Wear your youth hockey jersey and skate for free as we celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day. Head over to The Boathouse at The Edgewater to watch the UW Badger Women’s Basketball team take on Ohio State. This event is part of the nine-day Frozen Assets week, which celebrates our lakes as one of community’s greatest assets.
Our Tropical Tuesday skate will have you on island time! Grab a lei and feel the cool Lake Mendota breeze as you jam to Jimmy Buffet around the rink.
Warm up with our Lakeside Luau with the Madison Downtowners, Madison Magnet, Smart Growth, and NAIOP in The Boathouse at The Edgewater with some of our summer favorites including The Boathouse Margarita and the Mendota Colada, Hawaiian pizzas and our favorite steel drum duo. This event is part of the nine-day Frozen Assets Festival, which celebrates our lakes as a year-round asset.
Do you want to build a snowman? Join us for a “Frozen” Skate as part of Frozen Assets week, sponsored by Cassin Wolfe, Modern Woodmen of America, at The Edgewater, with special guests Elsa and Anna and a few of their friends! Stop in the Icehouse for some “Frozen” treats including snow cones (adult versions too!) and more. Warm up with sip of hot cocoa and munch on The Edgewater’s Snowman Snack Mix.
It’s time for a Frozen Assets Sunday Funday! Head over to the Grand Plaza at The Edgewater for ice skating and the inaugural Ice Block delivery — each sculpture will weigh more than 1,000 pounds! These massive slabs will be the home to live sculpture carvings for the week, showcasing ice carvers from Art Below Zero.
Enjoy brunch from The Statehouse or join the watch party for NFL Championship games in the Boathouse.
Chill out with us on the Grand Plaza and Ice Rink for Night ICE 2023, an outdoor party featuring Milwaukee Bucks official DJ and Producer, DJ Shawna, live in the booth overlooking Lake Mendota from 7-9 p.m. Her talent has been heard as the NCAA Women’s Final Four Official DJ, the NBA All-Star Game, and the 2020 Official DJ for the Ryder Cup. She’s also opened for major acts such as Lizzo, Ani DiFranco, Shaq (AKA DJ Diesel), and Jonas Blue to name a few.
You won’t want to miss the sights and sounds of Night ICE, kicking off the festival week. Events kick off with opening DJ’s at 5 p.m. Warm up with a hot drink or cool down with a spin around the rink…you’re sure to have a “nICE” night!
If you’d rather start out your night inside, support the lakes and reserve tickets for dinner at The Statehouse, which will feature a three-course prix-fixe menu (menu below). Tickets are $150 with 50% of all ticket sales going to Clean Lakes Alliance.
1st Course
Organic kale & roasted apple salad, pomegranate, spiced pecans, cider vinaigrette
Or
Tomato basil bisque, miniature Wisconsin cheddar grilled cheese
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs
2nd Course
Petite cut prime rib au jus, truffled mashed potato, brussels sprouts
Or
Butternut squash ravioli, braised Swiss chard, parmesan broth, grated SarVecchio
Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, California or Ravel & Stitch Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, California
3rd Course
Warm chocolate cake, hazelnut gelato, dark chocolate sauce, hazelnut praline
Winter Warmer Cocktail
Join Clean Lakes Alliance for our Frozen Assets 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, February 4th, 2023 at 10 a.m. and run or walk ENTIRELY on a frozen lake!
Take a break from the hilly pavement and bring your stride to the ice. In this 5K race, participants will run, walk, or snowshoe across the ice on iconic Lake Mendota with beautiful views of downtown Madison. The course will start and end at The Edgewater, right in the heart of the Frozen Assets Festival!
Your registration to this event includes admission to the race, an event t-shirt, and optional chip timing! Online registration closes Monday, January 30th for in-person participants. Registration closes on Sunday, February 5th for virtual participants. The registration pricing schedule is below:
Best of all, your registration supports work to protect and improve water quality in our lakes!
The event will be chip-timed for runners, or sign up for the walk pass for an untimed event. The top three male and female finishers will receive awards. Or, register to participate virtually.
Early Packet Pick Up: Wednesday, February 1st, 3-7 p.m. Beat the rush on race day and pick up your packet early on 5th floor of The Edgewater (immediately inside The Edgewater’s entrance from the parking garage).
Same-Day Packet Pick Up: Saturday, February 4th, 8-9:30 a.m. INSIDE The Edgewater on Level 5 (immediately inside The Edgewater’s entrance from the parking garage on the ice rink level).
