Winter Carnival

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Suncana Pavlic

A past Winter Carnival at the UW Memorial Union.

The Lady Liberty head and torch rising from frozen Lake Mendota? She’ll be there, on Feb. 10-11. That iconic image and other traditional activities return as part of the annual Wisconsin Union Winter Carnival, Feb. 6-12. But 2023 also includes more than a dozen new things to do, from Canadian maple taffy making (1 p.m., Feb. 9) to a Snow Ball dance with the Hoofer Sailing Club (7:30 p.m., Feb. 10), to an ice boat exhibit (Feb. 10-11). (Note: The previously announced Ojibwe ponies event is postponed, but the Winter Carnival has been extended by a day to add Sledding on the Terrace, noon-4 p.m. on Feb. 12.) All events are free, but some require a ticket or reservations. Find a schedule below, and updates due to any Wisconsin winter weather surprises at union.wisc.edu/wintercarnival.

media release: From themed ice skating to maple taffy making, the Wisconsin Union's free wintertime revelry series the Winter Carnival returns for an 83rd year to Madison, Wis., Feb. 6-11, 2023. The series includes more than a dozen new events and the continuing of traditions, such as placing a to-scale, inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty's head, arm, and torch on frozen Lake Mendota Feb. 10-11, 2023.

Winter Carnival features a blizzard of indoor and outdoor wintertime activities, including arts and crafts, outdoor recreation, film showings, food-making, and more presented by departments and clubs at the Wisconsin Union, with additional programming by community partners. The Wisconsin Union's departments and clubs present the following Winter Carnival events:

Feb. 6-10

• Free drop-in art making with Wheelhouse Studios, noon-4 pm daily

Feb. 6

• Flannel Day $1 cheese curds, 4-5 pm
• New: learn to ice skate with Outdoor UW, 5 pm (event full)
• Hoofer SNS Presents: Free Showing of "The Approach" 1 & 2, 6:30 pm
• Avalanche awareness workshop, 8 pm

Feb. 7

• Mini golf on ice with the Hoofer Sailing Club, 2:30 pm (event full)
• Mindful Snowshoeing, 12:30 pm (event full)
• DIY frozen luminaries with the Hoofer Outing Club, 6 pm (event full)
• Meet & Greet UWPD Mounted, 5-7 pm
• Free hot chocolate with the UW–Madison Senior Class Office, 5-7 pm

Feb. 8

• Free warm beverages with the Willis L. Jones Leadership Center, 2:30-3:30 pm
• New: family ice skating night with Outdoor UW, 5-6 pm
• Winter Kiting, noon-3 pm
• Open Mic Night, 7 pm
• Riotsville USA screening, 6:30 pm (at Union South)

Feb. 9-11

• Film showings, presented by the WUD Film Committee, at Union South-Marquee: Cabin in the Woods, 7 pm on Feb. 9 and 9 pm, Feb. 10; Fargo, 6:30 pm on Feb. 10 and 9:30 pm, Feb. 11; Ikiru, 6:30 pm, Feb. 11.

Feb. 9

• New: Canadian maple taffy making
• Ice fishing derby, noon-5 pm
• Ski and snowshoe among the lights on Lake Mendota with the Hoofer Outing Club, 5-7 pm (event full)
• New: fire and ice-skating night with Outdoor UW, 5-7pm
• Cabin in the Woods screening, 7 pm (at Union South)

Feb. 10-11

• Inflatable, to-scale Lady Liberty head, arm, and torch on Lake Mendota
• Connolly Classic pond hockey tournament, 10 am-5 pm (canceled due to ice conditions)
• New: Mary B Ice Boat Foundation and the Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club ice boat collection exhibition, featuring two of the most decorated ice boats of all time (Feb 10 update: The ice boats scheduled to appear are late due to challenging travel conditions. We do not yet have an estimated arrival time.)

Feb. 10

• New: Ojibwe ponies at the Memorial Union Terrace, presented by the Hoofer Riding Club (Note: this event is postsponed.)
• Snow Ball with the Hoofer Sailing Club, 7:30-11:30 pm
• Ice climbing exhibition with the Hoofer Mountaineering Club, 3 pm
• Live concert featuring Lone Canary (4 pm), Wristwatch and Green/Blue (7 pm), presented by the WUD Music Committee
• Cabin in the Woods screening, 9 pm (at Union South)

Feb. 11

• Freestyle ski and snowboard competition Rail Jam, presented by the Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club, 1-7 pm (free for spectators; $10 to ride)
• New: surprise to be announced event
• Secret Agent scavenger hunt with Adventure Learning Programs, 11 am-2 pm
• Valentine’s Day wood or collage heart-making with Wheelhouse Studios, 12:30-4 pm
• Fireworks over Lake Mendota on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m., presented by the Wisconsin Union and the Wisconsin Hoofers. This event is subject to change based on weather.
• To be announced film showings, presented by the WUD Film Committee
• To be announced live concert, presented by the WUD Music Committee
• New: donation drive for Road Home Dane County to help end family homelessness with the WUD Alternative Breaks Committee, noon-3 pm

Feb. 12

• Sledding on the Terrace, noon-4 pm

Additional programming is presented by area partners University Recreation & Wellbeing (Rec Well) and the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), including the following:

• Feb. 6 New: practicing gratitude with Rec Well
• Feb. 7 New: mindful snowshoeing on Lake Mendota with Outdoor UW and Rec Well
• Feb. 9 Ice fishing derby with the Rec Well Fishing Team
• Feb. 10-11 Rec Well’s Connolly Classic Pond Hockey Tournament
• Feb. 11 WFAA’s afternoon of family-friendly activities at Family Fun in Alumni Park

“Winter Carnival brings together traditions and the unexpected, as evident by the list of events that includes – to name a few activities – petting ponies, maple taffy-making and ice skating,” Outdoor UW Director Dave Elsmo said. “Winter Carnival is a quintessential Madison experience unlike any other and a great, fun reason to venture out from home this winter.”

The Wisconsin Union has served as Winter Carnival’s headquarters since 1940. Since then, student leaders and staff at the Union have created an annual events lineup that provides community members and visitors with reasons to celebrate the chilly winter season. Many events nod to the Carnival’s long history and campus traditions.

For instance, the tradition of bringing the Statue of Liberty to Lake Mendota began with a prank in 1979 by the Pail and Shovel Party, which was led by UW–Madison alumni Leon Varjian and Jim Mallon ’79. Varjian and Mallon made a campaign promise that, if elected to the Wisconsin Student Association, they would bring the Statue of Liberty to Madison. The Pail and Shovel Party stayed true to their Lady Liberty promise by erecting a Styrofoam Lady Liberty head, arm and torch on Lake Mendota on Feb. 22, 1979.

While attending some Winter Carnival events, patrons can enjoy the Wisconsin Union's many on-site dining options at its building Memorial Union, including at iconic pub fare destination, der Rathskeller. Purchases at Memorial Union and Union South as well as donations to the Union help support low-cost and free events, such as the Carnival, and Wisconsin Union student leadership opportunities.

The event lineup is subject to change, including due to weather conditions. The Wisconsin Union team encourages guests to visit union.wisc.edu/wintercarnival for the most up-to-date lineup and event updates.