Hundreds of kites flew overhead at Zilker park Sunday, March 14 during Austin’s 82nd annual Kite Festival.
Organized by The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and The Exchange Club, the popular festival usually takes place the first Sunday in March, but was postponed this year due to rain. Although the wind was not very strong, thousands of people came to enjoy the competitions, food, music, and fun.
Katie Hammen, senior at Texas Tech, stared into the sky kite with her kite string in hand.
“ I am not very good at this, but I love coming every year to see everyone else’s kites,” said Hammen.
Every year the festival holds a homemade kite flying competition, open to anyone who wants to enter. Events include steadiest, strongest pulling, most unusual, smallest and largest. Participants have to follow one basic rule; nobody is allowed to cut another's kite strings.
Erin Todd, fourth grader at Oak Hill Elementary, brought her homemade kite to the festival Sunday.
Unfortunately the low wind conditions took a toll on Erin’s blue and yellow paper kite.
“ It flew once before, but today I can't get it off the ground,” said Todd.
For those who did not bring a kite there was plenty of other activities to enjoy. Ruthanne Shobe, mother of three, watched as her children play on the moonwalk.
“This festival is a great opportunity to spend time as a family,” Shobe said, “And we can be here all day without spending too much money.”
Free admittance to the festival seemed to be popular perk among the crowd.
“This year I didn’t have enough money to go to the beach for spring break, so I have just been enjoying Austin events like this,” said Hammen, “SXSW is next on the list for me.”
Each year since 1929 the Austin Kite Festival has entertained Austinites and inspired creativity in children, with hopes to do so for many years to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment