The Capitol Christmas Pageant started in 1923 and has been held every year except 1997 and 1998 when the Capitol was closed for renovations.

The Pageant is a Christmas concert set inside the Capital Rotunda. Staging is assembled by the club on the Friday evening before the event. In addition to building the stage, the club publicizes the event, coordinates the high school music directors and funds the entire enterprise. Sunday, actors take the stage depicting the Nativity scene while high school music students sing and play traditional Christmas music. Spectators crowd around the railings in the Capitol. Performances take place at 4:15 pm and 5:15 pm. Madison West Kiwanians and local high school Key Club members serve as ushers during each performance. The staging is taken down immediately following the last performance. The Pageant usually takes place on the first Sunday of the week following Thanksgiving.

In 1982, Madison West Kiwanis was asked to assume the responsibility for keeping Madison's Christmas Pageant performances going. Madison's high schools had been sponsoring the pageant for some 60 years but "church-state separation” caused the school districts to end their sponsorship. An anonymous donor offered a substantial initial donation if Madison West Kiwanis would agree to become the organizer and sponsor of the Christmas Pageant. Madison West Kiwanis continues to sponsor the Pageant with excellent support from our members and many friends in the Madison community.

To support this pageant, the Madison West Kiwanis Foundation receives contributions each year. The annual cost is usually between $4,000 to $5,000.  Click here to donate to this fund or others.