Cane Hill Kite Festival Saturday

The year 2019 was not kind to the Cane Hill Kite Festival. On the scheduled date, temps were in the 30’s and that pushed the event to the back-up date, which saw rain the day before and rain Saturday morning with 45 mph winds predicted for the afternoon.

Enough volunteers could not be pulled together for another date, so sadly, for the first time in 18 years, the event was canceled.

For 2020, we began re ce iv ing ca l ls and messages in January asking about the Kite Festival, so flyers are chomping at the bit; organizers are hoping for relative warmth and abundant wind ( somewhere less than 45 mph). March 7 is the date (in case of rain or snow it will be March 14).

As usual, it’s $1 for kids and $2 for adults to fly and it’s free to park and watch. Military and their families (either active or retired) fly for free. Easy to fly kites of all sizes and designs are on sale from $1 to $16.

This year we’ve added some of the larger kites people have been asking for. Whether you buy your kite here or bring a kite, the knowledgeable Kite Doctors at the Kite Hospital will assemble your kite and also repair them. Our Kite Doctors are all Phd’s ( pretty high- flying device specialists).

There will also be volunteers on hand to help you get your kite in the air.

The 50- cent raffle, so named because each person may only purchase one 50-cent ticket, returns with beautiful, large nylon kites awarded at 1 p. m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. the day of the event. In addition, small prizes and certificates will be awarded throughout the day for totally random and capricious categories.

Incredibly yummy grub will be provided by the Friends of Prairie Grove Pound, so bring your appetites as this is one of their major fundraisers for the year. The Hospitality Tent will be twice as large and there will be two toilets.

The Cane Hill Kite Festival is held on the spacious grounds of Springfield Ranch in downtown Cane Hill, 3 miles from the intersection of Highway 62 and 45. The driveway is directly across the street from the Cane Hill Post Office. The fun starts at noon March 7 and goes until the last kite comes down, usually around 4: 30- 5 p. m. For more information, 479-8248109. If the weather is iffy the day of, an update message will be posted at this number.

FILE PHOTO The Cane Hill Kite Festival had to cancel in 2019 because of the weather. Organizers are hoping the weather will be perfect for flying kites for this year’s festival on Saturday, March 7. This young girl reaches for the kite during the 2018 event.