Madison is beautiful in the wintertime, and if you are well prepared for it, you can really enjoy the season. Please read on for the most recent information on the Winter Carnival held at the UW Memorial Union Terrace on Lake Mendota in Wisconsin and maximize your winter weather experiences this year!
Original article shared from the Isthmus > HERE
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
- 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
- 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
