The DeKalb Kite Fest has long been a free, fall tradition within the DeKalb community and the Park District is excited to be hosting the event in its 16th year on Sunday, September 12, from 11 am – 4 pm. Formerly hosted by the DeKalb County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau on NIU campus grounds, the DeKalb Kite Fest is in its second year at a new location, DeKalb Kiwanis Park, located at Fairview Drive and South 4th Street.
Visitors will enjoy Kite Fest traditions such as giant inflatable kites and dancing kites high up in the sky, plus some fun, seasonal on-site activities. Basics DeKalb County will be on-site handing out books, along with NIU S.T.E.A.M., who will have a paper airplane obstacle course and educational information about the forces of flight. Children’s Home and Aid will also be doing some fun giveaways! All activities, including a park district kite craft, will take place near the Kiwanis Park Shelter, with adjacent free parking at Kiwanis and the Sports and Recreation Center, located South 1765 4th Street. Music and announcements will be provided by 94.9 WDKB.
“This event is a staff favorite and truly delightful! Visitors will look up at the sky and may see a giant squid, a UFO, a teddy bear, a dragon- you name it. The kites are magnificent, and their pilots are very talented, inspiring others to experience the joy of kite flying,” stated Superintendent of Recreation, Andrea Juricic.
Featured kite flyers will include Al Sparling, Darryl Waters, Anthony Catalano, Team Sky FX, and Team Chicago Kite. Participants can either bring their own kite or buy one at the event! Volunteers will be on-site to demonstrate safe kite assembly and flying. Manja string or any other type of glass-covered string is prohibited.
Families and individuals are invited to grab their picnic blankets, lawn chairs, and secure their spot early to experience all the magic. The popular Candy Drop activity will take place once again, where delicious candy, provided by Ferrara Candy Company, will be hoisted high in the sky and rain down for children to make a mad dash for all the morsels that fall. The Candy Drop is weather/wind condition pending, so the time is TBD. Ice cream will be available on-site for a small fee courtesy of The Cream King.
Interested in volunteering at Kite Fest or being a food vendor? Please fill out a Volunteer Interest Form at dekalbparkdistrict.com/volunteer-opportunities or call (815)758-6663. To inquire about becoming a food vendor, contact Andrea Juricic at ajuricic@dekalbparkdistrict.com or call (815)758-7756 ext. 7270.
NOTE: This is the new location. DeKalb Kiwanis Park, located at Fairview Drive and South 4th Street. The former site at NIU became too expensive to continue to host the event.
And thank you to our event sponsors for their support, Red Roof Inn & Suites, MetroNet, Ferrara Candy Company, and Mortenson Construction. To learn more, please visit dekalbparkdistrict.com or call (815)758-7756.
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