AKA Region 8 Kite Events Calendar 2008
(AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)



Welcome to the 2008 AKA Region 8 Kite events calendar! If you see any mistakes on this calendar, or if you know of other events that need to be added to this calendar, please e-mail the webmaster at: TKOGunn@webtv.net.

Always contact the kite event coordinators before traveling to any event, because event dates can change, or events can be cancelled on short notice for various reasons.

Check back here often, because events are constantly being added, dates change, locatons change, or events get cancelled.

Legend

Sport Kite Competition = (SKC)

Single Line Competition = (SLC)

Fun Festival (Fun flying for all) = (FF)

Kite Making = (KM)

Demonstrations = (DM)



January

Jan. 12-13-- 2nd Great Texas Kite Club Party/Fly
(FF)

Rockport, TX (Rockport Beach Park)

C: Dano & Nancy

361-442-4608

wickedrevs56@yahoo.com



February

Feb. 2-3-- SPI Kite Festival (FF/DM)

South Padre Island, TX (on the flats)

C: Bill & Susie Doan (956)761-1248

bskites@hotmail.com

http://www.bskites.com

Special guest fliers:

John Barresi of Portland, OR

David Hathaway of Vancouver, B.C. Canada

Activities include: Fun flying for anyone, sport kite demos, music, food vendors, raffles, silent auction, Banquet & live kite auction.



Feb. 23 - N.W. Recreation Center kite workshop 26th Annual
(KM)

Austin,TX.

C: Richard Robertson (512)458-4107

rsr@onr.com



March

Mar. 2--80th Annual Zilker Park Kite Festival

(SLC/KM/FF/DM)

Austin,TX (2100 Barton Springs Rd.)
(Rain date Mar 9th)

C: Dorsey & Bunnie Twidwell


Home:(512)339-0412
512-471-9117
bunnie@mail.utexas.edu

Click here for Festival webpage.



Mar. 15--2nd Annual Kite Festival and Dog Fair

(FF/DM)

San Antonio, TX (McAllister Park)

C: Ray Knox


ray@star-glow.com

http://www.safriendsoftheparks.org/kitefestival.htm



Mar. 15--21st Annual Spiro Mounds Kite Flite Day


(FF/KM/DM)

Spiro, OK
(Spiro Mounds Archaeological center, located 3 miles east of Spiro, OK, on Hwy 9/271 & 4 miles north on Lock and Dam Rd.)

C: Dennis Peterson

918-962-2062
spiromds@ipa.net

Activities: Kites of all types, hundreds of participants, Arts & Crafts, food vendors. Donated kites given away hourly by drawing, free guided tour of prehistoric native american archaeological site.



Mar. 15--Kite Flight and Family Fun Day


(FF/KM)

Western Hills Guest Ranch & Sequoyah State Park
Hulbert, OK 74441

C: Todd

918-772-2545 or 918-772-2108
sequoyah@oklahomaparks.com

Activities: Kite building and decorating classes (kites provided.) Prizes wil be awarded for the best decorated and most creative kite in two age groups. Rusty the Rodeo Clown will hand out balloons and paint faces.



Mar. 15--2nd Elzie Odom Kite Festival


(FF/KM/DM)

River Legacy Parks North Cooper St., Arlington, Texas 76006

C. Jennifer Lecroy (City of Arlington)

(817)459-6434
jennifer.lecroy@arlingtontx.gov

Activities: Sport Kite Competition, fun flying, Kid's kite building, fun single line competition (biggest, smallest. longest tail, etc..., Demos, food, entertainment.



