MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Winter Carnival celebrated its last day of events Saturday.

Weather had forced leaders to cancel many of the carnival’s popular outdoor events.

“We did have to pivot some things,” said Shauna Breneman, communications manager for the Wisconsin Union. “But we still offered more than 15 events for folks to enjoy.”

Notably, the inflatable Lady Liberty was kept on land this year, instead of on the ice. Events like ice skating, ice fishing and pond hockey were called off.

Breneman said it was a difficult decision.

“We had to change a few things based on the warmer than usual temperatures, and the thinning ice that we were observing on Lake Mendota,” she said.

There were still plenty of indoor and outdoor events to enjoy Saturday, like a scavenger hunt, yard games and crafts.

Two alumni attending the events said the weather was strange, but they weren’t complaining.

“I don’t mind not having ice under my feet,” said Patty Ziegler. “This is good. Green grass, the sun.”

“Yeah, I kind of enjoy the sun,” Deb Calder added. “It’s the perfect day.”

Other visitors said they were missing the winter weather.

“It’s really warm,” said Madison resident Isabella Meza Rodriguez. “I don’t really like that because I like more winter than summer.”

Breneman said she knows how special this event is for people, which is why they still wanted to make it happen this year.

“Winter Carnival is one of those events that folks really look forward to every year, almost on the same level as the terrace chairs returning to the Memorial Union Terrace,” she said. “We know there’s a big level of excitement for this.”

While it’s never easy to predict the weather in Wisconsin, she said in the future, they’ll be prepared to pivot for this event just like they did this year.

“We were very prepared to make the best of the situation that the weather gave us, and we are always prepared to do that,” Breneman said.