A splash of color against Buffalo’s cloudy Saturday sky

When asked to picture a kite flying in the air, most folks envision a warm summer day with winds breezing from the open skies of a beach or spacious green field. Here in Minnesota, we challenge those perceptions and limitations, proving that kite flying can be a year-round adventure.             

Kites on Ice returned to Buffalo Lake on Saturday, February 8. The popular event, hosted by the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce, brought numerous people to Sturges Park, and onto the frozen surface of Buffalo Lake. After a two-year hiatus, colorful kites were seen once again flying high in the area sky. Last year’s event saw unseasonably warm temperatures and was canceled due to unsafe ice. No worries about ice thickness this year, as cold winter air helped create a 22-inch cover of frozen water. 

Temperatures hovered around 20 degrees on Saturday afternoon, making for a pleasant winter day on the lake, with the sun peeking through cloudy skies from time to time. Fresh snow fell in the overnight and morning hours, creating a slick surface that many kids found irresistible, as they scooted and slid across the ice.

The Kites on Ice festival had something for everyone. Children who came early were given a free kite while supplies lasted, and many families lined up to experience a special ride around the lake, pulled in sleds by a teams of robust canines.

The echoes of pucks ricocheting off wooden boards and blades of steel scraping across lake ice were all part of the experience, as athletes strived for an elusive goal in the popular and competitive pond hockey tournament, where teams played a four-on-four game with no goalie and aimed for a small wooden box with two narrow spaces to slide the puck through. Fourteen teams laced up their hockey skates to partake in the event. 

Bean bags landed with soft thuds on game boards, or the sweet sound of nothing if they swished through the open hole for three points during the cornhole tournament, where thirty-two teams participated, and several games could be played simultaneously. 

A variety of food trucks were lined up in Sturges Park, serving a plethora of tasty treats and yummy bites to keep festival goers energized and in good spirits. 

Kites on Ice was a huge success and enjoyed by many people. A big thank you to all those that helped make the event a memorable experience and much-needed break from the long stretch of winter.