Iowa’s winters are brutally cold, but there’s no need to stay cooped up in the house all season long. There are plenty of fun things to do when the weather is chilly, and if you look around, you’ll find fun festivals and family-friendly events in many of our small towns. For one of the best festivals of the year, head to Clear Lake on Valentine’s Day Weekend. This is where you’ll find the Color the Wind Kite Festival, which takes over the frozen Clear Lake and turns it into a kaleidoscope of beauty as a collection of kites in every color and shape imaginable take to the sky. While the 2024 event was canceled due to ice conditions, the town is making plans for a spectacular event on February 15th, 2025 – and if past years are any indication, it’s going to be one of the best festivals in Iowa and one of the best ways to spend a winter day in the Hawkeye State.

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Have you attended Color The Wind in past years? Do you think it’s one of the best festivals in Iowa? Let us know in the comments section! You’ll find more information on the Color the Wind festival on the town website of Clear Lake, and you can follow the Facebook page of Clear Lake, Iowa for the latest updates. This has been the Midwest’s most colorful festival, and you won’t want to miss it. Bundle up and head out on the lake for a day of fun that the whole family can enjoy. If you want to take more than a day to explore Clear Lake, consider booking a room at the Lakeside Inn, one of the town’s most relaxing and affordable hotels.

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More to Explore

Best Winter Festivals In Iowa

What Are Some Of The Best Winter Festivals In Iowa?

Color the Wind is just some of the fun you can have in Iowa when it gets cold, whether you're looking for holiday season fun or something later in the season.

  • Sinterklaas Day in Orange City is held every December, and this unique Christmas event brings Dutch traditions to Iowa. Orange City is one of Iowa's most famous Dutch town, and this annual event features a parade including a version of Santa who looks a little different but is no less jolly. Traditional Dutch treats are available, including the delightful little Dutch pancakes known as poffertjes. Kids will love the games and the traditional puppet show.
  • Beat The Bitter is a unique event held in North Liberty every January, and this town-wide event is designed to help residents get through those late-winter blahs. The event features a huge ice-skating rink, carriage rides around the park, and a bonfire where you can make s'mores - but the highlight is definitely the annual ice sculpture walk. This dazzling event uses carefully carved ice and lights to illuminate the park for a gorgeous experience.
  • Winterfest is yet another amazing event found in the Amana Colonies, taking place in January once the Christmas festivities have faded away. The focus here is on spotlighting the traditional hardscrabble winter way of life, including contests based around ice carving and log-sawing. But there's also plenty of fun, including games, a 5K race, a wine-and-beer walk, and even a competition to see just how far someone can toss a ham!

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