Winter-themed event series Winter Carnival brings back community favorite activities, debuts new events Feb. 7-10, 2024
Posted: 12/13/23
The Wisconsin Union’s winter-themed event series, called Winter Carnival, will make its return to Madison for its 84th year Feb. 7-10, 2024, bringing with it both indoor and outdoor winter-themed activities, including the appearance of a beloved Carnival tradition: Lady Liberty on Lake Mendota.
The Winter Carnival lineup currently includes:
- Feb. 7
- Curling
- Open ice skating
- $1 cheese curds
- Family ice skating and games night
- Feb. 8
- Open ice skating
- New: Taylor Swift music ice skating night
- Ice fishing derby presented by the Wisconsin Fishing Team in partnership with the Wisconsin Union
- University Recreation & Wellbeing’s Connolly Classic Pond Hockey Tournament, open to University of Wisconsin–Madison students only
- Feb. 9
- Inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty’s head, arm and torch on Lake Mendota
- Open ice skating
- Learn to Skate, instructed by University Recreation & Wellbeing
- New: Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games tournament, presented by University Recreation & Wellbeing
- New: Winter Beats: a rhythm game challenge
- Luminary-making
- Nighttime snowshoeing on Lake Mendota
- Snow Ball: live music, dancing, and swing dancing instruction
- Introductory ice climbing
- Feb. 10
- Inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty’s head, arm and torch on Lake Mendota
- Fireworks
- Skiing and snowboarding competition, called Rail Jam
- Maple taffy-making
- Scavenger hunt, called Secret Agent
- New: Valentine’s Day and kindness greeting card-making as well as hot chocolate
- New: snow shelter viewing
- Family Fun in Alumni Park, presented by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, featuring family-friendly activities
- Ice and alley games: curling, human bowling and cornhole
- New: sock snowperson-making
- New: mini horses photo opportunities and meet-and-greet
- Open ice skating
- Limited-time menu options for purchase: mac and cheese as well as chili
- Viewing of the 39-foot iceboat, called the Mary B, built in 1945 in Madison
Most Winter Carnival events are free and open to the community. The event lineup is subject to change, including due to weather conditions. Some events include age restrictions, a registration requirement or other limitations.
“Winter is too long to not get outside and make the most of the season, and Winter Carnival is an opportunity to experience lots of winter fun and find out what you enjoy while making memories,” Outdoor UW Director Dave Elsmo said. “When an event series lineup includes an inflatable Statue of Liberty head and torch, a Taylor Swift-themed ice skating event, and ponies, you know it’s something you have to check out.”
2024 will mark the 84th year the Wisconsin Union team has hosted Winter Carnival. Each year, the team works with UW–Madison students and community partners to make the winter celebration series possible.
One historic Winter Carnival event brings an iconic New York City destination to Madison: the Statue of Liberty. The Wisconsin Union team brings out a to-scale, inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty’s head, arm and torch to frozen Lake Mendota each year. The Lady Liberty tradition began in 1979 with a prank by the Pail and Shovel Party members and UW–Madison alumni Leon Varjian and Jim Mallon ’79, who made a Wisconsin Student Association campaign promise that they would bring the Statue of Liberty to Madison. The Pail and Shovel Party erected a Styrofoam Lady Liberty head, arm and torch on Lake Mendota.
Lady Liberty first returned to Lake Mendota as an inflatable Statue of Liberty in 2019. Those interested in learning more about its history can read about it here.
The Wisconsin Union team offers indoor spaces to warm up as well as indoor dining options at its building Memorial Union, which Winter Carnival guests can enjoy. Purchases at Memorial Union and Union South as well as donations to the Union help support the Union’s low-cost and free events, such as the Carnival, as well as Wisconsin Union student leadership opportunities. Wisconsin Union student leaders organize many Winter Carnival events.
The Wisconsin Union team will share details about Winter Carnival events at union.wisc.edu/wintercarnival in the coming weeks.