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Austin's Annual Ziker Park Kite Festival- Still Keeping It Weird!

By
Real Estate Agent with Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate 0396717

Zilker Kite FestivalSunday March 14, 2010 marked Austin's  Annual Zilker Kite Festival!

The annual contest held at Zilker Park  is one of a number of  Austin events that helps keep Austin Weird and fun at the same time. The festival was originally founded in 1928 by The Exchange Club, a volunteer organization that raises funds to support non-profits that work to stop child abuse. For many years the Austin Parks & Recreation Department has joined with Exchange Club to co-sponsor the event at Zilker Park! The festival is free and open to the public, and is very popular with kite aficionados from the serious to the silly ;-) Today I attended with my wife strictly as a spectator to enjoy a picnic and watch the sky over Zilker Park filled with assorted kites of all types. As a fan from both sides of the spectrum, I have attended the festival many times and always had a great time.

Zilker Kite FestivalThis year there were literally hundreds of kites in the air at the same time with numerous contests covering a range of classes from smallest to largest to my personal favorite, "Most Interesting" This years winner in that category was a 93 year old gentleman whose kite "Puff the Magic Dragon" was the clear favorite! It has been quite awhile since I have entered any of the competitions and it was great seeing a guy still at it at 93 years of age. Heck even after my last bizarre experience as a competitor I may give it another try one of these days! I have previously posted about a special entry of mine at the festival in my blog and the story about my involvement as a "serious" participant is worth repeating here and should give you an idea of how wonderfully weird this event can be and another reason we are truly enjoying The Good Life In Austin Texas!!

From my post in March, 2009:

Zilker Kite FestivalA number of years ago when I was building furniture, I had access to all sorts of tools, materials and a wonderful facility where I could build just about anything that I could possibly dream up. One year I got a wild hair (the day before the contest) and decided to assemble an entry in the LARGEST KITE category. I had a design in mind for a huge octagon shaped kite covered with heavy 12mil plastic. Pestering my friend and partner, Tom Wood (cool name for an architect/furniture builder) into helping me, together we set about designing and putting the monster from scratch. Most of the day was spent gathering materials and the evening was devoted to constructing the framework from wood and PVC pipe and covering the structure with the plastic skin that we had painstakingly melded together. Of course, like all last minute ideas and projects, there were many things that had to be "rigged" and adjusted so the work went on well into the early morning hours. The ENTIRE time, my friend kept telling me, "It will never fly". I just ignored him because after all, I still needed his help. Around 3:00am we finished the kite, my friend went home and I decided to paint my creation. Digging through a closet of spray cans, I began splashing and spraying the kite with all manner of colors, symbols and primitive designs that would have made a DADA-Anarchist proud! The longer I worked, the more bizarre it became and by 8:00am I had done all the damage I figured possible and crashed for a nap in my office!

Zilker Kite Festival

Knowing that it would take a major effort to get the kite airborne and with safety in mind, we called a number of other friends to help launch and control the kite during its flight.About a dozen of our friends showed up to help and fortified with a cooler full of beverages and party favors as an enticement we made our way to Zilker Park. I need to mention here that Tom told each and every person on the crew that, "It will never fly". We spent most of the afternoon hanging out and watching the different kites, talking and laughing and generally enjoying the festive atmosphere! I don't have to remind you of this but about every 15-20 minutes, Tom would proclaim to anyone who would listen, "It will never fly..."

Toward the end of the afternoon, our event was announced and we assembled our kite, got in position and awaited the start. There were only six entries and it looked like we might have a chance IF we could launch our kite and keep it airborne for the ONE MINUTE time minimum.  

Winner-Puff the Magic DragonWe had fourteen people ready, two to hold the kite and a dozen people placed along the woven nylon line to help pull the kite along for enough time to get the thing up in the air. As the whistle blew, four of the contestants could not get up, crashed on takeoff or flew apart while the teams vainly attempted to make them fly! Down to us and one other team, we began pulling in unison running and screaming at each other to keep going and slowly our strange looking kite began to lift off. The coordination up to this point was perfect. What is important to remember is that it is crucial for everyone to release the line simultaneously so the kite can catch the wind and propel into the sky! As we were running along the kite gained altitude and I shouted for everyone to LET GO OF THE LINE! Everyone complied with the exception of, you guessed it...Tom, "Mister IT won't Fly"!Unfortunately, his position on the line was closest to the kite so he neither saw nor heard (or maybe ignored) everyone as they released the line. As the wind caught the kite, it began to pull up and twist violently pulling Tom up and down. We were all screaming at him to let go as the kite began to wildly careen up and around but he still held on. At that point the kite shot straight up and then plummeted into the earth, shattering the frame and collapsing in a huge pile of broken wooden limbs, pvc pipe and plastic shreds! All of us began yelling at Tom but he was completely nonplussed and said, "See, I told you it would not fly!" I don't know who said it first but one of our friends shouted, "DOGPILE" and we all jumped on Tom as the crowd watched in amusement breaking into applause, jeers, laughter! And that, friends was my last "serious" attempt at one of the contests!

Zilker Kite Festival 2010 Zilker Kite Festival 2010  Zilker Kite Festival 2010

If you were unable to make it today, make sure you don't miss it next year and if you have a chance just stop somewhere and pick up a kite! It's going to be breezy for the next few weeks and there is always room at Zilker Park for a few more! So get out and enjoy The Good Life In Austin Texas!

