Oh, Let’s Go Fly a Kite!

London was fine for Mary Poppins and her charges to fly kites; in Pakistan kite flying is a ritual during Basant, the spring festival; and Weifang proclaims itself the Kite Capital of the World -- but we think there’s an even better place a little closer to home: the Windy City itself, Chicago!

Chicago’s natural winds and lakeshore breezes make it top of the list for us when it comes to launching those simple diamonds (and deltas, boxes and fighters) into the air -- sending it soaring through the atmosphere (up where the air is clear!), as the Poppins-employing Mr. Banks expounded.

Not only is Chicago the perfect place for kite flying (Navy Pier and Millenium Park in particular), they love to throw festivals in honor of the kites and kite flyers in the city. Here are some of our favorites:

Oswego Earth Day and Kite Fly, April 19, 2008
Just a short jaunt from the city, the Oswego Kite Festival is well worth loading up the kids and the kites and making the trek. Kite flying clubs from around the area attend to show off their flying skills and couture kites; you can bring your own kite or purchase one at the festival. There will even be a kite building session in which your little flyers can participate and show off their creativity.