Huge Kites Supercharge Midwest Winter Events

Here’s a look at some of the world’s largest kites filling winter skies over America’s heartland.

Held up by the blue Maxi Ray at the top are the Maxi Trilobite, Maxi Astronaut, Maxi Otters and Goldfish.

Winter kite flying season flew by, and what an adventure! Within two weeks frigid sub-zero temps hit the University of Okoboji Winter Games Kite Festival in Okoboji, IA before soaring all the way up to 50-plus degrees at Cool Kites on Ice in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Warm weather made for record turnouts – 25,000 people in Buffalo, MN – and, ultimately, cancelled the nation’s largest and longest running winter kite festival, Clear Lake, Iowa’s Color the Wind, due to thin ice.

Even when the winds weren’t there, people were! Volunteers, area residents, kite fliers, communities, hosts, sponsors and more, all extended a warm welcome and wonderful hospitality.

Special thanks to Steve Boote and Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Project 412 and Detroit Lakes Polar Fest, Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau, Lake Antoine Park Partners, and Clean Lakes Alliance!