Learning to fly
DEVIN WEEKS/Press Elsie Peale, 4, of Hayden, joyfully scurries with her neon butterfly kite Saturday afternoon during the Hayden Kite Festival in Broadmoore Park. Hundreds of people came to the festival, where strong gusts of wind made it a perfect day to go fly a kite.
David Niemann, 13, of Hayden, directs his colorful trick kite with the assistance of his dad, Brad Niemann, during the annual kite festival in Hayden on Saturday. The Niemann kite zipped and swooshed through the sky, attracting spectators and an award from event judges. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
Greyson Bullen, 5, of Hayden, chases a kite flown by 7-year-old Tristan Cross (not pictured) during the Hayden Kite Festival in Broadmoore Park on Saturday. Festival participants competed for awards in categories including best kite crash, longest tail, highest flyer and best in show. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
ANNA-LEE BOERNER/Special to The Press A multi-colored dragon kite sails through the sky Saturday afternoon during Hayden’s annual kite festival in Broadmoore Park.
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
HAYDEN — They swooshed, soared, zipped, flipped and flew high into the sky with the help of mighty winds.
“I’m having fun,” a smiling 7-year-old Rylee Bullen of Hayden said while sitting on the grass, taking in the spectacle. “The worst part is when they’re stuck in the trees.”
Dragons, butterflies, pirate ships, Hello Kitty and so many more colorful kites filled the skies above Broadmoore Park during the Hayden Kite Festival on Saturday afternoon.
Kids of all ages, and many parents, tightly held onto spools as they let out more and more line and watched their kites ascend high into the air.
"It's really cool," said 13-year-old David Niemann of Hayden, who directed a colorful trick kite that dipped and danced above him. "It makes a buzzing sound."
Well more than 80 people of all ages registered for the festival, with hundreds more pulling up lawn chairs and spreading blankets on the grass to watch the fun. Participants competed in several categories to win the coveted prize kites.
"We’ve been bringing the kids every year for the past three years, and this is the best day," said Melissa Cross of Hayden, who brought her two sons to the event. "All the other years it either rained or it wasn’t windy enough. It’s just a perfect beautiful day. It’s a cute free event and it’s just so much fun. It gives the kids an opportunity to play with one another and wear them out before bedtime."
Suzie Cano, Hayden's recreation and community events director, said the festival has been going on around a dozen years, and it has only gotten bigger.
"What we have going for us, what makes it extraordinary, is we are the only kite festival in this area,” Cano said. "It gives everybody a chance to get their kites out, and we’ve probably given away 60 kites today."
Hayden Kite Festival winners:
Best in show — Sam Monter, Hayden
Most colorful and creative — Brad Niemann, Hayden
Longest tail — Anna Monter, Hayden
High flyer — Evalyn Neill, Hayden
Crash and burn (best crash) — Blake Kroiss, Coeur d'Alene
Judge's pick — David Niemann, Hayden