Sunny skies drew many to the annual Kite Fly
Beautiful sunshine and the promise of flying kites brought a few thousand people out to the Frontier Sports Complex Sunday.
“It brings us back in time to fly a kite — it’s just a simple activity to do,” said Beth Durso, program manager for the Naperville Park District. “Families and kids of all ages can do it. Parents can get involved, too. That’s the main reason it’s so fun.”
It wasn’t just amateurs running around holding strings attached to flying objects at Sunday’s Frontier Kite Fly Festival. Professionals showed off their skills as well with kites ranging in size from 30 to 100 feet — a giant snake being one of the main attractions.
Everyone just had to wait for the wind, which didn’t really arrive until the afternoon. But, in the meantime, you couldn’t beat the sunshine and clear skies.
“It’s a great way to get outside and disconnect from everyday life and just have family fun,” said David Zavell, owner of Chicago Kite.
He noted that the last two years have been “great” for the kite business, when people often didn’t have much to do but get outside and reconnect with nature — and their youth.
Asked what the draw of flying kites is, he said: “You’re free.”
“It gets the kids out of the house,” added Mike Holl, a show kite flyer with Chicago Kite. “Baby Boomers, we all grew up with it. Everybody flew a kite back then. That’s what you did. You amused yourself.”
Out in the “amateur” field Sunday morning, families ran around trying to get their kites afloat even though the wind was being uncooperative.
“She’s always wanted to fly a kite,” said Kelly Filip, of Naperville, whose daughter, Adaline, 6, was doing just that nearby. Kelly said the event was taking her back to her own childhood.
“We’ve been here before, and it’s always a great day,” noted Amy Schade, of Naperville, who’s been bringing her 9-year-old twins, Jane and Nate, to the event for years.
Growing up, she and her sister had trouble trying to fly kites in their neighborhood, she said. She’s had better luck at the big open spaces of Frontier.
Asked what he liked about flying kites, her son, Nate, said: “I like the flying kites part of flying kites.
“I like when the kite goes really high into the air,” he added.