Virtual Participants: Clean Lakes Alliance will mail your t-shirt(s) and event materials to you in mid-February.
If you choose to participate virtually, your t-shirt(s) will be mailed to you in mid-February.
You may access the ice down The Edgewater outdoor stairs, indoors through The Edgewater, at the end of N. Carroll Street to the west, and from James Madison Park to the east.
By registering for this event, you agree to the Frozen Assets 5K Terms & Conditions of Entry. All entrants must read and agree to this declaration.
The annual Frozen Assets Festival will take place on Saturday, February 4th at The Edgewater. As always, this family-friendly daytime event will be FREE and open to all. Learn more at cleanlakesalliance.org/frozen-assets.
Race organizers reserve the right to alter the course due to factors including, but not limited to, ice conditions and weather. If conditions are deemed unsafe, the event may be canceled or moved to an alternate location. Participants will be notified of any changes ahead of the event.
All participants 21+ will receive a ticket for a free Michelob Ultra or Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer compliments of Wisconsin Distributors. This complimentary beverage will be available on the Boathouse Deck from 10:30 a.m. – noon.
The Market Café on the 7th floor and the Icehouse on the 5th floor will be open for coffee and grab-n-go breakfast starting at 7 a.m.
If you would like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, email our Development Director Alex Vitanye at alex@cleanlakesalliance.org.
Is there parking available? Participants may pay to park at The Edgewater parking ramp. The ramp fills up quickly, so plan to arrive with plenty of time before the run/walk begins. You may also find street parking or use City of Madison parking ramps.
When can I check in or pick up my race packet? Participant check-in and registration the day of the event will begin at 8 a.m. on LEVEL 5 of The Edgewater. The run/walk will begin promptly at 10 a.m. on Lake Mendota.
What shoes should I wear? Participants are encouraged to choose their preferred footwear with weather, ice, and snow conditions in mind. Past runners and walkers have worn spikes, boots, snowshoes, and regular running/tennis shoes.
What is the course like? The 5K course begins off the end of The Edgewater’s pier. Runners and walkers will head out toward Picnic Point, past the Memorial Union, before looping back and finishing at The Edgewater.
Where can I leave personal items during the 5K? We strongly encourage you to only bring items you will use while walking or running. Any bags or gear left at The Edgewater or on Lake Mendota will not be locked or supervised. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.
What happens if ice conditions are unsafe? Clean Lakes Alliance will make every effort to hold this event, while keeping safety in mind for all competitors. If conditions are deemed unsafe, the event may be cancelled or moved to an alternate location, with entrance fees being considered a tax-deductible donation to support our lakes. Participants will be notified of any changes ahead of the event.
What is the refund policy? Registrations are transferrable if you become unable to attend. In the event the Frozen Assets 5k Run/Walk needs to be canceled for weather, ice conditions, or any other circumstance, registrants can request a full refund for the price of the participation fee, excluding eventbrite fees.
Frigid air temperatures, combined with cold water and low winds, helped Lake Mendota officially freeze on December 25th, 2022. The declaration came from the Wisconsin State Climatology Office. Lake Mendota, the largest lake in the Yahara Watershed, froze five days after December 20th. December 20th is the median ice-on date for the largest lake in the Yahara River Watershed. The Christmas Day freeze date is over a month shy of January 30th – which is the latest date that ice-on has ever been declared (1/30/1932).
In 2022, our volunteers embarked on the 10th season of LakeForecast water quality monitoring. This work involved collecting nearshore condition reports at piers, beaches, parks, and access points around the five Yahara lakes. From May through September, volunteers measured water clarity, recorded air and water temperature, identified the presence of green algae and cyanobacteria, and noted additional visual observations. Reports are entered into the LakeForecast app where all data are updated in real time.
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi recently introduced a 2023 budget proposal that could be a game changer for our lakes. The budget proposal includes an initial $3 million investment for a proposed study for a third Dane County manure digester. If approved, the proposal will lay the groundwork for the design and siting of a regional cow manure processing facility. The proposed budget follows the release of RENEW THE BLUE: A Community Guide for Cleaner Lakes & Beaches in the Yahara Watershed.
Clean Lakes Alliance is proud to partner with the Wisconsin Executive Residence Foundation, along with other local organizations, to fund and implement a lakeshore restoration along 294 feet of Lake Mendota shoreline. Located at the iconic Executive Residence, the project will replace 7,184 square feet of existing turf with 32 species of native plants, wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs. In all, a total of 3,177 native plants will be added to the shoreline area!
