Make the most of Iowa’s winter with festivals featuring giant kites, quirky competitions, ice-harvesting demonstrations, and live blues.
Don’t be alarmed, but here’s your friendly reminder that winter is coming. Before you start counting the days until spring, consider this perspective: Iowa’s coldest months also bring some pretty fun reasons to get out of the house.
From giant kites soaring above a frozen lake to a competition that involves throwing a ham (yes, you heard that right), winter festivals give Iowans a chance to embrace the season rather than spend it hibernating under a blanket. Add live music, historical demonstrations, and a few opportunities to warm up with a hot drink, and winter doesn’t actually sound so bad.
Here are five winter festivals in Iowa to put on your calendar for 2027. It’s anticipated that more events will announce their dates and schedules in the coming months, so keep an eye out for more to come.
Amana Colonies Winterfest
Tentative date: Jan. 23, 2027
Winter in the Amana Colonies comes with wine, beer, live music, and some unconventional games. Amana Colonies Winterfest brings visitors to the historic eastern Iowa villages for a day of seasonal activities, local shopping, and interesting competition.
Past celebrations have included the annual Wine and Beer Walk, where participants pick up a passport and visit participating wineries and breweries for samples and stamps.
The Winterfest Games are another highlight. Held at the Festhalle Barn area, the competitions have included wreath tossing, log sawing, a beard contest, and the Great Amana Ham-Put—the aforementioned ham-throwing competition.
There are also family-friendly activities, live music, and opportunities to explore Amana’s shops and restaurants. Past events have featured crafts and scavenger hunts, along with seasonal food and drinks.
The best part is that you can build your own day around the festivities, whether that means joining the games, sampling local beverages, or browsing the villages before settling in for a delightful meal.
University of Okoboji Winter Games
Dates: Jan. 28-31, 2027
Mark your calendars for this Iowa staple—the University of Okoboji Winter Games. This four-day tradition brings thousands of people to the Iowa Great Lakes area for a packed schedule of winter sports, games, and community events. The 2027 celebration marks the 47th annual Winter Games.
The event began in 1981 as a broomball tournament on the frozen waters of East Lake. It has since grown into a winter extravaganza featuring more than 100 events throughout the area.
Broomball remains a signature activity, but the schedule reaches well beyond the ice (which is good news if it’s an unseasonably warm year for frozen activities). Past and returning favorites include flag football, softball, a bags tournament, a chili cook-off, the Chocolate Classic, a polar plunge, fireworks, and the Burning of the Greens. Boji Kites is another fan favorite, bringing professional kite flyers and colorful designs to the sky.
Organizers have yet to release the complete 2027 schedule, so keep an eye out as details become available.
Ice Harvest Festival
Date: Feb. 6, 2027
Before modern refrigerators and freezers, keeping food cold required a lot more muscle—and a dependable supply of winter ice. Cedar Falls’ Ice Harvest Festival brings that history to life with demonstrations showing how ice was harvested before refrigeration became commonplace.
The free, family-friendly event takes place along the north shore of Big Woods Lake, where visitors can watch demonstrations of traditional ice-harvesting techniques. Past festivals have featured Amish ice harvesters using specialized saws and tools to cut blocks from the lake, along with demonstrations and activities for children.
The work is interesting to watch. Harvesters score and cut the ice, separate the blocks, and move them toward shore using equipment that looks a little different from anything you’d find in your own kitchen.
The festival also connects visitors with Cedar Falls’ local history. The city’s historic ice house once stored thousands of tons of ice harvested from the Cedar River, helping supply refrigeration needs before electric appliances transformed daily life.
Expect ice-harvesting demonstrations, children’s activities, and other demonstrations, with lunch available for purchase. The 2027 event is listed for February 6, but remember that an ice festival depends on—you guessed it—ice.
Winter Blues Festival
Dates: Feb. 12-13, 2027
Prefer your winter entertainment indoors, with a dance floor, and live music? Check out the Winter Blues Festival in downtown Des Moines for two nights of blues performances.
Held at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, the festival features 20 local, regional, and international acts across five stages. Table-and-chair seating gives guests a place to relax between sets, while dance floors offer a chance to move to the music. Food and drinks are available, too.
For 2027, advance ticket prices are listed at $35 for Friday, $45 for Saturday, and $65 for a weekend pass.
Color the Wind Kite Festival
Date: Feb. 20, 2027
Each February, Clear Lake’s Color the Wind Kite Festival brings enormous inflatable kites to the frozen lake.
Kite flyers travel from around the country to participate, with some of the kites reaching impressive sizes. The displays are coordinated and set to music, which is neat.
The festival is scheduled for February 20, 2027, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizers suggest a $5 donation per person. Because the event takes place on the lake, ice safety is a major consideration. In 2026, organizers canceled the festival because conditions were unsafe, so keep an eye on updates before making the trip.
There’s more to do in Clear Lake while you’re in town. The Surf Ballroom offers a chance to explore the area’s music history, while the Clear Lake Arts Center has offered hands-on art activities during festival weekend. The public library has also hosted story time, crafts, and a warming space with hot chocolate.
More winter festivals in Iowa to watch for
These five events are a good starting point, but they’re far from the only ways to enjoy Iowa in winter. Communities across the state host seasonal celebrations, outdoor competitions, ice events, and winter markets, and some have yet to announce their dates or full schedules for 2027.
Check local tourism websites and event calendars as winter gets closer. New details may bring more festivals to add to your list—and more reasons to get out and enjoy the season.
