Summer sweet spots

Across campus and around Madison, summer brings people together in the places that define the season, from beloved UW traditions and Camp Randall concerts to neighborhoods where community takes root.

​​August 17, 2026

Photos by Althea Dotzour, Jeff Miller and Taylor Wolfram. Video by Amy Gill, Ma Vue and Jason Weiss. Words by Angela Barian.

​ Share this article

Share

People on a Lake Mendota dock come and go silhouetted against a setting sun

Lake Life

Sights and sounds of a summer spent on the water

Three people wearing life jackets get ready to board a boat
Two people in a Hoofers sailboat on Lake Mendota against a blue sky
A mother mallard duck and two of her ducklings on a wet pier
Terrace patrons listen to a performer playing guitar on stage against the Lake Mendota backdrop
Sunflowers sway in the breeze against a backdrop of trees and filtered sunlight

Garden Fresh

Homegrown abundance around campus and the city

A flower arrangement with yellow and orange lilies
Bunches of radishes and green onions
Bunches of radishes, carrots, and other vegetables at a stand at the Dane County Farmer's Market
Closeup of pink poppy flowers against a verdant backdrop
A man wearing a baseball cap waters a large fenced-in garden with a hose
A woman with two long braids smiles in front of a large garden

Summer Soundtrack

Campus cranks up the volume

Video: Phish performs at the Kohl Center on July 7, 2026.

Wearing a blue velvet suit and a baseball cap, AC/DC guitarist Angus Young performs on stage
Decked out in AC/DC gear, fans in the crowd cheer
Wearing a Harley Davidson shirt and tweed cap, AC/DC lead singer, Brian Johnson performs
Frontwoman Taylor Momsen, with the band The Pretty Reckless, performs on stage at Camp Randall in front of a crowd of 50,000
Frontwoman Taylor Momsen, with the band The Pretty Reckless, performs on stage at Camp Randall
Frontwoman Taylor Momsen, with the band The Pretty Reckless, performs on stage at Camp Randall
Flyers for different summer concerts in Madison, including AC/DC and Phish cover a state street bulletin board.
People gather under a large tent at the center of a green space at Allen Centennial Gardens
Audience members listening to the jazz trio, Mr. Chair huddle under an umbrella
The three members of the jazz trio, Mr. Chair perform in front of a small crowd
A four piece band, including a singer, two guitarists, and a drummer perform in front of Memorial Library
A band performs on the Terrace stage at night under colorful lights
A band performs on the Terrace stage at night under colorful lights with a sunset Lake Mendota in the background
A bass player wearing a hat under green stage lights

Source: https://news.wisc.edu/summer-sweet-spots