Shopper's Delight: Maxwell Street Days in Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin is home to a number of excellent summer traditions, including Art Fair on the Square, Rhythm & Booms, and the Dane Country Fair. Closest to the hearts of savvy shoppers, however, is undoubtedly Maxwell Street Days. Named after the famed Chicago street market and bazaar, Maxwell Street Days is an annual sidewalk sale that spans the length of State Street, from the state capitol all the way to the University Book Store at the foot of campus. This year, the sale runs from Friday, July 20^th through Sunday, July 22^nd. On Friday and Saturday, stores open for business at 8am and close at 6pm; Sunday hours are 10am through 5pm.

For the best Maxwell Street Days experience, there are a few important things to keep in mind. The best bargains are always snapped up quickly, so serious shoppers should endeavor to reach State Street by 8am on Friday; the sale also tends to get very crowded very quickly with as many as 30,000 people attending annually, so it's just easier to find things and move between tables before the crowds fill in all the available space. Good parking spaces also tend to go quickly, although you are likely to be able to find a spot in one of the parking ramps right off of State Street. Shopping before noon also allows one to avoid the worst of the midday heat.

There are a few stores that always seem to have excellent deals for Maxwell Street Days, and I recommend anyone attending the sale stop by them. First off is the Land's End Not Quite Perfect store, which I recommend to anyone needing to fill out a professional wardrobe; if nothing else, they'll likely have a nice button-down shirt in your size for under $5. A couple of blocks further from the capitol is Urban Outfitter's, which-every year, without fail-has a selection of hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens for ridiculously low prices; I remember picking up a favorite pair of gloves for $1 one year. While winter may be a ways off, consider stocking at Urban Outfitter's anyway: if nothing else, they make great, flexible holiday gifts. Also, consider the coming school year and check out Fontana and The Bag Shop for cheap backpacks. The last must-see I'll recommend is the University Book Store, which not only sells books, but a wide selection of art and office supplies.

While I admit it's not for everyone, I always stop by the jewelery making supplies at Tropical Jewel-but that's the great part about State Street, and by extension, Maxwell Street Days: there are so many diverse stores that take part in the sale that there is something for everyone.

While I tend to avoid eating at Maxwell Street Days-I love the deals but dislike the crowds, so I prefer to eat lunch off site once I'm done shopping-State Street does have a bewildering array of restaurants. Some of them sell food from carts and tables for the sale, but you may wish to opt for a table inside for the air conditioning and to get out of the sun for a bit. State Street is also blessed with a Chocolate Shoppe (a local favorite), a Coldstone Creamery, and a Paciugo (whose gelato is to die for) in case you decide you need a cold treat.

References:

http://visitdowntownmadison.com/events/index.php?category_id=3123