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Lack of funding cancels Kites on Ice 2006

Event organizers and Madison Festival Incorporated canceled Kites on Ice 2006, which was scheduled for Feb. 5 and 6, due to monetary problems.

Kites on Ice, a winter kite celebration since 1998, has drawn up to 100,000 kite flyers from around the world, according to Keith Peterson, Madison Festival Inc. events manager.

Admission to Kites on Ice is free, and Peterson said the event loses too much money to hold it in '06.

"The event itself costs around $150,000," Peterson said. "We lost $60,000 or so at last year's event."

Peterson said the monetary loss for Kites on Ice has led Madison Festival Inc. to use funds from their other two events, the Mad City Marathon and Taste of Madison. The Madison Festival Board will use their time in '06 to evaluate Kites on Ice and find a way to make it less costly in the future.

"My goal is to create an event that is as good, if not better, than the events in the past," Peterson said. "The board has to figure ways to reduce costs to a level we are comfortable with. I'd be willing to take a $25,000 loss for Kites on Ice, but $60,000 is too much."

Peterson said his goal for the event is always to break even. The board will consider not bringing in as many kite flyers or making the event only for one type of kite each year. Charging admission will also be considered, and Peterson said every option will be on the table.

University of Wisconsin junior Angie Griffin said it would be a shame for Madison to lose Kites on Ice permanently.

"It's an event that's unique to Madison," Griffin said. "It's such a cool festival. I've been there once, and I had a good time."

Peterson said Madison Festivals Inc. appreciates the support Kites on Ice has received from the Madison community and its various sponsors and hopes the event will be back on its feet in the future.

"We're really disappointed we can't hold the event in 2006," Peterson said. "We're going to try to bring it back as a better event in 2007."