Skate Center Skate your little heart out! Wednesdays 6:45pm- 8:45 pm Admission is only $4.00!! Plus: Roller Skate (quads) rental is only $1! Inline Skate (blades) rental is just $2!
Fired Up Pottery & Glass Walk in & create some art. Depending on the project and your creative juices your family can spend under an hour to hours at this studio. Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, Thurs 10am-9pm
Madison Swim Academy Family Open swim at Fitchburg location Mon/Wed/Thurs 3:30-7:30pm Tues 4:30-7:30pm Fri 3:30-6:30pm
Madison Public Libraries Pick out a variety of books for your family. This is a great FREE way to spend an hour or more before heading home. Times vary on how late they are open but some stay open until 9 most days of the week
Prairie Kids Club 11,000+ square foot of gym space including: trampolines, bounce castles, mats, toys, slides, climbers, games and balls. Children 3 and under are required to have a parent/caregiver near them while playing in the gym. Open Gym Fridays 9am-8pm
Play N Wisconsin Their indoor showroom is over 10,ooo sq.ft. filled with the safest most durable swing sets, trampolines, basketball systems & sports training products.Open play from 10-7 on Mondays and Thursdays
Pump It Up Bring the whole family together for a night of jumping on inflatables. Family jump on Thurdays from 5:30 to 7pm
Studio, You Paint It Pottery Design a new flower pot or make gifts for Grandparents. Another studio that you can stay for a short timeframe or for hours. Tues/Thurs 11-6pm, Wed 11-7pm, Fri 11-6pm
Ten Pin Alley Bowling Visit the game arcade room for some fun, play darts, pool or bowl. Review calendar online for Open Bowl times
Vitense Golfland– Enjoy their winter themed 18 hole indoor miniature golf course open year round! Mon- Thur 8am-10pm Fri 8am-11pm
Please feel free to comment if there are other venues that offer fun activities from 5-9 that I have missed on this list!
Don’t forget libraries outside the city of Madison! Sun Prairie is open until 9pm Mon-Thur and has a storytime on Thursday nights at 6:30 (on break right now-will be back in mid-January). Middleton, Monona, and Fitchburg also have evening hours and programs.
Thank you Lynn! Must not forget the surrounding cities. We are lucky to have great libraries throughout Madison and Dane county 🙂
Studio You Paint it Pottery’s hours are:
Sunday & Monday 11-5
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 11-6
Wednesday 11-7
Open later by appointment