This Labor Day weekend, Capitol Square was remodeled for the Taste of Madison, an annual non-profit food and music festival, and it drew in quite a crowd. It was nothing like the weekend Farmers’ Market, another one of the city’s popular attractions in the summer. Taste of Madison provided a space for people to sit back, relax and enjoy the afternoon with their neighbors.  

The festival is advocated for people of all ages. Several stations around the square featured a variety of children’s games, such as Connect Four and Cornhole. At midday, the line for the face painting tent grew so long, it split in two.  

And to keep parents from melting in the summer heat, Taste of Madison offered cold beer for cheap. Scattered around were marked tents serving alcohol. Their service started just after the festival opened and continued until its closing, making them one of the largest contributors to the charity organizations Taste of Madison donates to.  

But drink stations weren’t the only popular site. Some honorable mentions would be the Thailand in a Truck food cart, the grilled peaches tent and the fried pickles stand. Each had a steady stream of customers rolling in throughout the day.  

The closed roads allowed for large walking spaces. People using strollers and walkers had no trouble moving through the crowds.  

The open space also gave more room to the live bands performing at the festival. Each stage had more than enough room to set up their equipment and provide onlookers with a place to dance.  

Everyone at Taste of Madison seemed to be enjoying themselves. Kids rushed along the sidewalks with bowls of ice cream and popcorn. Dogs wagged their tails as they pranced across the square. Up in the Capitol’s garden, the people stretched across picnic blankets and lounging in lawn chairs were smiling down at the bands below.  

The event was popular without being overwhelming, and there was something for everyone to smile about.