Celebrate Madison's sesquicentennial with any of these events (and some are free!).

Surrounded by Reality Mar 30, 7:30p, Mar 31, 8p, Apr 1, 2p, 8p, Apr 2, 2p. Watch Madison history unfold before your eyes at this four-scene play that depicts such events as the Capital's collapse in 1883 and when prohibition came to Madison in 1922. Commissioned by Historic Madison, Inc. and performed by the Madison Theatre Guild, this multi-racial and --ethnic cast show how each group individually contributed to Madison's history and social progress.

This play is a must-see for any Madison history buff. $20/25. Overture Center, 201 State St. 258-4141. www.madison150.org

McFarland Then and Now through Dec 31. See how McFarland has changed in 150 years -- this photo exhibit features fifty photos of "old" McFarland juxtaposed against the same number of photos of "new" McFarland. If you are a fan of the popular "Then and Now" books of historical photographs, this is right up your alley. The exhibit will be located in several locations throughout the year, including the new McFarland Public Library, McFarland's Municipal Center and McFarland State Bank. www.madison.com/communities/mcfarland150

Sesquicentennial Kickoff Activities. April 7. Front steps of the Madison Municipal Building (MMB), 215 MLK Blvd (rain site: the MMB/post office lobby). Speakers to include the mayor; Sesquicentennial Commission Chair Dick Wagner; Dane County Exec. Kathleen Falk; Sen. Fred Risser; DCR Director Lucia Nunez; and DOA Secretary Stephen Bablitch. Also: music performances under the direction of Leotha Stanley, and a reading by Andrea Musher, Madison's poet laureate.

Immediately following: "Talk a Walk with the Mayor" around the Square

4:00pm: Tapping of a special sesquicentennial beer at the Great Dane Pub, 123 East Doty.

5:00pm: Harambee Center's 10th anniversary celebration (Villager Mall, 2202 S. Park Street). Program at 5:30pm.

6:30pm: Reunion for former Common Council members and mayors (Monona Terrace).

"Circle of Drums" April 9. Led by Hanah Jon Taylor (Monona Terrace). Approx. 2:30pm - 6:00pm: Sesquicentennial birthday celebration (Monona Terrace). Brief program to include: singing "happy birthday", led by the National Guard 132nd Army Band; cutting of the official birthday cake (51 cakes have been prepared, plenty for everyone!).

Sesquicentennial Banners through Nov 25. Celebrate McFarland's legacy by checking out this colorful banner exhibit, designed by local artists and middle-school students. Over 45 banners in four different designs have been hung all over town, including a photo of William McFarland on one banner and a big "Happy Birthday, McFarland!" on another. You can spot them on McFarland's main thoroughfares -- a portion of Highway 51, and the streets forming County Highway MN -- Farwell, Exchange, Main and Brodhead. www.madison.com/communities/mcfarland150

Madison at 150 Apr 15, 2p. Stuart Levitan will be talking about his forthcoming book, Madison: The Illustrated Sesquicentennial History, Vol. 1 (1856-1931) and will also discuss the birth of Madison's Westside. Levitan also wrote a fifteen-month series for Madison Magazine, which recently won the Milwaukee Press Club's prestigious "Best Feature Series" award. It is available at www.madisonmagazine.com. Sequoya Branch Library, 513 S. Midvale Blvd. 266-6385.

Madison Then and Now Apr 3, 7p. A slide show of postcards from Madison's past presented by Ann Waidelich of Historic Madison Inc. Hawthorne Branch Library, 2707 E. Washington Ave. 266-6347

History of Fauerbach Brewery Apr 5, 7:15p. Peter Fauerbach will give a lecture on his family's brewery and other Madison area beer businesses. Presented by the Culinary History Enthusiasts of Wisconsin (CHEW), this lecture will also explore the culinary value of beer, answering such questions as "How is food important to the brewing industry?" and "How do you accompany certain foods with beer?" MATC Truax campus, room 120, 3550 Anderson St. 231-3674. www.wisconsincooks.org/chew

Glendale: A Neighborhood, a School, and Their Park Apr 6, 7p. A history of the Glendale neighborhood from 1965 to the present. Pinney Branch Library, 204 Cottage Grove Rd. 266-6347

Downtown Madison in the '30s and '40s Apr 7, 10a. View famous photographer Angus McVicar's photos and other postcards in a slide show tour presented by Ann Waidelich of Historic Madison Inc. of the Square and other downtown streets that once had the most booming businesses and swinging hangouts in all of Madison. Madison Senior Center, 330 W. Mifflin St. 267-8650.

Weekend Kick-off Apr 7, noon. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, along with several past and present city officials and also descendents of one of Madison's first settling families, the Fairchilds, will open the celebration and raise the City of Madison's official flag. Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

1st Brigade Band Apr 7, 7:30p. An 80-person band performance of historic music from Middleton's past, including famous tunes from the Civil War era. $16/$13. Middleton High School, 2100 Bristol St.

Happy Birthday, Madison! Apr 7, 12:30-2p. A presentation and celebration of Glendale second and third grade students' historical projects on Madison. With their final projects displayed in "museum style," each class has studied a different part of Madison history, such as parks and recreation, transportation, and local schools. Johnny Winston, local firefighter and school board member, will also give a talk on the history of the Madison Fire Department. The event will close with a birthday party in Madison's honor, complete with cupcakes and a "Happy Birthday, Madison" banner for everyone to sign. Glendale Elementary School, 1201 Tompkins Dr. 204-2400.

