Minnesota’s Amazing Winter Giant Kite Festival Is Coming Up In February

If you're looking for a way to shake the winter blues, how about a sky full of colorful giant kites flying high to lift your spirits?

The annual tradition of the 'Kites on Ice Festival' is closing in on a decade of winter fun that includes professional kite flyers taking to the sky, with lots of other fun on the ground for everyone in attendance.

The 2026 Kites on Ice Festival is the 8th edition of this winter event, taking to the sky just northwest of the Twin Cities above Buffalo Lake in Downtown Buffalo, Minnesota, on Saturday, February 14.

The one-day festival includes a bunch of professional kite flyers not only from Minnesota, but also from elsewhere around the Midwest, flying giant show kites in a colorful spectacle that's free to attend.

READ MORE: Minnesota's Quirky & Unique Festivals You Need To Check Out

On top of the numerous larger kites flown by professionals, the public is invited to fly their own kite, too! Festival organizers have a limited supply of free kites for kids, and everyone is invited to bring their own kite if they'd like to fly one as well.

While the kites are the centerpiece of this free event, there's a lot of other fun to enjoy!

On-site at the 2026 Kites on Ice Festival will also be the opportunity to go on sled dog rides, take part in (or watch) a cornhole or pond hockey tournament, enjoy food and drinks from the food trucks and beer garden, and take part in the various other family activities.

If you're trying to imagine what to expect, here's a promotional video for last year's Kites on Ice Festival from the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event:

The 2026 Kites on Ice Festival is scheduled to happen from 11 am to 3 on Saturday, February 14. You can learn more about this free event on the Buffalo Area Chamber's website.

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If quirky and unique Minnesota festivals like this are your thing, here's a look at some of the other ones you can look forward to checking out throughout the year!