Kite flyers, makers highlight annual winter festival

Organizers of the seventh annual Kites on Ice festival at the Memorial Union invite the public to “Come Play in the Wind” on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 5-6.

This is the second year that the Wisconsin Union has co-sponsored the popular Madison event featuring kite flyers and makers from around the United States and Europe.

The hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. From 6-7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5, there will be a choreographed night flight, “Fire and Ice,” with fireworks and music.

This year’s theme is “Sky Sports.” For the first time, Kites on Ice will showcase the new sport of extreme snow kiting. Professional kite flyers on snowboards and skis will rely on the wind to propel themselves over a terrain park complete with jumps, rails and tubes.

Among the other activities scheduled are synchronized team flying, giant kites, indoor kite-making workshops and “Zero Wind” kite-flying performances in the Union Theater, featuring Cirque du Soleil-style acrobatics.

The Hoofer Winter Carnival will be held at Memorial Union on Saturday, Feb. 5, with snow bowling, broomball and a tug-of-war. The Hoofers will host a free Snow Ball dance at 9 p.m.

Memorial Union will offer food service and musical entertainment throughout the weekend.

There is no admission charge, but donations of $2 for adults and $1 for children are encouraged to help defray costs.

Those planning to attend are encouraged to park in Lot 60 and ride free Kites on Ice shuttle buses to and from the Union. They will run from 9:30 a.m. until after the night flight on Saturday, Feb. 5, and from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6.

Lot 1 (Memorial Union) will be closed from Friday morning, Feb. 4, through Sunday afternoon, Feb. 6. During the festival, Lake Street between Langdon and Lake Mendota will be closed to traffic. North Park Street from Langdon to the lake also will be closed.

For more on parking and a full schedule of events, visit http://www.madisonfestivals.com . For more on Hoofer events and Union activities, visit the Union’s Web site.