By Bill Coons                                                                                                                                Click here for  Kite Fest Pictures 

 

This was a two-day event that started with a night fly on the eve of the actual event. We had a tremendous turnout for the event: Me and Barbara, Thom, Jaemi, and Ashton Shanken, Gary Sharp, Jim Peck, Kevin Reynolds and Jing Jin, Jim McLoughlin, Don Tuff and Kim Linehan, and Dave Tuttle. Amber Blanding, Arts Administrator, and Dylan Otts, Site Manager, acted as event organizers, gracious hosts and flyers.

 

The Art Park provided accommodations. Barbara and I and Gary Sharp pitched our tents right next to the Artist’s Lodge. Kevin and Jing stayed in their camping trailer in the parking area behind the lodge. All other fliers stayed either in the Lodge or the main house.

 

In addition to a kid’s kite making station and face painting station, the Art Park had a silent auction both days. The kites were a Thom Shanken design paper cicada, which flies well in almost no wind. Kim and I both won prizes in the silent auction worth far more than our investments. The Art Park also invited a kite vendor from Rochester, a local homemade ice cream vendor, and the rotary club provided hamburgers and hot dogs at a reasonable price both days.

 

The kite vendor is just restarting his business after having to stop due to a family illness. He set up an impressive store using a portable garage with walls and had a very good selection of kites and paraphernalia. Rick Westover’s website is currently under construction: www.goodthingsfly.com.

 

This was another event where, if you paid attention to weather forecasts, you’d probably stay home; what a mistake that would have been. The weather was a non-issue. Not to say we didn’t have rain, but not during festival hours.

 

Friday’s night fly didn’t go too well from a flying perspective; the wind just wouldn’t cooperate. It was a lovely, clear night, however, and the company was great.

 

The wind was more cooperative on Saturday. We were able to put up the FUGU, run bol races and prepare for a gigantic rok battle. But none of the big stuff would stay up because the wind was up and down most of the day, mostly down. The conditions were perfect for the FUGU; once inflated, it tended to stay up. And it was very well appreciated by the general public. A reporter from the Syracuse Post-Standard was there and the FUGU appeared on the front page of the local section of the Sunday edition, NYKE was briefly mentioned. Bols flew well if hand-tended and we were able to run several heats of bol races. In addition to several heats with kids, Thom was very good at convincing a bunch of adults to participate and we ended up with at least two heats using 8 bols in each. Once the bol races were wrapped up we started preparing for a Rok battle. Thom once again convinced a bunch of adults to give it a try. We ended up teaching at least 12 people how to put a rok together and fly it. But, once we finished preparations, the wind decided to depart the area and we were unable to actually do battle. We encouraged trainees to return for day two.

 

Sunday was a beautiful day, but also light wind – lighter than on Saturday. I was able to fly my black and yellow Level One with a 75-foot transition tail. It was hard work, however, and I was happy to pack it away when the crowds started building. There was a local TV station on the field and Thom Shanken was interviewed and identified as a New York Kite Enthusiast. They captured a brief launch of Don and Kim’s 125, Jim Peck’s new blue and white delta, and me bouncing my rok on the ground a couple of times. And, because of the uncooperative nature of the wind, we ended up doing a candy throw instead of a candy drop. Kevin and Gary grabbed larges handfuls of candy and just threw them in the air; they threw two-days worth at this one “drop.” We attempted neither rok battle nor bol race. In a moment of inspiration, either Gary or Thom remembered the play sail. And, in short order, we had it out and ready for lift off. With the help of Jing Jin (Kevin’s wife) and Norm (a.k.a. Captain Jack) Thom, Kevin, Gary, and me were able to have several successful short flights. As with the FUGU, the general public was very appreciative.

 

One unique feature for kids was the Saturday pirate parade and scavenger hunt. Captain Jack (Norm) set up his pirate-themed shelter next to our EZ-up. He was dressed for the part and stayed in the role the entire day. Toward the end of the day the call was put out for all kids to meet at his tent to start the parade and scavenger hunt. I was surprised by the turnout; probably 30 or 40 kids, many with parents in tow, followed him on his journey. Jim provided him with a wireless mike so he could narrate the journey and at one point we lost contact – it was about a 20-minute parade. He handed out lots of prizes during the day. And when he wasn’t being a pirate he spent time talking with us about kites and taking pictures.

 

I shouldn’t have been too surprised by the number of kids in the parade. The general public came out in force; the Park estimates there were 1000 guests during the two-day event. Many stayed all day Saturday and returned on Sunday. NYKE got some good press, in both the Sunday paper and evening newscast, and many people expressed an interest in the club – Thom got rid of all but one of his NYKE tri-fold pamphlets.

 

And to top off the weekend, we had an excellent campfire at the Artist’s Lodge on Sunday night. Barbara, Me, Thom, Don and Kim were joined by Amber, Dylan and Doug Gustafson from the Art Park. We spent a couple of hours keeping warm, sharing stories, and enjoying a few adult beverages.

 

You should make a plan to join us next year – you won’t be sorry!      Click here for  Kite Fest Pictures