Mar. 22-- 18th Eureka Springs Kite Festival


(FF/DM)


Eureka Springs, AR
(at Turpentine Creek wildlife Preserve - 7 miles south of Eureka Springs on highway 23)

C: Steve & Linda Rogers

work: 888-836-6251
zizirogers@gmail.com



Mar. 29--Kite Day at the Preserve

(FF/DM)

Mineola Nature Preserve...1860 County Road 2724 Mineola, TX 75773)

C: J.S. Heppner

903-569-8228 membership@mnpfriends.org



April

Apr.4-6--3rd Annual Cloud Buster Kite Festival

(SLC/FF/KM/DM)

Perrin, TX
(at Mitchell Resort and RV Park...2730 FM 2210 E. Perrin, TX 76486)

C: Doris Reed & Kevin McGrath


940-798-4615
mitchellrvpk@yahoo.com

http://www.mitchellrvpark.com

Event Info:
Fun for all ages! Fun flying, sport kite Demonstrations, Food Vendors, Live Music, Kids Kite Building.



Apr. 5--Go Fly a Kite Kite Festival

(FF/KM/SLC/DM)

LAS VEGAS, N.M.
(at Storrie Lake State Park, which is four miles north of Las Vegas. NM, via N.M. 518)

C: Manuel Villanueva 505-425-7278


Event Info:
Kites, kids, hawks and wind take center stage at the first High Fliers Kite Festival. The new festival includes free kite-making booths, kite competitions, live hawks, a Native American storyteller, and kite and food vendors. The general public is welcome to come and enjoy the event along with the kids. Come out and fly a kite!

For more info:
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/documents/PR-ParksGoFlyaKiteatStorrieLakeKiteFestival.pdf



Apr. 5--Whitewater Mesa Fun Kite Fly (4th Annual)

(FF/KM/DM)

Glenwood, NM (Whitewater Mesa LAbyrinths mile marker 3 Bursum Road)

C: Cordelia Rose

575-538-2868 cordelia@starband.net

Description:
Come to Glenwood and fly a kite! Join us for the fourth Annual Whitewater Mesa Fun Kite Flying Picnic, Tailgate too! Free raffle drawing for a kite every hour. Plenty of space!

BRING: your picnic, your kites, your laughter, your family and friends, and something to sit on.



Apr. 5--Siloam Springs Kite Day (6th Annual)

(FF/KM/DM)

Siloam Springs, AR (Siloam Springs Airport...Hwy 59 North)

C: Libby Wand

479-524-5779 Lwand@siloamsprings.com



Apr 5-6--Kite Fest Louisiane

(FF/KM/DM)

Port Allen, LA

C: Gayle Woodul

830-598-2414 drgayle@tstar.net

http://www.westbatonrouge.net/kitefest.php



Apr. 5-6--Portland WindFest

(FF/DM)

Portland, TX

C: Portland Chamber of Commerce

877-643-2475 chamber@portlandtx.org



Apr. 13--Great North Texas Kite Festival

(FF/DM)

Cedar Hills, TX (Valley Ridge Park)

C: Gloria Harmon (Rainbows 4 Sail)

972-938-3954
kitemobile2@sbcglobal.net
kitemobile2@juno.com

Festival Notes:

AKA Sanctioned Sport kite competitions will not happen at this year's event, but will return in 2009! Come join us for Fun Flying, Demonstrations, kite store sales, plus more!

Apr. 12-13--Highland Bayou Park Kite Festival

(FF/DM)

La Marque, TX
(Highland Bayou Park - Exit 10 off of I45 follow the service rd going south. Park entrance will be on right after Oasis RV Park)

C: Kathy Nixie

409-762-0990 knixie@aol.com

Activities:
Free kite workshop for 50 kids each day, Fun flying for everyone, demos, etc...



Apr 17-20 The Playas Landsailing & Kite Buggy Event

Southern, NM

C: Phil Safier

psafier@comcast.net

http://www.spinn.net/~blake/events.htm

Directions: Exit off of I-10 half way between Deming & Lordsburg, at exit 49. Take Hwy 146 south 20 miles to Hatchita, NM, then weston Hwy 9 and drive 15 miles to Playas Smelter Rd., then turn south and drive to mile marker #4 and turn right (This turn is onto a dirt road, just before an intersection with tall street lights). The dry lake access will be from the east side of the dry lake bed. NOTE: There are no stores or facilities within 50 miles, so bring what you need!



