Flying high into spring - #lakewoodnews

Is it a bird? Is it a dragon? Is it a fish?

No --; it's a kite!

More than 1,500 kites soared high in the breezy light blue sky on April 3rd, during Arvada's 14th Annual Kite Festival.

"We come every year," Eugene Fenton said as he prepares to fly a kite with his four-year old daughter, Anaya. "Who doesn't love to fly a kite?"

Held at the Stenger-Lutz Sports Complex at 58th Avenue and Quail Street, the free event featured areas for small and large kite flying, demonstration kite flying and a variety of family activities such as face painting, a DJ, community and food vendors, contests and more.

But the favorite activity, was the simply, the main event --; Kite flying.

"Kite flying is simple, easy to do and is something all generations across the board can do together," said Nina Piccini, organizer of the festival. "There are not a ton of kite festivals around; it's unique."

A warm 80 degree day, the complex was packed, with more than 14,000 people at the event, organizers said. Flying conditions were near-perfect as the sunny sky was clear with just the right amount of wind.

"You have to hold it flat like I told you," Fenton said to Anaya as a breeze began to fill the air.

"Like that?" she asked.

"Now try and throw it high in the sky so it can fly!"

A timeless tradition, festival attendees of all ages smiled as they watched one another's kites take off, flying on the wind --; only occasionally tangling in one another. From kite flying to hamster ball races, face painting and doggie hot dog eating contests, the festival was meant to impress, and for Arvada residents and festival attendees alike --; it did.

"We like the booths, we got a free kite, and we're really enjoying being out here and flying kites," Demere Cruz-Fischer said. She and her sons Dylan, 3, and David Fischer, 17, came out after hearing about the event from a friend. "We like to be caught up in the action, and it's a great atmosphere."

Nestled on an open field in the heart of the city, the area gives attendees a scenic view of the Front Range. The view, said Brenda Musick, is one to behold.

"What stuns me every time is you get to look at that," she said motioning to the picturesque view of hundreds of kites flying in front of the Rocky Mountains.

"It's just so spectacular."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://arvadapress.com/stories/Flying-high-into-spring,211021?branding=15