A group of enthusiastic Longview residents are looking to the skies in their newest initiative to draw people to their village.
The Longview Economic Development Committee is inviting visitors to join local families in filling the sky with kites at its inaugural Longview Kite Festival Aug. 6 at the Longview School grounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event will have kite flying demonstrations and sales by Airdrie’s Kite Guys, hot dog sales by the Seniors Club and a free draw for a large eagle kite.
Jan Dyck, member of the Longview Economic Development Committee, said she hopes the Kite Festival will draw people to Longview who have not yet experienced the village’s charm.
“It’s to get more people aware of what Longview has to offer and just introduce Longview to more people,” she said. “I think it will appeal to a lot of young families around the area.”
Kirk Davis is the mastermind behind the idea, inspired by a kite festival previously held in Pincher Creek and the annual festival in Okotoks.
Davis said he attended Okotoks’ latest festival last April.
“I was quite impressed with how many people were there, even though it was a rainy day, and it wasn’t a good place to hold it because it’s in a hollow and it’s hard to get wind,” said Davis. “Longview is known for its wind.”
After speaking with members of the Kite Guys at Okotoks’ festival, Davis secured a date for the festival in Longview.
“There will be guys showing you how to fly in low winds and high winds,” he said. “It’s a joy getting a kite up in the air. It’s just a day of family fun.”
The Kite Festival adds further momentum to the village’s other summer family events including Little New York Daze last month and the Longstock Music Festival coming up later in August, said Davis.
He expects to see more community events take shape, perhaps in the spring and winter, such as an outdoor hockey tournament and art walk.
Davis hopes the Kite Festival will not only draw people to Longview, but get them to stop in the galleries, shops and restaurants.
