Scene from a previous kite building workshop. File photoLos Alamos Arts Council’s (LAAC) Kite Festival launches this weekend. The festival is a 19-year tradition, which showcases expert flyers who perform dizzy aerial acrobatic moves with sophisticatedly constructed kites as well as simple, hand-made paper kites piloted enthusiastically by young children.
A kite flyer gets creative during a previous kite building workshop. File photoThe festival continues noon to 5 p.m. today and Sunday at the park. A kite building workshop takes place noon to 2 p.m. during which youngsters can construct, decorate and then fly a kite. If the kite becomes damaged, its owner can bring it to the kite hospital booth to be repaired.
A candy drop where a bag of candy is launched on a giant kite, which scatters the candy across the field and fancy flying by kite artists are other popular features. Food vendors serve their products to hungry participants.
The festival and kite workshop are free to the public although donations are welcomed. Free t-shirts will be distributed while they last. Los Alamos National Bank provided some funds for the event.
LAAC Executive Director Marlane Hamilton encourages everyone to come out to the festival.
“I think its a wonderful event and its been going on for 19 years,” she said. “When the weather conditions are ideal it really makes for some good old fashioned fun. Whatever your age, young or old, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon.”
