Color the Wind
Annual Clear Lake Kite Flying Event
Date: February 18, 2023
Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Event Description: Color the Wind is back! Join us in Clear Lake for the Midwest’s largest and most colorful winter kite festival, featuring huge inflatable kites of all kinds flown by serious kite-flyers from across the United States. Free admission, donations are appreciated!
Expect to be dazzled by this event! The display of beautiful colors, the sheer size of some of the kites, and the incredible choreography of the musical numbers are really something to behold.
Visitors will flock to Clear Lake’s frozen oasis to see the most spectacular display of kite-flying around. The festival is a big hit for everyone! Young or old – seasoned kite flyer or newbie to the hobby.
Keep in mind, this is a winter event, so it could be very cold. Please dress accordingly, and don’t forget, to avoid a day spent squinting at the kites, so bring your shades!
FAQs
Parking: ADA parking map & downtown road closure map is posted below. On-street parking is allowed anywhere the road is not closed.
Shuttles: See below for 2 shuttle route maps that offer free parking and downtown pickup/drop off. Shuttle service begins at 10:30am, the last pick up downtown will be 4:00pm.
You may drive along N Lakeview Drive to view the kites without getting out of your car.
Kites will be available for purchase at the Lakeview Room. You may also bring your own kite to fly, just steer clear of the large kites and their lines!
Our visitor center / gift shop will be open from 9am-4pm. Warm up, sign our guest book and check out our Color the Wind and Clear Lake merch! (205 Main Ave across from City Park).
In addition to these local restaurants, we will have a couple food trucks parked across from the Clear Lake Yacht Club. Relay for Life Cerro Gordo County will be hosting a bake sale in the Lakeview Room.
You may NOT drive or park your car on the ice downtown in the designated festival area.
Other Saturday activities:
Surf Ballroom is open from 9am-1pm. Stick around for the Mardi Gras party featuring Hairball at 8pm!
Clear Lake Arts Center is open from 10am-4pm.
Downtown Parking Restrictions & Road Closures
Shuttle Maps
Free parking and shuttles are available at Clear Lake High School (Gold Route) and Industrial Park – former Serta and Titan Pro lots (Red Route).
Gold Route: 125 N 20th St
Red Route: 500 S 17th St
Donations are welcome. Shuttle service begins at 10:30am, the last pick up downtown will be 4:00pm.
Color the Wind Committee
–
Christy Bredeson, Deb Cash, Larry Day, Deb Sharar, & Mark Tesar
Staff: Trish Fundermann & Jenny Fasbender
Special thank you to Bob Wolfram for clearing snow from our festival area!
Presenting Sponsor 2023
Wind Dancer Sponsors 2023
Wind Twister Sponsors 2023
Freestyle Sponsors 2023
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