Winter Kite Festival and Art Shanty Project
Over the weekend, my friends and I attended the Winter Kite Festival and Art Shanty Projects on Lake Harriet. I’ve attended the Art Shanty project a few times over the past couple of years, but this was my first time to see the kite festival. It was amazing to see so many people out enjoying public art on a cold winter day.
The Art Shanty Project started in 2004 and has taken place at a few different lakes around the Twin Cities before making it’s home on Lake Harriet. The project, unfortunately, doesn’t take place every year, mainly due to if it can procure enough funding or not. Luckily, a private donor sent a large grant to help keep the project going through next year!
We spent the afternoon with what felt like half of Minneapolis out on the ice, checking out the various performances and staring up at the sky at all of the colorful kites. It was magical!
The Art Shantys came in all different shapes and sizes, with various types of performances and art pieces inside each. I didn’t make it inside many because the lines were long, and honestly, I was more interested in watching the kites, but we did make our way into a couple.
Check Out the Art Shanty’s!
There is still time to check out the Art Shantys for yourself!
The project is open on weekends now through Feb. 9th, 2020
Hours: 10am - 4pm
Cost: There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Your contribution helps keep public art open for everyone!
Tips and Tricks: I recommend either getting there early or parking on a side street and walking down. There are food trucks if you need a bite to eat and porta-potty’s on-site. And this may be a no-brainer, but dress warm! Standing out in the middle of a frozen lake is windy and colder than in the middle of the city.
I hope you get a chance to experience the Art Shanty Project this year!
