Events

‍_{Fire & Wonder Winter Gathering}

_{Saturday, February 21, 2026}

_{4:00 to 7:00 PM}

Embrace the beauty of the winter season at San Damiano’s Fire and Wonder Winter Gathering, a free, family-friendly event open to the public.

Highlights:

• Bonfire and lakeside fire pits
• Storytelling of Ho-Chunk history and culture by Janice Rice - Story times are 4:15pm, 5pm, and 5:45pm.
  Pre-registration is required as seating is limited: Register for Fire & Wonder's Storytelling Sessions
• Indigenous cording demonstration and educational craft by Lightning New Rider
• Kid-friendly scavenger hunt with glow sticks
• Warm beverages to drink and marshmallows to roast
• Winter Serenity with a candlelit walk through the woodland area
• Sunset Splendor on Lake Monona

Please note that while the Frank Allis House retains its historic charm, it is not currently equipped with accessibility features and is not wheelchair accessible.

Friends of San Damiano is honored to welcome Janice Rice, a Ho-Chunk tribal member, for an evening of sharing traditional Ho-Chunk stories. Storytelling will be offered in small groups in the Frank Allis House at 4:15pm, 5pm, and 5:45pm. Seating is limited, so pre-registration is required: Register for Fire & Wonder's Storytelling Sessions

We are also very appreciative of Lightning New Rider for teaching and demonstrating indigenous cording history, along with leading an educational cording craft.
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‍About Janice Rice:

Janice Rice, a Ho-Chunk tribal member, is an emerita University of Wisconsin academic librarian who earned her education degree from UW–Milwaukee and her MLS in Indian Librarianship from UW–Madison, and has been active in Teejop (Four Lakes) since the late 1970s. An activist, environmentalist, and educator since her college years, she has long advocated for the protection of Indigenous cultural and natural landscapes, including efforts to save the Indian Mounds in Monona and to help transform the Tenney bike path into the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. In 1988, she assisted with the installation of the Tree of Peace and a commemorative marker near the UW Observatory and effigy bird mound. A Clan Mother for Ho-Chunk Nation Social Services, Rice provides guidance for young Ho-Chunk women and serves on the Teejop Community History Project and the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival Board. She has also advised UW–Madison’s cultural landscape tours and Teejop Waterscapes boat tours, served on the City of Madison’s Lake Monona Waterfront Design Challenge Ad Hoc Committee (2022–2024), and in 2023was elected president of the Ho-Chunk Nation’s first tribal library, continuing her lifelong advocacy for Ho-Chunk history, waters, environment, and the preservation of art and culture.

About Lightning New Rider:

Lightning New Rider is a tribally enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, with ancestral ties to the Poni, Otoe, Oneida, and Arikara nations. He holds a degree in landscape and horticultural design and carries lifelong knowledge shared by elders and relatives, rooted in traditional teachings of Mother Earth and our plant relatives. Working with natural fibers such as dogbane, bulrush, cattail, and cedar, New Rider creates mats and baskets, and shares indigenous teachings on harvesting plants and foods. He is passionate about helping others understand what it means to be connected to Mother Earth. New Rider has also founded a catering business centered on cooking vegetarian and indigenous foods, most recently having been the chef for the Monona Indigenous Roots Dinner and thoughtfully crafting a multi-course menu spotlighting local and traditional Indigenous ingredients.
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Additionally happening around Fire & Wonder, Kindled Community Sauna is partnering with Friends of San Damiano to provide community wood-fired sauna sessions at San Damiano. Hour-long sessions are offered on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 11am, noon, 1pm and 7pm, and on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 1pm and 2pm. Registration and payment can be made at kindledcommunitysauna.com.  
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‍Parking

Parking is limited, including the number of accessible spaces. We encourage carpooling or walking. You may drop off guests before parking along local roads.

Please do not park in local business lots, and note that Monona Grove High School has an event, so their lot is not available. Thank you for your cooperation.

This is your opportunity to connect with nature, community, and the unique charm of San Damiano. Bundle up, grab your friends or family, and don’t miss this enchanting evening of Fire and Wonder!

*** Would you like to volunteer for Fire & Wonder? There are a variety of volunteer tasks and time slots available to allow you to help and enjoy the event as well! Sign up to volunteer here!

Come visit and stay in Monona!

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AmericInn by Wyndham Madison, South 101 W Broadway, Monona, WI 53716 (608) 467-4791 Website

avid hotel – Madison/Monona, 900 W Broadway Monona, WI, 53716 (608) 957-7600 Website

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson - Madison, WI 400 River Pl, Monona, WI, 53716 (608) 467-0962 Website

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Short Term Rental Sites (Click logo to access website.)