Posted by

Russell Lewis Luxury Real Estate Broker Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape 

 

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Comments (61)

Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula
Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA
Realty Works Temecula

OMG:  You are a good sport....to write about him without using more criticism.  You should try it again some day without Tom.

Mar 18, 2010 08:16 AM
Sheldon Neal
Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited - Maywood, NJ
That British Agent Bergen County NJ

LOL  love the recap ! ...and great pics ! What a fun event !!

Mar 18, 2010 03:25 PM
John Cannata
214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX
Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

That is pretty cool Richard. We see a few kites in the park next to us, but nothing like this. Some kites are VERY creative.

Mar 18, 2010 04:39 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Russell,

What fun and a great event that does keep Austin weird! Love the story and "Dogpile"..so appropriate! Your photos really captured the fun spirit of the event..wonderful depiction of the Festival!

Mar 19, 2010 12:09 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Good morning all, I appreciate everyone stopping by to leave comments! I'll be back later to reply, have a great day!

Mar 19, 2010 01:16 AM
Kristy Owen
Moreland Properties - Austin, TX
Realtor, G

Love love love your coverage of the kite festival! One of my favorite kites this year was a big pig, "when pigs fly" I just loved it! I think that this is one of the best things that Austin has to offer! WE are so lucky to live here.

Have a great weekend!

Mar 19, 2010 09:30 AM
Betina Foreman
WJK Realty - Austin, TX
Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

Dear Russell,

 The lesson here is: 1 let Tom help make the kite and keep him away from the actual launch and 2. take some pictures before launch attempt. This sounds like a ton of fun!

;)

Mar 20, 2010 01:44 AM
Pippa Mac
Chevaux Group Realtor, The Woodlands and Spring - The Woodlands, TX
The Woodlands TX Real Estate

Hi Russell!!!   I will be "back" this week ... I promise to meet up with you in Austin soon, I would love to introduce you to Bryan (my hubby).   pippa

Mar 21, 2010 02:22 PM
Robin Scott
Robin Scott, REALTOR® - Austin, TX
Broker, REALTOR® - Austin Texas

Great posting Russel. The kite festival is just one of the many wonderful things to do and see in Austin and why we love our community so much.

Mar 22, 2010 03:57 AM
Robin Scott
Robin Scott, REALTOR® - Austin, TX
Broker, REALTOR® - Austin Texas

Great posting Russel. The kite festival is just one of the many wonderful things to do and see in Austin and why we love our community so much.

Mar 22, 2010 03:58 AM
Dave Murray
DMTX Realty, Coldwell Banker United, Realtors - Austin, TX

I haven't made it out to a kite festival yet! How do the lines not get all tangled? JM

Mar 23, 2010 09:49 AM
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography - Calgary, AB
Home Stager & Photographer

Those kites are so colorful and gorgeous! What a fun day.

Mar 23, 2010 01:48 PM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

I missed getting some good pictures of a kite festival here because I was with Clients in their car. I should know better than to let other people drive me around. LOL

_________
Come join the fun in ActiveRain's Guerrilla Marketing Team Contest.

Mar 23, 2010 04:03 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Russell  You are a great storyteller with some very laughable events to report.  Washington, DC is home to a large annual kite event

Mar 23, 2010 11:56 PM
Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI
Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

I can't wait for your market reports, those will be the most fun ones on AR!

Mar 24, 2010 12:25 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Hey everybody, thanks so much for showing up and leaving your comments! I really do plan t be back later and reply. Have a great day ;-)

Mar 24, 2010 03:13 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Hey everybody, thanks so much for showing up and leaving your comments! I really do plan t be back later and reply. Have a great day ;-)

Mar 24, 2010 03:13 AM
Gail MacMillan
Titusville, FL

Hi Russell......just popped in to see what you're up to......still flying a kite I see ;-)  Wishing you a wonderful day.

Gail

Mar 25, 2010 12:05 AM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Russell, That was a very interesting post to read. I recall as a kid, often building and competing in kite design and flying. I guess mine wasn't "Too Big to Fail ",lol, since it did as it was intended and graced the sky with color and design. We didn't have plastic. We used brown paper bags. My dad showed me how to take 6 and 9 inch square pieces of paper and by carefully overlapping and pasting with a combination paste he made from flour and something else, to layer the paper and create within the design, special air flow/drafts by peeling the corners back as I was assembling the paper before mounting to the frame. The assembled paper was treated with a highgloss enamel ( matching the woodwork in the house, LOL ) before I could paint my design on it using tempra paints and some the flour paste used to put the paper together. It created an almost jesso like finish on the design layer that was light weight but used more heavily for making the tail end of the design slightly heavier.

I never tried this again as an adult but I love to see all the competions we have here at Mission Bay. One day last summer when I got my first SLR camera,I headed to Mission Bay to capture some of the wonderful activities there. In the Spring, there are Kite Flying contests like the ones in Austin. I looked at my photos a minute ago and recall seeing a man headed to the greeens area to fly his kite. Nothing really impressive but it is all in the skill of flyer anyway. I really enjoyed you post.

 

 

Mar 26, 2010 09:18 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Makes me want to run out and buy a kite.  I loved them when I was a child.

Mar 26, 2010 11:45 AM