Flying High On Milwaukee’s Lakefront

On the weekend of May 28 and 29, the Kite Society of Wisconsin and Gift of Wings will be presenting the Maggiano’s Little Italy Family Kite Festival. The 29th annual event celebrates spring with airborne activities flying above Veterans Park, along the coast of Lake Michigan.

The two-day event showcases kite flying demos from professional hobbyists, and an opportunity for kids to make and fly their own kites. Flying will begin at 10:00am for both days, and end on Saturday at 6:00pm and Sunday at 5:00pm. The featured highlight of the celebration will be the traditional Grand Launch, when more than five hundred kites will take to the skies at noon.

Two world renowned professional kite flying teams from the Midwest will show off their skills. The Chicago Fire and the Windjammers precision kite flying teams plan to entertain visitors with three performances each day. In addition, the Canadian Dream Team and Jean Lemire from Montreal will make their 13th appearance with a large 75 foot Teddy Bear kite. Two giant octopus kites will also be featured this year.

Kites of all shapes, sizes and colors will be available for sale. In addition, free kites will be given away to the first one hundred children that participate in the Kids Mad Dash, with a group launch planned. The Candy Drop has also become a popular part of event, when sweets rain down from the sky.