Windy skies greet family kite event

Winds picked up just in time for the fourth annual Northwest Reno Kid's Kite Festival on Saturday afternoon.

The festival began at Northgate Park near Robb Drive and featured an assortment of colored kites soaring around the park's sky.

Event sponsors included the Sommerset Development and the local neighborhood advisory board.

"It's great because kids get to get outside and enjoy themselves," said Jocelyn Lantrip, the marketing manager of the Sommerset Development. "They get to be creative at the same time too."

The festival, which is part of Artown, is not just for the people of Sommerset, she said, it's for all of Reno and free, too.

"It grows every year, and we got a really big response this year."

The community groups provided markers and glitter for children to decorate easy-to-assemble kite kits. Plastic rods helped finish the assembly job.

Kids and their parents crowded the park tables, adding multicolored garnishes to the kites.

A group of parents sat around at the kite station known as the "frustrationless flier," said Trish Tucker of the neighborhood advisory board.

"It's the busiest it's ever been" she said, smiling as she watched several youngsters run around the park.

The kite station provided the sturdy strings for the kites.

Multicolor ribbons were added, the color choice depending on the child's preference.

"We have a good relationship with Sommerset," Tucker said. "And it's great to get kids playing outside and enjoying the summer."

On the grass, Scott Coontadt helped his son Brandon, 11, untangle the strings of his crimson ribbon kite.

"This event is very cool," Coontadt said as he freed his son's kite. "We will absolutely return next year."

With the knots then untwisted, the kite was tossed to hover in the blue sky.

"In the four years we've had this event, this is the best attendance for our Artown event," said Sue Ward of the neighborhood advisory board.

Go to Andy Barron's Kite Festival photo gallery for more pictures.

Photo:

ANDY BARRON/RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Dante Dominquez, 2, cheers as he and his father, Rich Dominquez, get their kite kit in the air Saturday at the fourth annual Northwest Reno Kid’s Kite Festival at Northgate Park. The Artown event, which was sponsored by the Northwest Reno advisory board and Somerset, included free kites, refreshments and art supplies for decorating the kites.