The Color the Wind Kite Festival in Clear Lake, Iowa, scheduled for February 21, 2026, has been canceled due to unsafe ice conditions. Event Director Trish Fundermann and the organizing committee determined that the ice near the shoreline is not stable enough to host the event safely. Tests revealed that while there is a decent depth of ice, the top 3 to 4 inches are soft and dangerous. Attempts to relocate the festival to land were thwarted by Federal Aviation Administration regulations and logistical challenges. This marks the fourth cancellation in the festival's 25-year history, with previous cancellations also due to warm weather affecting ice levels. Iowa is currently experiencing a snow drought and has seen several days of above-average temperatures for February.