If you’ve never been to the Clear Lake Iowa Kite Festival, you’re seriously missing out. It’s one of those events that just feels like a little burst of joy in the middle of winter.
Every year, we’ve made it a point to head down to the lake, bundle up in all our warmest layers, and watch the sky fill up with the coolest kites you can imagine. It’s become one of those traditions we really look forward to — even if it’s freezing out.
There’s just something about it that feels like the perfect reminder that spring isn’t that far away.
What Makes the Clear Lake Kite Festival So Special
If you’ve never been to the Clear Lake Iowa Kite Festival, it’s way more than just a few people flying kites around. This event draws kite flyers from all over — not just Iowa, but surrounding states too. Some of the teams and professional kite pilots travel hundreds of miles to come be part of it.
And the kites themselves are honestly incredible.
You’ll see everything from giant, colorful animals (think octopus, whales, and dragons) to perfectly choreographed stunt kites that zoom and spin through the sky. Some of them are so big and detailed that it’s hard to believe they’re actually flying.
A lot of these kite flyers are part of kite clubs or professional groups that attend festivals across the Midwest, so Clear Lake is one of several stops on their yearly circuit. It’s pretty cool knowing that this small-town winter tradition is also a big deal in the kite-flying world.
Even if you don’t know anything about kites going into it, it’s impossible not to be impressed when you look up and see the sky filled with these massive, bright creations drifting over the lake. It’s one of those things that makes you feel like a kid again — just standing there, watching the wind do its thing.
Attending the Clear Lake Kite Festival in Past Years
We’ve gone to the festival several times over the years, and honestly, it never gets old.
The best part is seeing how creative people get. One minute you’re watching a giant dragon kite floating over the lake, and the next there’s a massive octopus drifting through the sky like it belongs there.
It’s such a fun mix of:
- families walking around with hot drinks
- kids running with little kites of their own
- professional kite flyers showing off these huge, colorful displays
And even if you’re not flying a kite yourself, it’s still so fun just to stand there and watch everything dance around in the wind.
Why the Kite Festival Was Canceled This Year
That’s why we were so bummed to hear that the Clear Lake Kite Festival had to be canceled this year.
The reason totally makes sense — the ice on the lake just isn’t safe.
We’ve had such weird, unseasonable weather the past week or so. Temperatures have been all over the place, and when that happens, the ice gets unpredictable fast.
As much as everyone wanted the festival to happen, safety has to come first.
Still… it’s disappointing.
Feeling Bummed About Missing the Festival
Not gonna lie, we were really looking forward to it.
It’s one of those events that breaks up the long stretch of winter and gives you something fun to do outside. So hearing it was canceled definitely felt like a letdown.
We kept thinking about how normally, this time of year, the lakefront would be full of people and bright kites and that festive energy… and instead, it was just quiet.
It’s hard when something you look forward to every year suddenly isn’t happening.
Looking Forward to Next Year’s Clear Lake Kite Festival
The good news is, this festival is always worth the wait.
And honestly, missing one year just makes us appreciate it even more. The Clear Lake Kite Festival is one of those simple community events that brings people together and makes winter feel a little less… wintery.
So here’s hoping next year brings:
- safer ice
- more normal February weather
- and a sky full of colorful kites again
Because you can bet we’ll be back when it returns.
