Submitted by Shann Gowan
The 2011 Windscape Kite Festival takes flight in Swift Current, Saskatchewan on June 25 and 26. This world-class event attracts kite flyers, enthusiasts and fun lovin' people from Germany, France, USA and across Canada to one prairie field to enjoy an exciting weekend of kiting and family fun.
This free admission festival features beautiful, original handmade art kites, giant creature kites the size of houses, speeding kite buggies racing eighty kilometers an hour, screaming stunt kites flying in tandem, and an one hundred kite train soaring to the skies.
At Windscape, everyone can experience the thrill of flying in the vast Saskatchewan air space with some of North America's best kite artists and performers. Rolf Zimmermann from Germany will be there with his crew. He is one of the world's premiere large kite builders. Andreas Napravnik, also from Germany, will be using a kite to create stunning aerial photographs. Gerard Clement, from Paris, puts on the largest festival in Europe and he will be flying his large soft form kites. The Rev Riders from New Jersey perform complicated choreographed performances to music. There will be demonstrations and lots to see and do all day long.
At eleven in the morning and three in the afternoon, Flyin' Bob, the One Man Three Ring Circus will entertain everyone with his high-wire comedy routine. Kids of all ages will enjoy balloon sculpting, the bubble station, mystery sandpile, bol racing, face-painting and ongoing kite workshops. There is also a Kite Store with many kinds of kites of all levels.
The Long Day's Night Music Festival complements the kite festival. Three nights, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, featuring Soul / R&B / Funk with Krystle Dos Santos, psychedelic rockabilly with The Sadies, and Canada's ska ambassadors, Skavenjah.
Please join us for the Windscape Kite Festival in Swift Current on the Southwest Hill. The festival begins on Saturday, June 25 at 10:00 am and has no admission charge. It runs Sunday until 5:00 pm. Details at www.windscapekitefestival.ca or 306.778.2686.
