An Event to Look Up To

Learning to fly a kite is somehow a rite of passage, an integral part of childhood… a golden memory maker in the human experience. It should be noted though that it’s not as easy and breezy as it looks! As a child I tried desperately to get my butterfly shaped kite to soar over the emerald waves of the Gulf only to watch it crash into the surf and ‘drown’. Which is why the 8th annual Harbor Kite festival is so exciting!

Real kite professionals will be available to give kite flying lessons- something I obviously needed back in the day- as well as launch several giant 100 ft. tall kites which will be quite a sight to see! It’s also a great location because it’s near to Ft. Walton Beach residents and guests as well as Destin visitors. They even offer free shuttle rides from the Norriego Point parking lot on the west end of Destin bridge to the harbor on the east end.

Interestingly, this is also the time of year when the monarch migration finds itself flitting over the Emerald Coast. What a vista to see hundreds of butterflies contrasted with brilliantly colored kites high in the air! Apart from spectacular soaring kites there will be a candy drop for the kids, live music, kite making supplies and other crafts. The event will be September 17th and 18th from 10 am to 4 pm each day. Let’s just hope there is a butterfly kite there somewhere so that I can finally redeem myself.

Published on Tuesday, September 13, 2016