Kites on Ice all smiles despite lack of wind

The 4th Annual Kites on Ice was held on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Buffalo Lake. The event saw various small kites that were able to reach the sky. Unfortunately, there was not enough wind for many of the professional kite flyers to get their large kites off the ground.

The Buffalo Chamber of Commerce hosts the event annually, and Chamber President Sue Olmscheid shared she felt “the crowd was even larger than last year, despite no kites being able to fly.” Approximately 2,500 people from all over the state and country attended the festival.

There were many winter outdoor activities for people of all ages to enjoy. There was a corn hole tournament, dog-sled rides, a Fishing Klinic for Kids, ice-skating, and opportunities to warm up by the cozy bonfire. “Seeing all the people that came out to enjoy the day,” was Olmscheid’s highlight of the event “for people, I think, they really enjoyed dog sled rides,” she continued.

Professional Kite flyers traveled from all over the country to show off their beautiful kites and their master skills. Despite there being no wind, their large kites were on display and some flyers attempted to get their kites moving.

Many families flew smaller kites around the ice. Kids were seen taking off running to get their favorite kite to lift off. The cloudy sky was accented with people’s personal and colorful kites. Kids were smiling as they saw their own kite up in the clouds.

“I enjoyed seeing kids just playing,” Olmscheid shared. “Some just enjoyed sliding around on the ice rink! It was a good family event,” she stated. Families were bundled up, for cold temperatures around 10 degrees Fahrenheit, to join in on the family fun.

The event saw a lot of traffic, as did local businesses near Buffalo Lake. “The shoppes and restaurants around town were busy, so it brings people into our community to enjoy the whole day!” Olmscheid concluded.