Frozen Assets 5K Run/Walk

Save the date for 2024!

Saturday, February 3rd, 2024
The Edgewater & Lake Mendota
8 – 9:30 a.m. check in
10 a.m. start (Lake Mendota)

About the 2023 5K

Join Clean Lakes Alliance for our Frozen Assets 5K 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 or walk across the ice on iconic Lake Mendota with beautiful views of downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The course will start and end at The Edgewater, right in the heart of the Frozen Assets Festival!

Registration

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. The registration pricing schedule is below:

• $45 In-Person Participant : Through Monday, January 30th
• $50 Day-of Registration : Saturday, February 4th (Register at The Edgewater from 8 – 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 4th)
• $55 Virtual Participant : Includes shipping charges for t-shirt and event materials
• FREE for children 10 & under with purchase of adult registration

Best of all, your registration supports work to protect and improve water quality in our lakes!

Divisions

The event will be chip-timed for runners, or sign up for the walk pass for an untimed event. Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers. Or, register to participate virtually.

Packet Pick Up

Early Packet Pick Up: Wednesday, February 1st, 3-7 p.m. Beat the rush on race day and pick up your packet early on the 5^th 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:If you choose to participate virtually, your t-shirt(s) will be mailed to you in mid-February.

T-Shirts

If you choose to participate virtually, your t-shirt(s) will be mailed to you in mid-February.

Ice Access

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.

Terms & Conditions of Entry

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.

Weather

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 cancelled or moved to an alternate location. Participants will be notified of any changes ahead of the event.

Free Post-race Beverage

All participants 21+ will receive a ticket for a free Michelob Ultra or Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer compliments of Wisconsin Distributors. This complimentary beer will be available on the Boathouse Deck from 10:30 a.m. – noon.

The Market Café and Icehouse at the Edgewater

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.

Sponsorships

If you would like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, email our Marketing & Communications Director Adam Sodersten at adam@cleanlakesalliance.org.

FAQs

Is there parking available? Participants may pay to park at The Edgewater parking ramp. Parking in the ramp fills up quickly, so arrive early. 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.

2023 Frozen Assets Festival

Saturday, February 4th, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sunday, February 5th, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Edgewater & Lake Mendota
FREE, open to the public

Friday Events: (Friday Dusk)

• Kites on Mendota Night Fly with Wisconsin Kiter’s Club, Lake Mendota

All Day Events: (Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

• Pond Hockey, Lake Mendota
• Snowshoeing, Lake Mendota
• Free hot chocolate, The Nolen Gallery
• Skydiving ice jump with Seven Hills Skydiving, Lake Mendota
• Free Ice Skating, The Edgewater Ice Rink
• Mary B. Iceboat on display, Lake Mendota
• Slapshot inflatable game, courtesy of the Madison Capitols Hockey Team, The Langdon Landing
• Explore how UW Center for Limnology monitors our lakes in the winter months, Lake Mendota
• Science on Ice with the Saturday Science team at the Discovery Building, Lake Mendota
• Come learn about IceCube (one of the biggest and strangest telescopes in the world), which uses….you guessed it, ice to help look for signals from almost invisible comic messengers known as neutrinos, Lake Mendota
• What’s Colder Than Ice? – UW-Madison Physics Department demonstrations with liquid nitrogen, Lake Mendota
• Discovery Connections – immerse yourself in ‘flippers-on’ activities about Adelie penguins and Polar research, Lake Mendota
• Learn from Wisconsin Salt Wise about the impacts of salt on our lakes, The Nolen Gallery
• Ice sculpture viewing – ice sculptures created by Art Below Zero, The Grand Plaza
• Activity stations featuring Lake Life Crafts, Does the Boat Float? and Popsicle Stick Carousels, The Grand Ballroom

Scheduled Activities (Saturday):

• 8 – 9:30 a.m. Check in for Frozen Asset 5K Run/Walk, 5th Floor Registration Tables
• 10 a.m. Frozen Assets 5K Run/Walk begins, Lake Mendota
• 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Kites on Mendota with Wisconsin Kiter’s Club, Lake Mendota
• 11 a.m. – Dance demonstration with Central Midwest Ballet, The Grand Ballroom Stage
• 11:30 a.m. – Movie Showing, March of the Penguins, The Grand Ballroom Stage
• Noon – 3 p.m. – Funny Faces face painting, The Madison Room
• 12 p.m. – Mad Science: Up, Up and Away, The Grand Ballroom Stage
• 1 p.m. – Figure skating demonstration with Figure Skating Club of Madison, The Edgewater Ice Rink
• 1:30 p.m. – Movie Showing, Disney Nature: Oceans, The Grand Ballroom Stage
• 1 – 2 p.m. – Bucky Badger visits Frozen Assets
• 2 p.m. – Mad Science: Fire & Ice, The Grand Ballroom Stage
• Dusk – Kites on Mendota Night Fly with Wisconsin Kiter’s Club, Lake Mendota

All Day Events: (Sunday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

• Kites on Mendota with Wisconsin Kiter’s Club, Lake Mendota

About the Festival

2023 Frozen Assets Festival Daily Events

Saturday, January 28th – Sunday, February 5th, 2023
The Edgewater & Lake Mendota

Saturday, January 28th – Night Ice and DJ on the Plaza

• 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.

