Winter Carnival

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Suncana Pavlic

A past Winter Carnival at the UW Memorial Union.

The annual Wisconsin Union Winter Carnival is back for four days of fun, mostly in the great outdoors, and mostly free. New this year are a pair of video game competitions (both 6-9 p.m. on Feb. 9) featuring Mario, Sonic and movement-based gaming. Many other land-based activities are taking place, but on-ice traditions such as a pond hockey tournament, ice fishing derby and open skating sessions are canceled due to thin ice on Lake Mendota (and Lady Liberty will move to Library Mall). Some activities require a ticket or reservations; find schedule updates and registration links at union.wisc.edu/wintercarnival.

media release: The Wisconsin Union’s winter-themed event series, called Winter Carnival, will continue Feb. 7-10 during warmer-than-usual weather conditions with a modified events schedule that includes more than a dozen events, including an appearance of part of an inflatable version of Lady Liberty at Library Mall, rather than on Lake Mendota. Events previously scheduled to take place on Lake Mendota have been moved or canceled due to thinning ice.

The Winter Carnival lineup currently includes:

Wednesday, 2/7

Flannel Day $1 Cheese Curds • Family Ice Skating Night 5-7 pm, Memorial Union (CANCELED) • Curling on Lake Mendota noon-2 pm, Terrace (CANCELED); Outdoor UW Open Ice Skate 1-5 pm, Terrace (CANCELED)

Thursday, 2/8

Connolly Classic Pond Hockey Tournament 10 am-4 pm, Terrace (CANCELED)• Ice Fishing Derby noon-4 pm, Terrace (CANCELED)(CANCELED)• Outdoor UW Open Ice Skate 1-5 pm, Terrace (CANCELED)• Skate Night with Outdoor UW - Taylor's Version 5-7 pm, Memorial Union (CANCELED)

Friday, 2/9

Snowshoe Hike to Picnic Point noon, from Terrace (registration TBA) • Outdoor UW Open Ice Skate 1-7 pm, Terrace (CANCELED)• Horizontal Ice Climbing (Ice Pick Sledding) 1-3 pm, Terrace (CANCELED) • Learn to Skate on Lake Mendota with Rec Well 3-5 pm, Memorial Union (CANCELED) • Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games Tournament 6-9 pm, Memorial Union (register here) • Winter Beats: A Rhythm Game Challenge 6-9 pm, Memorial Union (free) • DIY Luminaries 6 pm, Memorial Union (register here) • Snowshoe Among the Lights of Lake Mendota 6-8 pm, Terrace (CANCELED) • Snow Ball with Hoofer Sailing Club 7:30-11:30 pm, Memorial Union (free)

Saturday, 2/10

Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club and the Mary B. 10 am-5 pm, Terrace (CANCELED)• Check out a Snow Shelter 11 am-1 pm, Terrace (CANCELED) • Ice & Alley Games noon-3 pm, Terrace (free) • Secret Agent Scavenger Hunt noon-2 pm, Memorial Union (free) • Valentime to be Valenkind noon-4 pm, Memorial Union (free) • Cheerful Sock Snowman 12:30-4:30pm, Memorial Union (free) • Winter Photo Booth with Mini Horses 1-3 pm, Terrace • Outdoor UW Open Ice Skate 1-7 pm, Terrace (CANCELED)• Maple Taffy in the Snow 2-4 pm, Terrace (free) • Rail Jam 3-7pm, Terrace ($10) • Family Fun in Alumni Park 1-4 pm • Winter Carnival Fireworks 7 pm, Terrace

Events are free unless otherwise noted at union.wisc.edu/wintercarnival. The event lineup is subject to change, including due to weather conditions.

The Wisconsin Union team has observed a thinning of ice and several weak and open spots, with ice being about 6 inches thick near the Lake Mendota shoreline alongside Memorial Union. The team continually monitors Lake Mendota’s ice throughout the winter season, including to evaluate its nearby ice skating and other wintertime activities. The Wisconsin Union team has canceled, re-imagined or moved some wintertime events in light of thinning ice, a low amount of snow, and predicted upcoming warmer-than-usual temperatures.

“We will still offer more than a dozen Winter Carnival events for guests to enjoy,” Outdoor UW Director Dave Elsmo said. “Our team of staff and student leaders gathered to ensure the continuation of Winter Carnival. We look forward to welcoming people to a Winter Carnival under early spring-like conditions.”

The Wisconsin Union team brings out a to-scale, inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty’s head, arm and torch to frozen Lake Mendota each year during Winter Carnival. This year’s appearance will occur on land at Library Mall and will include the Statue’s head. More information about the Statue’s history of Madison appearances can be found here.

Winter Carnival has historically included both weather-dependent events and experiences that do not require any specific weather conditions. With weather having required lineup changes this year and in years past, the Wisconsin Union team encourages patrons to visit union.wisc.edu/wintercarnival for the most up-to-date Carnival lineup each year.