Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!
On Saturday we attended the Minnesota Kite Festival, something I wasn't even aware existed before I profiled January festivals. But it's a real live festival, held in January on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, sponsored by the Minnesota Kite Society. And yes, it was news to me that there's a Minnesota Kite Society, but they sure are active and have lots of fun events scheduled in upcoming months. Winter not only doesn't deter them, but apparently it provides lots of great winds, because they have several upcoming events which you can find out about by clicking on their link above.
Saturday was perfect.
Bright blue skies, and kites enormous and small floating through the air. Of course there was a stand that sold simple kites for the beginners, but there were many more experienced kite flyers who brought elaborate kites with them.
There was also a marshmallow roast.
Teen 2 particularly enjoyed this part.
There was an ice-fishing tent, and an area set up for people to try snowshoeing. I saw several people on cross-country skis. A concession table (outdoors, poor volunteers) giving out hot chocolate and cider, asking for only 50 cents in a donation (but not requiring it). There was also a stand selling hats and scarves.
Oh--and there was juggling:
With fire, no less. The juggler noted at the end that we can see him at the Renaissance Festival this fall. Nothing like advance promotion.
But most of all, there were kites.
Fish and snakes and boxes and even Spongebob Squarepants. This was definitely a family-friendly and dog-friendly event, but you didn't have to be there with kids or canines to enjoy the sight of those beautiful kites against the deep blue sky. Lake Harriet is a great location, with the big expanse of frozen lake.
Let's go fly a kite...
The kites are beautiful aren't they? The group from MN Kite Society come to the Hudson Hot Air Affair every year. I volunteer for the Hudson Hot Air Affair and bring in the Kite Society every year. It's a great addition to our event.
Posted by: balou | January 12, 2009 at 02:49 PM
That looks like a lot of fun -- except for the January aspect of it!
Posted by: T. Myers | January 12, 2009 at 02:49 PM
I thought January was a bizarre month for a kite festival until I saw the pics. It's actually kind of perfect. I used to live in China, and my town had a big national kite festival. Can you imagine a national kite festival in CHINA? But they canceled it that year because of SARS. What a bummer.
Posted by: Erin | January 12, 2009 at 02:49 PM
This is wonderful, Amy! The paper here had a photo of a guy using a 16 foot kite to snowboard. He bit the dust (or snow :-)
Posted by: debra | January 12, 2009 at 02:49 PM
It does look like loads of fun. And if there's lightening, they can discover electricity! ;)
Posted by: Carrie K | January 13, 2009 at 03:31 PM