  1^st Course
  Organic kale & roasted apple salad, pomegranate, spiced pecans, cider vinaigrette
  Or
  Tomato basil bisque, miniature Wisconsin cheddar grilled cheese
  Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs

  2^nd 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

  3^rd Course
  Warm chocolate cake, hazelnut gelato, dark chocolate sauce, hazelnut praline
  Winter Warmer Cocktail

RESERVE DINNER TICKETS AT THE STATEHOUSE

Sunday, January 29th – Sunday Funday

• It’s time for a Sunday Funday! Head over to the Grand Plaza 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.

Monday, January 30th – Women in Water & Sustainability panel discussion, Frozen Character Skate, Live Ice Sculpting

• Women in Water & Sustainability in the Grand Ballroom 4-6 p.m.
  Join Clean Lakes Alliance and TEMPO Madison to learn from women leading water and sustainability efforts in Wisconsin. This Clean Lakes 101 event will feature a panel discussion with Jane Elder, former Executive Director of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters; Dana Hatch, Research Manager at Virent; and Laura Hicklin, Director of the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department. Women in Water & Sustainability will be emceed by WKOW’s Meteorologist Alexis Clemons. Registration is FREE – all registered attendees will receive a complimentary beverage and parking at The Edgewater.

WOMEN IN WATER & SUSTAINABILITY REGISTRATION

• Live Sculpting from Art Below Zero, starting at 4 p.m.
• Frozen Skate at the Ice Rink, 5-7 p.m.
  Do you want to build a snowman? Join us for a “Frozen” Skate, 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 our Snowman snack mix.

Tuesday, January 31st – Tropical Tuesday, Live Ice Sculpting

• Live Ice Sculpting from Art Below Zero, starting at 4 p.m.
• Tropical Tuesday, 5-9 p.m.
  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 with some of our summer favorites including The Boathouse Margarita and the Mendota Colada.

Wednesday, February 1st – What’s up Downtown with Downtown Madison Inc, Youth Hockey Skate, Frozen Assets 5K Early Packet Pickup, and Live Ice Sculpting

• Downtown Madison Inc, – What’s Up Downtown, 8 – 9 a.m.
  Downtown Madison Inc. starts the day with their monthly meeting discussing the lakes and their importance to our city.

WHAT’S UP DOWNTOWN REGISTRATION

• Frozen Assets 5K Run/Walk Packet Pick-up, 3-7 p.m.
  Beat the rush on race day and pick up your packet early on 5^th floor of The Edgewater (immediately off entrance from parking garage).
• Live Sculpting from Art Below Zero, starting at 4 p.m.
• Youth Hockey Skate, 5-9 p.m.
  Wear your youth hockey jersey and skate for free as we celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day. Head over to The Boathouse to watch the UW Badger Women’s Basketball team take on Ohio State.

Thursday, February 2nd – Frozen Night Out with Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Live Ice Sculpting, Pond Hockey Tournament

• Live Sculpting from Art Below Zero, starting at 4 p.m.
• Frozen Night Out, 4-6 p.m.
  You’ll have s’more fun at our Frozen Night Out, with the Greater Madison Area Chamber of Commerce. Warm up around the firepit with a hot toddy or get creative at the s’mores station. Purchase a $5 a ticket, or 5 for $20 to play indoor games and win prizes. Outdoors a $5 a ticket will give you a guess as to how many pennies are frozen in a block of ice. Closest guess wins the pennies! Additionally, enjoy outdoor ice games like Tic Tac Toe, Bean Bag Toss, and a Graffiti Wall. (Lead sponsor: Johnson Financial Group; Accelerate sponsors: 1901 Inc., EUA, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, US Bank; Small and Emerging Business Sponsor: Aberdean Consulting; Venue sponsor: The Edgewater)

FROZEN NIGHT OUT REGISTRATION

• Frozen Assets Pond Hockey Tournament, 4-8 p.m.
  NEW! Join us for the first annual Frozen Assets Pond Hockey Tournament on rinks built right on frozen Lake Mendota! Come early for a stop at The Boathouse for a brew from the beer garden and then gather round the rinks. Teams will play through 8 p.m., with the finals on Friday, 2/3.

