UW–Madison to kick off yearlong 175th anniversary celebration July 26 

According to a recent press release, UW–Madison will mark its 175th anniversary with a yearlong series of celebrations and special events on campus and across the state.

A community kickoff event at Memorial Union will officially launch the festivities on the evening of July 26 — 175 years to the day since the state’s first governor and legislature created the University of Wisconsin.

It will begin with the raising of the Ho-Chunk Nation flag at Bascom Hall to honor land occupied by the university as the ancestral home of the Ho-Chunk people. The event will also feature free Babcock Dairy ice cream, live music by The Mersey Brothers featuring Sean Michael Dargan, a fifth-quarter performance by members of the UW Marching Band, and fireworks over Lake Mendota, in addition to other entertainment.

Programming for the celebration will run through the summer of 2024 and will include annual traditions, such as Homecoming and Founder’s Day, as well as special events in counties across Wisconsin.

All events are free. No registration is needed.