Every Wednesday evening from late June through August, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performs a free outdoor concert on the lawn of the Wisconsin State Capitol. Concerts on the Square has been a Madison summer tradition since 1984, and on a good evening several thousand people spread blankets and folding chairs across Capitol Square to listen.
The programmes range across orchestral repertoire, from Mozart and Beethoven to film scores and American standards. People bring picnic suppers and bottles of wine; the atmosphere is relaxed and social rather than formal. It is one of the most enjoyable free events in any American city and a good way to see Madison's civic life at its most characteristic.
Check the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra's schedule for exact dates — the series typically runs for six consecutive Wednesday evenings in summer, starting around the last week of June.