POND HOCKEY TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION

Friday, February 3rd – Brewgrass Concert and Fish Fry, Kites on Mendota – Night Fly, Ice Sculpture Display, Pond Hockey Championships

• Friday Night Brewgrass Concert, 6-8 p.m.
  Surprise! We’ve planned a pop-up Winter Friday Night Brewgrass concert. Summer concert goers wear their favorite flannel and get ready for Friday Fish Fry from the Icehouse at 5 p.m., music at 6 p.m. – and don’t forget your favorite brews on tap.
• Kites on Mendota – Night Fly, Dusk
  For the first time, large show kites will dot the sky over Lake Mendota at night! These LED-lit kites will fly high in the air for a unique nighttime display.
• Ice Sculpture Display Lighting, 6 p.m.
  After a week of work, we’ll have the sculptures finished and ready to light for the night!
• Clean Lakes Pond Hockey Championships, 5–8 p.m.
  The winners of Thursday night’s games will square off for the championship

Saturday, February 4th – Frozen Assets 5K Run/Walk & Frozen Assets Festival (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

• Frozen Assets 5K Run/Walk Packet Pickup, 8 – 9:30 a.m.
  Beat the rush on race day and pick up your packet early on 5^th floor of The Edgewater (immediately off entrance from parking garage).
• Frozen Assets Festival & 5K Run/Walk, 10 a.m.
  The Frozen Assets 5K Run/Walk is the ONLY event of its kind in North America that takes place entirely on a frozen lake! Take a break from the hilly pavement and bring your stride to the ice. In this 5K event, participants will run or walk across the ice on iconic Lake Mendota while enjoying beautiful views of downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus.

FROZEN ASSETS 5K REGISTRATION

• Frozen Assets Festival, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  Experience walking out on a frozen lake and enjoying the views of kites flying and skydivers landing on the lake! Check out the legendary 39-foot, 1948, wooden ice racing boat, the “Mary B.” Enjoy family-friendly activities on the ice and Grand Plaza: speed & figure skating demonstrations, free skating and skate rental at the rink, Bucky Badger appearance, snowshoeing, and pond hockey with or without skates. Learn about the science of ice and frozen lakes at our science stations led by UW Discovery Center, UW Sea Grant, and UW Center for Limnology. Inside, stop by The Boathouse for a breakfast sammie and coffee while you cheer on your runner (bloody marys too!), or sit in The Statehouse for brunch. Find free hot chocolate where food is served.Inside the Grand Ballroom check out Mad Science demonstrations featuring Spin, Pop, Boom and Fire & Ice, as well as a showing of Sacred Planet. Learn about how to support the Madison area lakes.Don’t miss free face painting and glitter art as well!
• Kites on Mendota – Night Fly, dusk
  The lit LED kites will take to the air for a second night in a row.

Sunday, February 5th – Kites on Mendota (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

• Watch more than a dozen large show kites take flight over Lake Mendota.

Volunteer at the Frozen Assets Festival & 5K!

Every year, we depend on more than 100 volunteers to help make this free, family-friendly event possible and open to the public. Sign up to volunteer as an outdoor activities helper, 5K event assistant, greeter, and more. Help community members connect with our lakes!

Volunteer Details

Date: Saturday, February 4th, 2023
Location: The Edgewater & Frozen Lake Mendota
Volunteer activities may include: activity attendants, greeters, event set up, 5K registration, and more!

Group Volunteering

Is your company or organization interested in volunteering at the Frozen Assets Festival? Contact Watershed Engagement Specialist, Caitlin McAleavey, to learn about group volunteer opportunities at caitlin@cleanlakesalliance.org.

Become a sponsor

Help support this community event benefitting our lakes! Sponsorships include marketing exposure throughout the weekend to 6,000+ attendees and tickets to the fundraiser party.

If you would like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, download our sponsorship agreement or email our Development Director, Alex Vitanye, at alex@cleanlakesalliance.org.

Thank you 2023 sponsors!

Frozen Assets Fundraiser

The Frozen Assets Fundraiser will be replaced in 2023 by nine days of fun events. Events will take place daily from Saturday, January 28th through Sunday, February 5th.

Save the date for the return of the Frozen Assets Fundraiser in 2024! Madison’s most fashionable fundraiser will be held the weekend of January 27th-28th, 2024.

History of the Frozen Assets Fundraiser

Frozen Assets, held at The Edgewater, is one of Madison’s boldest fundraiser parties, known for its creative themes, unique décor, and the fashion of attendees. The Frozen Assets Fundraiser, along with the Frozen Assets Festival, highlights the status of our lakes as our community’s number one asset. Frozen Assets raised $130,000 for our lakes in 2020.