KITE FESTIVAL 2013

After the well-nigh impossibly windy conditions of 2012, The 2013 Kite Festival, held at Highfield Park in the more reliable weather conditions of on 6-7 July, was a great success. On both days crowds flocked to Highfield Park to see spectacular solo and team kite displays soaring in the skies above the town. Kite selling and kite-making stalls both did a roaring trade, and it was especially noteworthy that, when public participation sessions threw the field open to one and all, the professional kite flyers were generous with advice and encouragement to get beginners up into the air. In this good weather, the much-anticipated ‘teddy bear parachute drop’ was able to take place on both days, with the much-loved bears achieving especially impressive flight distances before being returned to the safe embrace of their possibly apprehensive owners. Once again thanks are due to Mr John Dobson of Allendale who organised the kite flyers and their demonstrations, and to the kite flyers who shared their passion for their sport with all who attended.

Kite Enthusiasts travelled from far and wide to put on a spectacular display of Sky Art, 3-D Kites and Synchronised Flying to music, as well as holding kite-making workshops and inviting the public to take part in ‘kite-fights’, ‘kite-sprints’ and parachuting teddy bears.

Entry to the event was FREE, although attractions and stands at the event did carry a small charge.  There was also FREE on-site car-parking and toilets facilities as well as good quality on-site Catering and Confectionery Stands.

The programme, as was, can be viewed below:

11.00  Kite Sprint for Professional Kite Fliers
11.30  Graham Lockwood (1 man flying 3 kites)
12.00  Oriental Kite Display
12.30  Public Kite Flying (Kite Sprint & Kite Fight hosted by
   Professional Flyers)
  1.30  Fusion (Synchronised Kite Flying)
  2.00  Josh Mitchison (1 man flying 3 kites)
  2.30  Children's Kite Display (prize for best decorated Kite)
  3.00  Pallas Family Fliers (Synchronised Kite Flying)
  3.30  Kelvin Woods and his Butterflies
  4.00  Parachuting Teddy Bears
  4.30  Public Kite Flying (Kite Sprint & Kite Fight hosted by
   Professional Flyers)

The event will be held again in 2014 on Saturday 12th/Sunday 13th July, from 12noon till 4pm.

We hope to see you there, and to get you in the mood, have a look at the 2013 photographs below, courtesy of Mr Alan Helmore!