'Kites on the Coast' brings professional flying demos, kids' activities and more

The Council on Aging of West Florida wants you to go fly a kite. The nonprofit organization is presenting “Kites on the Coast,” Sept. 2-3 at Casino Beach.

“Our idea is to have a community event that combines intergenerational fun,” explained Emily Echevarria, the council’s marketing communications director. “September is intergenerational month. Our seniors remember it from their childhood and kids today can still enjoy flying a kite, so it was around that idea of an activity that crosses all generations.”

The weekend also includes professional kite flying demos, kid’s activities, food trucks, and a “kite hospital” for repairs and troubleshooting.

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“Chicago Kites will also have kites for sell,” said Echevarria. “Or people can bring their own and fly it or just come relax on the beach and watch all the kites.”

The kites of course are flying for a cause. Sponsors that have stepped up include Cigna, Pete Moore Automotive Team, The Arbors of Gulf Breeze, Inspiritas of Pensacola, The Waterford at Creekside, Pensacola Nursing and Rehab, and Homestead Village. Donations are also accepted at the event.

Now in its 50th year, The Council on Aging of West Florida “helps seniors in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties live healthy, safe and independent lives in their own familiar surroundings” through services like companionship, adult day care, meals on wheels, and the United Way Americorps Seniors Program.  In addition to support from area business, the Council also benefits from annual fundraisers like the “Rat Pack Reunion,” an evening of roasting and toasting community leaders that just ended its 10-year run. Commemorating its golden anniversary is the forthcoming “Dancing with the Decades,” on Nov. 4 at Hilton Pensacola Beach.

While planning Kites on the Coast, the council contacted the Emerald Coast Kite Flyers Club for advice.

“This was supposed to be a small kite day at Bayview Park,” said Echevarria. “But once we talked to them, they said we need to have these big show-stopper kites and we have to get in a place that has more space like Maritime park or the beach.”

And just like that, the council was able to book the beach for Labor Day Weekend.

“They wanted our input,” said Jason Wheeler, the club’s de-facto president. “So I said, ‘If you want to do this let’s do it right and put it on the beach. Your organization can generate some funding and we can get the word out about kiting, so it can be a win-win for everyone.’”

The Emerald Coast Kite Flyers Club formed around 2009 as a cohort of local kite enthusiasts who met periodically at open fields in the area. The club is casual enough not to charge dues or hold meetings, but it did become affiliated with the American Kitefliers Association, the largest organization of its kind.

The Council on Aging also did their homework at the second annual “Kites Over Mobile” that was held last April.  Echevarria attended the event with her family and was impressed with the aerial presentation at Battleship Park and the backdrop of the Mobile skyline.

“You couldn’t even take a picture of how cool it was because of the scale,” Echevarria reported. “It was a really unique thing to see all the kites flying over all at the same time. I think we can get that same atmosphere on Pensacola Beach.”

Wheeler also pointed to the advantages of a kite festival being held on the coast.

“The beach primarily is better because you have nice clean wind coming off the water.” he said. “I think we have a view that’s unbeatable.”

Most kites today are not your simple diamond-shaped variety. Flyers make a presence with size and color, opting for familiar shapes like animals. A kite measuring 25 feet wide by 35 feet long is not unusual. Wheeler has seen some as big as a bus.

‘The line sets for those kites cost more than most folks would spend on kites in their lifetimes,” he said. “It’s like anything else in life, how much money you want to throw at it is what you’re going to get out of it. If you want to spend a lot money you get some really cool stuff.”

Another big draw for kite fans is a “night fly” which lights up the sky with a colorful kinetic display.

“Seeing kites in the sky during the day is one thing but at night it’s magical,” said Wheeler.

Due to turtle nesting season however, Kites on the Coast is restricted to daylight hours. But the Council on Aging is already preparing to build on its inaugural event.

“We are planning for next year and are excited to be picking a weekend in March when we can a night fly outside of turtle season,” said Echevarria.“

Kites on the Coast

4 p.m. to sunset, Sept. 2; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 3

Casino Beach

Free admission

Coawfla.org

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: ‘Kites on the Coast’ coming to Pensacola Beach