Photos captured by Tony Jones of The Cincinnati Enquirer
Staff from the Cincinnati Zoo visited the Liberty Early Childhood School in Liberty Township last week. It was part of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Frisch’s Outreach program.
The skies of West Chester Township will be full of color, strings and tails this Saturday and Sunday when the WGUC Airwaves KiteFest comes to the Voice of America Park.
Now in its eighth year, the festival runs from noon to 5 p.m. both days at the park. Depending on weather, organizers say there could be 13,000 to 15,000 kite enthusiasts over the two year festival.
“This is the first big spring event,’’ said Kevin Reynolds, community relations manager for WGUC. “The kids can run flying the kites, they can run for the parachute run. That’s one of the appeals to families – having the kids outside and being able to run.”
Two professional kite flying teams – Chicago Flyer and 180 Go – will have their kites in the air all afternoon both days. Team members will provide ongoing demonstrations and lessons.
New to this year’s festival is the addition of the United States championship boomerang team. They will alternate performances with the kite-flying clubs.
Kite making workshops will be ongoing for children, or families can bring their own kites to fly. Kits from two different vendors will be available, starting at $3. There will be a field behind the museum designated for children to fly their kites
Separate areas will be designated for kite flying lessons or demonstrations, kite clubs, big kites, open flying and each professional kite team will have its own field.
There will be space for concessions and an eating tent along with a kid’s area, balloon animals from noon to 2 p.m., each day, air brush tattoos from 3-5 p.m. both days.
A parachute run field will be marked for children. As kids run, a parachute in a harness they wear opens and flies into the air.
“It shows them the power of the wind,’’ Reynolds said. “The faster they run will open the parachute quicker but slow them down.”
The Cincinnati Zoo will bring animals to the children’s area from noon to 2 p.m., both days.
All parking will be offsite at the West Chester Medical Center, 7700 University Dr. There will be free shuttle buses to the KiteFest. Limited handicap parking will be available at the park.
There is no admission charge but attendees will be asked for a $2 parking donation that will benefit the Voice of America museum.
The festival is sponsored by WGUC, West Chester Township, MetroParks of Butler County, Pigs Aloft Kite Club, Thompson Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, and the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.
One of West Chester’s more recognizable events, KiteFest, will take flight at Voice of America Park next weekend, April 14 and 15, from noon to 5 p.m. each day. This is the eighth year for the event, which draws around 15,000 people each year.
KiteFest features various activities for children including a kite-building workshop, a parachute run, animals from the Cincinnati Zoo and play areas. There will also be kites available to purchase and separate areas designed for kite-flying lessons and demonstrations.
In attendance at this year’s event will be Chicago Fire, one of the oldest and most renowned kite-flying teams in the country. Also in attendance will be 180Go, a choreographed kite team that has become a crowd favorite, according to West Chester Township public information officer Barbara Wilson.
Parking for this year’s event will all be offsite at the West Chester Hospital off Cox Road. Shuttle buses will be used to deliver people to and from the event. Only guests with approved handicapped parking permits will be allowed to park at The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting off Tylersville Road.
One of West Chester’s more recognizable events, KiteFest, will continue this afternoon, Sunday, April 10, at Voice of America Park and Museum from noon to 5 p.m. Rain and thunderstorms put a damper on the festivities on Saturday, however, the forecast for today could be ideal for kite flying.
According to the National Weather Service, the West Chester area will have mostly sunny skies today with a high near 85 degrees. It will also be breezy, with a south wind of 10 to 13 mph increasing to between 18 and 21 mph. Wind gusts could be as high as 33 mph.
This is the seventh year for the festival. Last year, approximately 15,000 people visited the event.
KiteFest features various activities for children including a kite building workshop, a parachute run, animals from the Cincinnati Zoo and play areas. There will also be kites available to purchase and separate areas designed for kite flying lessons and demonstrations. The zoo animals will be at the festival from noon to 2 p.m.
Parking for this year’s event will all be offsite at the West Chester Hospital. Shuttle buses will be used to deliver people to KiteFest. Only guests with approved handicapped parking permits will be allowed to park at the VOA Park and Museum. Parking donations of $2 will be accepted to support the Voice of America Museum.
One of West Chester’s more recognizable events, KiteFest, will take flight at Voice of America Park and Museum this weekend, April 9-10, from noon to 5 p.m. each day. This is the seventh year for the festival. Last year, approximately 15,000 people visited the event.
KiteFest features various activities for children including a kite building workshop, a parachute run, animals from the Cincinnati Zoo and play areas. There will also be kites available to purchase and separate areas designed for kite flying lessons and demonstrations. The zoo animals will be at the festival from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Parking for this year’s event will all be offsite at the West Chester Hospital. Shuttle buses will be used to deliver people to KiteFest. Only guests with approved handicapped parking permits will be allowed to park at the VOA Park and Museum. Parking donations of $2 will be accepted to support the Voice of America Museum.
