Frozen Assets Festival 2026

14th Annual Frozen Assets Festival

Saturday, February 7th, 10 aM – 3 pm (All events)
Sunday, february 8th, 11 am – 2pm (Kites on mendota)

The Edgewater | FREE, open to the public

All Day Events: (Saturday, February 7th, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

• Kites on Mendota with Wisconsin Kiter’s Club, Lake Mendota
• Skydiving jumps over Lake Mendota with Seven Hills Skydivers, Lake Mendota
• Snow Snake Contest with members of Ho-Chunk Nation, Lake Mendota
• Free hot chocolate, Grand Plaza
• Free ice skating and free skate rental, The Edgewater Ice Rink and Skate Shop
• Try snowshoeing and lake hockey, Lake Mendota
• Explore how UW-Madison Center for Limnology monitors our lakes in the winter months, Lake Mendota
• Project IceCube demonstrates Space Dust & Neutrinos, Lake Mendota
• Aldo Leopold Nature Center demonstrates winter ecology, Lake Mendota
• Mary B. ice boat on display, courtesy of The Ice Boat Foundation
• Play Plinko (Lake-O), Nolen Gallery
• Spin the Price is Right Wheel, Nolen Gallery
• Winter craft stations, Grand Ballroom
• Winter Olympics Watch Station, Grand Ballroom
• More events to be announced!

Scheduled Activities (Saturday, February 7th):

• 8 – 9:45 a.m. Check in for Frozen Assets 5K Run/Walk, 5th Floor Registration Tables
• 9:45 a.m. Winter warmup with barre3, Lake Mendota off The Edgewater Pier
• 10 a.m. Frozen Assets 5K Run/Walk begins, Lake Mendota off The Edgewater Pier
• 10 a.m. Central Midwest Ballet presents Elements in Motion: Water, Clouds, Ice & Fire, Grand Ballroom
• 10:30 a.m. Movie showing — “Disney Nature: Penguins,” Grand Ballroom
• 11 a.m. Mad Science: Wacky Winter, Grand Ballroom Stage
• 12 p.m. Figure skating demonstrations with Figure Skating Club of Madison, Grand Plaza Ice Rink
• 12:15 p.m. Central Midwest Ballet presents Elements in Motion: Water, Clouds, Ice & Fire, Grand Ballroom
• 1 p.m. Winter Rhythms with David Landau, Grand Ballroom
• 1:45 p.m. Learn to Skate class with Southern Wisconsin Skating School, Grand Plaza Ice Rink
• 2 p.m. Learn to Skate class with Southern Wisconsin Skating School, Grand Plaza Ice Rink
• 2 p.m. Movie showing — “Disney Nature: Oceans,” Grand Ballroom
• 2:15 p.m. Learn to Skate class with Southern Wisconsin Skating School, Grand Plaza Ice Rink
• More events to be announced!

About the 2026 Festival

Join Clean Lakes Alliance on Saturday, February 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Frozen Assets, with Hosting Sponsor The Edgewater! The family-friendly festival on frozen Lake Mendota at The Edgewater connects the community with the lake through free winter activities.

Festival attendees can see skydiving, figure skating, dance, science, and large show kite demonstrations. Guests can also participate in an Indigenous Snow Snake Contest, try pond hockey and snowshoeing, and enjoy free ice skating and hot chocolate, among other activities.

The day begins with the annual Frozen Assets 5K Run/Walk on frozen Lake Mendota. Whether you run, walk, ski, snowshoe, skate, or even ride in a sled, participants experience the thrill of crossing frozen Lake Mendota for a good cause. Registration includes admission to the 5K, a winter stocking hat, and post-race beer (21+) courtesy of Wisconsin Distributors. Kids ages 10 and under may participate for free with a registered adult. Proceeds support efforts to protect and improve the lakes, lands, and waters of the Yahara Watershed.

Each year, this FUNraiser, FRIENDraiser, and FUNDraiser highlights the year-round value of our lakes, while raising funds for lake improvement projects, educational programming, and volunteer water quality monitoring.

When the lakes freeze in Greater Madison, they become our largest parks. Clean Lakes Alliance encourages community members and visitors to experience these “frozen assets” and appreciate their importance, even in the middle of the winter. For more information about Frozen Assets, including event details and times, please visit: cleanlakesalliance.org/frozen-assets.