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Saturday, April 18, 2026

9:00am to Noon

Join us for an early Earth Day celebration as we come together to care for the cherished San Damiano property. As spring arrives, it’s time to refresh and revitalize this special space. Roll up your sleeves and help with important seasonal tasks, including picking up litter, freshening up flower beds, spreading mulch, and clearing sticks from the lawn.

We will provide:

• Disposable gloves
• Trash bags

Bring your own supplies if possible:

• Work gloves
• Yard/garden tools (rakes, pruning shears, loppers, etc.)
• Wheelbarrows or yard carts
• Sturdy shoes/boots for wet conditions and outdoor work

Questions? Please email us at info@sandamianomonona.org

9 Ways to Build Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities

Birds play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by pollinating plants, controlling pests, dispersing seeds, and recycling nutrients. As natural scavengers and ecosystem monitors, they help maintain biodiversity and signal environmental health. Protecting bird populations ensures the balance, biodiversity, and sustainability of ecosystems that all life depends on.

Here are nine impactful ways to create safer, bird-friendly cities and communities:

1. Plant Native Plants

• Provide food and shelter for birds while supporting pollinators like bees and butterflies.
• Native plants are adapted to your local ecosystem, making them sustainable and beneficial for wildlife.
• Attract native bird species and create a healthier environment for all.

2. Combat Collisions

• Millions of birds die from window collisions each year.
• Prevent accidents by adding decals, window films, or curtains to your windows.
• Update existing buildings with bird-friendly materials, and encourage new construction to use bird-safe glass and designs.

3. Turn Off Lights

• Artificial light disrupts bird migration and can be deadly.
• Use shielded, downward-facing lights, and turn off unnecessary lights at night.
• Install timers or motion sensors to reduce light pollution while saving energy.

4. Avoid Pesticides

• Pesticides harm insects, contaminate water, and disrupt ecosystems that birds depend on.
• Choose organic or natural alternatives for your lawn and garden.
• Provide fresh, clean water for birds to drink, bathe, and forage safely.

5. Prevent Plastic Pollution

• Birds often ingest or get tangled in plastic, causing injury or death.
• Avoid single-use plastics, and properly dispose of items like six-pack rings and fishing lines.
• Organize or participate in local clean-up efforts to reduce plastic waste in bird habitats.

6. Keep Cats Indoors

• Domestic cats are a leading threat to bird populations.
• Protect birds by keeping your cats indoors or building safe outdoor spaces like screened porches or "catios".
• These measures also keep your cats healthier and safer.

7. Support Bird-Friendly Coffee

• Choose coffee, grown under native trees using organic, deforestation-free methods.
• Look for the Bird Friendly seal when purchasing coffee to support sustainable farming and preserve bird habitats.
• By drinking bird-friendly coffee, you also fight climate change and help biodiversity thrive.

8. Advocate for Sustainable Urban Planning

• Support policies that create green spaces, wildlife corridors, and "wild" areas within city limits.
• Encourage urban planners to prioritize biodiversity and bird habitats.
• Promote sustainable practices that benefit both wildlife and people.

9. Connect, Educate, & Inspire

• Collaborate with neighbors, schools, businesses, and local governments to create bird-friendly spaces.
• Host events like World Migratory Bird Day to raise awareness and inspire conservation efforts.
• Share knowledge to help build a stronger connection to nature and foster long-term support for birds.

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Join us for the coming summer's Concerts on the Shore, formerly known as the San Damiano Biergartens! Set against the stunning backdrop of Lake Monona, these popular gatherings offer breathtaking views of the Wisconsin state capitol and Madison skyline, refreshing beer and soda, food trucks, and live music. It's the perfect setting for a fun-filled evening of community and camaraderie. Don't miss out on the festive atmosphere. Come celebrate with us!

What to bring:

• Folding chairs or a blanket - some picnic tables and Adirondack chairs are available
• Credit card or cash for making purchases - brat fry, food trucks, beer/beverages and merchandise

Parking + Access Reminder:
We encourage you to bike, walk, carpool, or park along nearby residential streets. Please do not cut through private residential properties to access San Damiano. Out of respect for our neighboring businesses, we also ask that you avoid parking in their lots. Thank you for helping us be respectful and thoughtful neighbors!

STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS TO COME!

Thursday, June 25, 2026
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Thursday, August 13, 2026