Kites in the Field thrills audiences both day and night in Lucknow

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

Surrealism ruled the skies of Lucknow last weekend as the annual Kites in the Field (KitF) festival took flight. A giant ice cream cone held its own against a swordfish. Lizards larger than the state of Texas crawled through the clouds. A giant clownfish dwarfed a tiny scuba diver.

 

For more than a decade, KitF has been growing into a bona fide Lucknow tradition - one where the laws of gravity are defied and anything seems possible above the fields. This year, Huron-Kinloss’ favourite kite-stravaganza once again expanded its family-friendly activities by adding a community glow-in-the-dark party to the night flying festivities. 

 

The former cow pasture took on an otherworldly aura as families arrived like fireflies to the field at sunset. LED-lit strollers rolled the grounds while rainbow-winged dancers fluttered through the crowd. Glow sticks waved like neon magic wands. Above it all, glowing kites drifted across the darkening sky, turning Graceland into a temporarily terrestrial constellation of light. 

 

But KitF isn’t just impressive because of its giant floating animal kites and its light-up night parties - this free fête has also been bringing some world class kiters to town. 

 

This year, one of the oldest kite teams in North America - The Windjammers -  brought their exciting precision flight show to Graceland.

 

Hailing from Detroit’s historic Belle Isle, this National Sport Kite Circuit team has performed all around the world - from France to Minnesota to Singapore. Their Sunday afternoon performance was such a sight to behold. It was an intricate aerial ballet performed with what seemed like 30 kites, a whole lot of wind, and the incredible co-ordination of the talented people pulling the strings - part musical choreography, part tactical manoeuvring and entirely mesmerizing. 

 

When Lucknow’s Murray and Elizabeth Irvin started KitF, they wanted to share their love of these simple machines and inspire the next generation of frequent flyers. If last weekend was any indication, their idea has really taken off.