Kites fly high over soccer fields

LEAMINGTON – Nearly two dozen professional kiters from Canada and the United States displayed nearly 50 different large kites throughout the weekend at the fourth annual Southpoint International Klite (kites and lights) Festival. The event took place at the Leamington soccer fields October 1-2.

The festival is a family and community celebration of kites, ‘lites’ and art.

Lincoln Janzen, 6, points to some of the kites as sisters Chloe, 8, and Chassie, 2, of Leamington, take a peek.

SUN photos by Deanna Bertrand

According to festival organizer George Paisiovich, the festival originated in Wheatley but moved to Leamington its second year as the soccer fields provide 54 acres of unobstructed fly zone.

“We wanted to create a safe environment for families to play together as a community,” he said.

Youngsters received free bubbles to add to the fun as they walked around the grounds and viewed the kites.

The festival ran Friday night and Saturday afternoon, with Friday night’s event lighting up the skyline. Unfortunately, festivities on Saturday night and all of Sunday were cancelled due to the weather.

Jeff Falkenstein, 5, of Kitchener, flew a kite for the first time at his first kite festival on Saturday. He was attending with his uncle, who is an avid kite flyer.

The skies above Leamington Soccer fields were full of colour as nearly four dozen kites took to the skies for the Southpoint International Klite Festival this past weekend.