Neither warmth nor thin ice nor even Super Bowl weekend could deter Madison's Kites on Ice from holding the annual event on Lake Monona.
However, the event which brings kite enthusiasts from across the globe to Madison did have to relocate part of its event from Monona Terrace to nearby Olin-Turville Park due to the thin ice around the terrace. The performers were able to fly their contraptions on close to six inches worth of ice, while spectators were warned before joining them by signs stating \Access ice at own risk.""
Nate Hurst, a UW-Madison freshman, said he had no concerns about his safety when he went to the park.
""It was fine, a week earlier I wasn't so sure, but it was fine when I was actually there,"" he said.
According to downtown Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, Kites on Ice, put on Madison Festivals, has never experienced problems before with warm weather this late into winter.
""They pick this time because it's usually the coldest time of year and the ice is thickest and safest,"" he said.
The festival helped Madison recently become ranked by USA Today as one of the top 10 places to fly a kite, with which Verveer said he was greatly pleased.
""I think its awesome that little old Madison, Wisconsin, is on the map for being the kite capitol of the nation,"" he said. ""Even those who aren't kite enthusiasts can enjoy it through the annual fireworks show Saturday night.""
The event has drawn a large crowd to Madison since its inception four years ago.
""It's something that was fully a success from the first year,"" Verveer said. ""The festival has quickly become one of the largest of its kind.""
The city provided free shuttle bus transportation from workshops and exhibits held at Monona Terrace to the kite flying at the park. Despite the inconvenience festival goers said this year's event, which provided the community with an opportunity to see kites designed from as far away as China and Japan, was exceptional.
""The transit buses were really handy, they came every 10 minutes, it was just great,"" Hurst said. ""You hardly ever see anything like synchronized kite flying.\
