Madison’s Halloween scene goes beyond trick‑or‑treating – highlighted by Candlelight’s “A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics” at the Monona Terrace Lecture Hall later this season. Halloween holds deep cultural significance in Madison, known for its long-standing traditions of citywide celebrations and themed events. And the Candlelight concert adds to the scene with an enchanting, multi-sensory experience to the season’s lineup. It is never too early to plan – tickets go on sale mid‑year and often sell out quickly.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
Two notes of Stranger Things (Theme), S U R V I V E and the room is instantly transported to Hawkins, Indiana. The bow-wielding musicians then plunge into the otherworldly drama of Danse Macabre, Camille Saint-Saëns and the thunderous energy of In the Hall of the Mountain King, Edvard Grieg, each piece showcasing the viola’s textural weaving and the cello’s dark undertones.
Amber illumination envelops the space, amplifying the emotional impact of every melody and leaving audiences with a renewed appreciation for the art of musical transformation. Each performance becomes a portal to another world, where every sound is charged with Halloween magic.
Candlelight Halloween at the Monona Terrace – Lecture Hall
The Monona Terrace – Lecture Hall transforms under the glow of thousands of candles, its sleek architecture and curved walls magnifying the flicker of each flame. Shadows dance across the space as the audience settles in, with doors opening 30–45 minutes early to let the atmosphere fully take hold. The 60-minute concert immerses guests in a spellbinding world where music and light blur the line between concert and séance.
The eerie elegance of Night on Bald Mountain – Modest Mussorgsky, the haunting drama of Der Erlkönig – Franz Schubert, and the unsettling beauty of String Quartet No. 8 – Dmitri Shostakovich fill the hall with spectral energy. One of Madison’s most enchanting Halloween events, Candlelight is a memory you’ll regret missing if you wait too long.