Forest Hill Cemetery Tour Apr 8, 12p. Tour the graves of famous Madisonians of the past, such as Stephen M. Babcock, Harry Steenbock, and the LaFollette's and also see the final resting places of several past governors, U.S. senators, Supreme Court justices, and university presidents. Forest Hill Cemetery, 1 Speedway Rd., 233-9394.

Get to Know Your City Day Apr 8, all day. How well do you really know Madison? This tour can help any newcomer to the area learn all about the city or can even help veteran Madisonians to see their hometown in a whole new way. Check out all twelve neighborhood tours at http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/walkTour.html. Tours are self-guided, but the City encourages residents to check in their local Neighborhood Association to put together group tours. www.madison150.org

City of Madison 150th Celebration Apr 9, 1--6p. Enjoy birthday cake, dance performances, children's events, a community and organization fair, and film screenings by WisKino. Also view Sharon Kilfoy's "Fabrications," fabric collages made from artifacts collected from the community, sewn at sewing bees at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center. Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr. www.madison150.org

Founding Family Reunion Apr 9, 1p. Meet the descendents of Madison's first families who settled here before the Civil War. View a slide show, view artifacts, and hear the settlers' fascinating biographies. Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr.

Wis-Kino Madison 150 Film Screening Apr 9, 1p, 4p. A showing of short, locally produced films that celebrate Madison and Dane County's past, present, and future. Films range anywhere from a history of Bucky Badger to an entire film devoted to pronouncing the word "sesquicentennial." Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr. 259-9136

McFarland Earth Day -- Arbor Day Apr 22--29. Starting on Earth Day and ending on Arbor Day, residents have the chance to tidy up the McFarland area through park cleanups and planting trees. On the 25th at 6:30p, Bob Birmingham will lead a tour of Indian Mound Park and share the history of the mounds and their builders. 838-4279. www.madison.com/communities/mcfarland150

MMoCA Inside Out Opening Festival Apr 23--May 5, 10a--8p. Free tours of the galleries, rooftop restaurant and sculpture garden. Come check out Stu Levitan's historical lecture on Madison's downtown past titled "As the Twenties Roared: The Birth of Modern State Street." Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 227 State St. 257-0158

Rooted Cosmopolitans: Madison & the Rest of the World Apr 25, 5p. Listen to a lecture titled "Eat Locally, Think Globally: Cosmoplitan Taste in Madison and Beyond." Hosted by Rebecca Walkowitz, this lecture will discuss how cosmopolitan culture can be both national and international, especially within the context of food. Madison Public Library Central Branch, 201 W. Mifflin St. 263-3409.

MAY

MMoCA Inside Out Opening Festival Apr 23--May 5, 10a--8p. Free tours of the galleries, rooftop restaurant and sculpture garden. On May 3, come check out Stu Levitan's historical lecture titled "As the Twenties Roared: The Birth of Modern State Street." Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 227 State St. 257-0158

2006 Annual Preservation Awards Ceremony May 4, 6:30p. This awards presentation for residential and historic properties that have maintained excellent historic preservation, is sponsored by the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation and will include a talk given by Leigh Mollenhoff entitled "Tales and Photos of Historic Buildings in Madison." Enjoy a cash bar and light refreshments beforehand. Orpheum Theatre, 216 State St. 241-8020

JUNE

Madison at 150 -- Life in Madison June 1--Sept 30. Photo exhibition on a year in the life in Madison, focusing on Madison's people and the spirit of the city. Over 45 local photographers have participated, and the photos were taken from Feb. 1, 2005 to March 1, 2006. Madison Municipal Building, 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. 273-2179. www.cpmad.org

Midvale Heights Neighborhood Picnic June 22, 6p. One of the oldest neighborhood associations, the Midvale Heights Community Association will host a picnic in honor of Madison's sesquicentennial. The association's 50th anniversary history book will be on sale. Segoe Park, between Berwyn and Hilton Drives. 218-0126.

Middleton Area Historical Society Old-fashioned Pie and Ice Cream Social June 21, 4--8p. An old-fashioned ice-cream social sponsored by the Middleton Area Historical Society. Lakeview Park, 6300 Mendota Ave. 836-7614.

Vintage Bridal Fashion Show June 25, 1:30p. Highlights of bridal fashions from the past 150 years. WISC-TV3 news anchor Pam Tauscher will MC the event. Middleton High School, 2100 Bristol St., Middleton.

AUGUST

Civil War Re-enactors Encampment Aug. 25--26. Parisi Park. Civil War re-enactors will put on an authentic Civil War camp scene. Coincides with Good Neighbor Fest. Parisi Park, 2405 Park St.

SEPTEMBER

Dean House 150 Birthday Party Sept 10, 1--4p. A birthday party for the Dean House, which was constructed by Nathaniel Dean in 1856, making it one of Madison's oldest homes. Tours and entertainment. Dean House, 4701 Monona Dr. 249-7920

Randall Elementary 100th Year Anniversary Sept. 30. Festival, alumni events, and school tours. Randall Elementary School, 1802 Regent St. 663-1969.