January and February are traditionally the final months of the cold-weather festival season, and the Madison area has some major events lined up over the next few weeks. From the Capital City to the eastern and western outskirts of Dane County, here’s a rundown of six opportunities to take advantage of before the temps start warming up.
• Frozen Fest: Jan. 28 • Downtown Sun Prairie
This one is special to me, as I am one of the sponsors. Frozen Fest will feature professional ice carvers crafting their creations in Cannery Square, beginning at 9 a.m. and finishing around 2 p.m. — when a panel of judges will evaluate each sculpture. Attendees can vote for their favorite, too.
Find more details here.
• Frozen Assets Festival: Feb. 4 • The Edgewater Hotel, 1011 Wisconsin Place, Madison
This event begins with a 5K Run/Walk as a fundraiser for the Clean Lakes Alliance and includes Kites on Mendota with the Wisconsin Kiters Club, speedskating and figure skating demonstrations, pond hockey, snowshoeing, free hot chocolate and s’mores, and a visit from Bucky Badger.
Find more details here.
• Winter Carnival: Feb. 6-11 • Memorial Union Terrace, 800 Langdon St., Madison
A series of special events will take place all week long, sponsored by UW-Madison. Highlights include a learn-to-skate session and an avalanche awareness workshop (Feb. 6), “Mindful Snowshoeing” and Mini Golf on Ice (Feb. 7), Family Night and Winter Kiting (Feb. 8), an ice fishing derby and Fire & Ice Skate Night (Feb. 9), an ice climbing exhibition and live music (Feb. 10) and the Connolly Classic Pond Hockey Tournament (Feb. 10-11). Warm up inside the union, too, with a “Free Hallway Art” exhibit all week.
Find more details here.
• Scandihoovian Winter Festival: Feb. 10-12 • Throughout Mount Horeb
“One chilly weekend every February , the people of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, don their red pointy hats as they celebrate the town's Scandinavian heritage.” That’s how this festive event’s website introduces a weekend that will include a “one-of-a-kind” fat tire bike race, snow sculptures, Norwegian kids’ games, a community spelling bee and turkey bowling, which — you guessed it! — involves a frozen turkey.
Find more details here.
• Dip For Dozer & Lil’D Fisheree, Feb. 11 • Lake Ripley Park, N4310 Park Road, Cambridge
This annual fundraiser for scholarships awarded to graduating seniors at Cambridge High School in memory of Dustin “Dozer” Zuelsdorf includes a “dip” into the icy lake, as well as ice sculpting, turkey bowling, costume concepts, hot food and live music at Lake Ripley Lanes. “Dozer,” a senior football player at the school, was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2004. Over the past 18 years, the event has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships. As part of this year’s festivities, a fishing tournament and raffle also will take place at J&T Bait Shanty II.
Find more details here.
• Winter Carnival Family Fun: Feb. 11 • Alumni Park at UW-Madison, 724 Langdon St., Madison
A dance party, winter-themed storytelling, hands-on activities courtesy of the Chazen Museum of Art, a performance by the UW Alumni Marching Band, and free hot cocoa and apple cider will highlight this event celebrating winter’s last hurrah.
Find more details here.
Before we know it, temperatures in the Madison area will be so hot that many of us will start looking forward to winter again. So get out and enjoy these cooler temperatures while you can!
