The skies over Homer Glen’s Heritage Park were full of butterflies, unicorns, dragons and sharks Saturday morning as the village managed to dodge an inclement weather forecast for its second annual Kite Festival.
The event was started last year after COVID-19 restrictions put a halt to most community events in 2020.
“We had tried to do this once before as part of Earth Day-Arbor Day about 10 years ago but it didn’t work out,” said Community Events Coordinator Sue Steilen. “Last year, with COVID, it let us practice social distancing and give everyone something to do outside and we had a great turnout. Once we built this park, we had the green space for it and it was easier. We definitely see it sticking around.”
Chicago Kite, a retailer which specializes in kite festivals and demonstrations, helped host the event.
“We’ve been doing this for 30 years,” said owner David Zavell. “We do a lot of events down at the beach and host festivals all around the country.”
Zavell was accompanied by three professional kite pilots who put on a demonstration, flying three enormous kites in a specially cordoned off section of the park, though they struggled to get them airborne in the early hours due to a lack of breeze.
“It all depends on the wind,” Zavell said. “But at least it didn’t rain.”
Chicago Kite had about 40 models of kites available for families to purchase and fly during the festival. They ranged in price from $15 to $50 and came in a variety of styles such as multicolor box kites, simple triangular “delta” style kites featuring cartoon animals and more complex kites shaped like dragons, turtles and dolphins.
“The delta kites are the easiest to fly, the bigger ones and the 3D ones get harder,” Zavell explained.
While the village did have about 100 free, small kites available for the younger guests, the Chicago Kite models were a little more durable and Steilen noted could be brought back for future festivals.
Even for those who couldn’t get their kites off the ground, there was still plenty to do. Food trucks from The Creamery, Smokin’ Z BBQ, Ben’s Soft Pretzels and Mucho Salsa were present and the Home Township Library Bookmobile was in the parking lot with gift bags for kids and books for anyone looking to start their summer reading. Cross of Glory Lutheran Church ran a booth of games for children including giant Connect Four and Jenga sets.
Crayola Imagine Arts Academy, an arts enrichment program in Will and DuPage counties, had a free rock painting tent.
“We do programs in the schools and are running a bunch of camps and classes for kids this summer so we wanted to get out into all the community events we could,” said Kristen Buzan, who runs the academy.
In the first hour Buzan said they’d gone through 150 rocks, which the kids were encouraged to paint with Crayola paint markers.
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“We’ve been going strong,” she said. “It’s been a lot of fun and the kids are having a great time.”
Cross of Glory Pastor Dana O’Brien said his church loves to work with the village.
“We bring our kids games to several events a year and everybody wins, because it’s all about God’s grace and we’re all winners in that,” O’Brien said.
While the event was centered on the kids, when it came to the kites a lot of the work was being done by parents and other adults who had to teach the kids how to get them into the air.
“It’s a nice event,” said Pat Amschler, who attended with her husband, son, and 3-year-old grandson. “We were here last year and will probably come again next year. This was Travis’ first time flying a kite and he did a good job with Grandpa and Dad.”
“It’s so nice they have all these events for the kids now,” said Oak Lawn resident Erin Hahn, who was teaching her 5-year-old nephew Brayden to fly his new T-rex kite. “I grew up here and they never did stuff like this. Now whenever I see these things listed online, I go and pick him up and head out.”
Hahn learned about the festival on Facebook, and decided to come out for the day.
“If it wasn’t for Facebook, I don’t think this would be possible,” she said. “It really is great for bringing people together.”
Steilen said the 2021 event brought out about 2,000 people and she hoped to see a similar turnout this year.
“We’re very pleased,” Steilen said. “It’s just so fun to see all those families outside enjoy a day in the park.”
Jessie Molloy is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.