April 19--5th Annual Cannon AFB Kite Karnival

(FF/KM/DM)

Clovis, NM
(at Doc Stewart Park on the corner of 60/84 and 311 Ranchvale Road)

C: Maria Huff

505-784-6381 Maria.huff@cannon.af.mil



Apr.25-27--2nd Annual Ruidoso Kite Fest

(FF/DM)

Ruidoso, NM 

C: Bruce and Beth DeFoor

Home: 575-258-1546 Cell: 575-973-1004

bd4@zianet.com



Apr. 26 - Harlingen Kite Festival

(FF/DM)

Harlingen, TX (Harlingen Sports Complex Park)

C: Esmeralda Martinez

956-873-0391

emimartin@yahoo.com



May

May 3-4--White Rock Lake Festival

(FF)

Dallas, TX
(on Boy Scout Hill East on Mockingbird Lane, past W. Lawther, past Dog Park, over Mockingbird Bridge at White Rock)

C: Donna Smithson


214-893-3157
donnasmithson@sbcglobal.net

http://www.whiterocklakefoundation.org/festival.html

Event Info:
This is not a regular kite festival, but we would like kite flyers to come and fly.

Other Activities include: crafts, music, face painting, pony rides, pet adoptions, wine tasting, petting zoo, & more!.



May 3-4-- 7th Annual New Mexico Wind Festival

(FF/DM/SLC)

Edgewood, NM (Wildlife West Nature Park)

C: Roger Holden

505-286-5042

parksrec@edgewood-nm.gov

http://www.edgewood-nm.gov



May 10-11-----Tulsa Wind Riders 14th Annual Festival of Kites

(FF/KM/DM)

Tulsa, OK (43rd & Garnett.)

C: Catherine Gabrel

405-612-4969

cgabrel@swbell.net



May 16-18--11th Los Alamos Arts Council Kite Festival

(FF/DM)

Los Alamos, NM (Spirio Soccer Fields at Overlook Park, Whiterock)

C: Marlane Hamilton

(505) 663-0477
laarts@rt66.com

Activities: Fun flying, kids kite making, kite candy drops, kite demos, food, entertainment, Frday night concert, lighted night fly, free event T-shirts at kids kite workshop for kids.



May 18--DFW Dragon Boat, Kite, & Lantern Festival (Annual)

(FF/DM)

Irving, Texas (at Lake Carolyn)

C: Gayle Woodul

830-598-2414

drgayle@tstar.net

For more info:
http://www.dfwDragonBoatFestival.com



May 23-26--Junction Kitemakers Retreat
(KM/FF/DM)

Junction, TX
(Texas Tech Extension Campus...2 Miles south of I-10 & Hwy 83)

C: Judy Kingery

  325-692-5927

Judyabilene@suddenlink.net

http://windweavers.tripod.com/junction-retreat.htm

- Instructor proposals accepted through Feb 28. 2008.
- $225 registration fee for participants.
- The registration fee will be waived for instructors.



!!CANCELLED!!

May 31 & June 1--Ark Air Museum Kite Festival (FF/DM)
Fayetteville, AR .
(at the Washington County Fairgrounds)

C: Warren Jones

  479-841-3791

warren.jones1@cox.net

- Festival Comments: This will be an annual festival! We will have restroom facilities and concessions. We have also arranged for discounted hotel rooms that are one and two exits from the flying field (contact for more info).

- Attractions: Kites of all types, kids kite building, demos, etc...



June

Sport Kite Competition

June 7 - Audrey's Beach Day and Kite Fly

(KM/FF/DM)

Rockport, TX

C: Dano Wright

361-442-4608 dano@windsongkite.com



Festival Notes:

Proceeds go to assist children with Downs Syndrome.

