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Canfield fest proves uplifting for kites & kids
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
CANFIELD
Children and adults held tightly to kite strings and watched the kites soar above MetroParks Farm.
The kites at the Mill Creek MetroParks’ annual Kite Festival ranged in size, type and color. Some were traditionally shaped, but others were bird-shaped, boxes or other structures. Some had abstract designs, while others displayed characters from movies, including “Star Wars’’ and “The Little Mermaid.”
Many of the kites at Saturday’s event were store-bought. Others were handmade at the event.
Julia and Rocco Mediate of Columbiana found flying success with their handmade kites.
“We ran around the backyard last week trying to get some up,” said their father, Vince Mediate. “We couldn’t get them up for very long, but it’s nice and windy here.”
Julia, 4, drew a ladybug, grass and the sun on her handmade kite. She used a light pink tail and a blue tail to make her kite fly.
“We have kites at home, but my kite broke,” she said.
It’s exciting to have a new one, she added.
Rocco, 3, said he had fun making his kite. He chose hot-pink tails and used a lot of color to decorate it.
Both were confident their kites would fly.
Their baby brother, Race, 1, watched the action from his stroller.
“This is so much fun,” their mother, Diane Mediate, said. “It’s a beautiful day. And they’re having a blast. Look at the smile on [Rocco’s] face. He’s all excited. Look at him jumping up and down.”
Addison Cool, 4, of Struthers and her mother, Brieanne Cool, made a kite together.
“Mommy wrote it,” Addison said about her name on the kite. She drew a rainbow to go with the name.
Addison was excited to try flying the kite.
“I’m a good flier,” she said. “I’m fast.”
Kite-flying is new to Addison, her mother said.
“She just recently started loving kites. Last week was the first time she ever flew a kite,” Brieanne Cool said.
This is the first year the two attended the festival. “It’s really nice,” the mother added.
The event included several contests, such as the highest flying kite, most artistic kite and smallest kite. Members of the Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites and Fly Pittsburgh displayed their collections and flying skills.