Winter Festivals Prove Iowans Are Just Plain Crazy

If you ever needed proof that Iowans are crazy, here it is: the winter festival season has  officially begun.

Coralville, Iowa brings us one of the first Winterfest of the season this Sunday January 12. Since it began in 2008, thousands of people each year enjoy winter-time demonstrations, indoor and outdoor hands-on activities, entertainment, food, and frosty fun for all ages.

If you want to road trip, try Mason City on January 18 for the Winter Festival at Lime Creek Nature Center. You can enjoy  snowshoe hikes, a snow bike demo, winter scavenger hunt, candle making, crafts, and marshmallow/hot dog roasting over a campfire.

Next up is the Amana Colonies Winterfest, happening January 25, and featuring a 5k fun run, winter mini-golf, a "best beard" contest, open fire chili, a Snowball dance, a wine and beer walk and more..

The week of January 25 brings the best to North Liberty for the week-long Beat the Bitter Winter Games and Good Cheer. It features a 5k-ish obstacle run, curling and broom-ball, along with a sold out performance by  the Pork Tornadoes at the Igloo Jam.

But the coldest, boldest winter festival could be in Clear Lake, Iowa. The lake freezes over every winter, and locals put that to good use to host the annual Color the Wind Kite Festival. This year's event happens on Saturday, February 15. It's usually the coldest, snowiest time of the winter which makes it perfectly insane for kite flying fun.

So enjoy the winter and remember, nothing lasts forever. There's only 5 months until summer arrives.