There will be a free dinner provide to all dedicated kite flyers, so please RSVP to Dano Wright, asap!


June 20-22--Summer Balloon Fest (FF) (DM)

Midway Airport off Hwy 287 (Waxahachie/Midlothian, Texas)

C: Debby Standefer (Pres & CEO)
(469) 644-4576

Gloria Harmon
(972) 880-0520

 

kitemobile2@juno.com

Kite Demos and Flying at designated time intervals before and after balloon launches.



June 28-29--15th Annual Libertyfest Kite Fest

(KM/FF/DM)

Edmond, OK (N.W. Covell between Kelly & Santa Fe)

C: Terry Officer

(405)341-5477

toffkitefestival@cox.net

Event Website:
http://libertyfest.org/LibertyfestKiteFest.php


July

August & September

Sep. 13--Sister Cities 9th Annual Kite Fest (FF/DM/KM)

Shawnee, OK
(St. Gregory's University)

C: Cheryl Cowden

(405)878-0375

Included on the festivities will be a Japanese kite exhibit.



Sep. 22-27--31st American Kitefliers Association Grand Nationals & Convention.

Gettysburg, PA

C: Mel Hickman (800)252-2550

XD@aka.kite.org

http://www.aka.kite.org



October

Oct. 11--Tulsa Air and Space Museum Kite Fest (FF/DM/KM)

Tulsa, OK
(43rd and Garnett East 43rd and South Garnett Road)

C: Larry Stiles 918-630-9334 fax 918-745-2038

bismallw@aol.com

Activities:
Kite Art Exhibit, Fun Fly, Kids Fly, Kitemaking Competition, Kids Kitemaking Work Shops.

Description:
Fundraiser for Tulsa Air and Space Museum. A one-day event with schools entering kites into competition, kite demonstrations by local kite club, and kite education presented by Richard and Marti Dermer.



Oct. 12---23rd Annual One Sky One World Fly

World Wide Mass Ascension for Peace

Any location you pick!

c: One Sky One World Phone: 303-571-1744

jpa@earthnet.net
One Sky One World Website



Oct. 18-19--3rd Kites Over Granbury Kite Festival
(Flying kites for kids in Crisis)

(SLC/KM/FF/DM)

Granbury, TX
(300 acre field at Highways 377 and 167 (Fall Creek Hwy) across the street from Jerry Durant Toyota at: 5100 E Hwy 377 N., Granbury, TX 76049)

C: Family Fun Kites

phone: 817-573-5483
sales@familyfunkites.com

http://familyfunkites.com/?D=11

Host Hotel: Granbury Inn & Suites
1339 N Plaza Dr.
Granbury, TX 76048
800-858-8607

Activities: Open fun flying, Kite making, kite buggies, professional kite demos, Raffles & Prizes, Kids kite candy drop, Concessions, Face painting, sport kite team flying, etc...



November

!!CANCELLED Because of Hurricane Damage!!
Sport Kite Competition

Nov. 1-2---12th South Padre Island Kite Festival
(SKC/SLC/DM/FF)

South Padre Island, TX (the flats)

C: Guy Blatnik
Home: 956-761-7028
Cell: 956-299-0731
GuyBlatnik@kiteshop.com



Nov 17-24--15th Dead Bird Buggy Bash and Kite Fly
(FF/DM)
Galveston, TX. (at East Beach)
(Pre-event at San Luis Pass on the west end of the Island)

C: Charles "AJ" Jackson 832-250-3773
action967@msn.com

Website: http://deadbirdbuggybash.com/

This is one of 2 premier kite buggy gatherings in North America! This event also draws other styles of kite flyers and is one great kite flyers gathering, and everyone is welcome! You can now visit the DBBB website and register your name if you're coming. An accurate head count is necessary so this year's Turkey Day cooks will know how much food to prepare for the DBBB kiting attendees, their guest, and family members.



December