The 16th Annual 2020 Mille Lacs Kite Crossing is this weekend, February 28, 29, and March 1st. The event is based out of Garrison Bay, and goes from 10-4 each day.
I have always been curious about this event, so I decided to look into it. WOW!
It turns out, Minnesota is home to the largest and most active snowkite community in the country. That makes sense, after all, winters are long here in Minnesota. Snowkite enthusiasts use either snow skis or snowboards, with a large kite that is used as a sail, harnessed to the rider, and the wind pulls them across the snow.
This event is one of the largest in the country, and features some of the top snowkiters from about 12 states and Canada. In what is considered one of the most grueling races in the world, the participants will race 28 miles out and back on Mille Lacs Lake. The racers can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour! The 3-day event will also feature jumping, freestyle, shorter sprint races, and there will be lessons available.
Spectators are welcome, and there is no admission fee. From what I’ve read about this event, it is visually spectacular, with approximately 100 colorful sails in the air pulling the racers around the lake.
There are a number of events in Garrison as they celebrate the Garrison Winter Festival on Saturday from 10-5, with softball on the ice, snowmobile racing, bon-fires and more. Sounds like a great weekend to be in Garrison!