The best way to describe the Niagara International Kite Festival is sporadic and spectacular. The first NIKF was held in May of 1992 as a one time event to help celebrate the city of Niagara Falls (New York) Centennial.

It was during the ’92 festival that the Historic Homan Walsh Kite Contest of 1848 was successfully re-enacted for the first time. We were fortunate to have been able to do that first re-enactment at the original site of the 1848 kite contest. It is where the Niagara gorge is at its most narrow at 800 feet across (244 meters) and 200 feet deep (61 meters). The original location is now home to the Whirlpool International Bridge.

The 2005 rendition of the Niagara International Kite Festival was held as a result of chicanery. Due to Homeland Security’s insistence, it was necessary to move the Homan Walsh kite contest re-enactment from the original site further up the gorge, closer to Niagara Falls. The move meant that those attempting to cross the gorge with their kites had a wider span to contend with, making the contest more difficult, but not impossible. A couple of the teams were able to successfully span the gorge with their kites at the 2005 site, however getting the kites to come down within reach proved a bit more challenging. Next time we’ll have a step ladder at the ready!

Then why the 2006 Niagara International Kite Festival you ask? It’s our rain date. The weather was so horrible for the 2005 festival that we figured such a remarkable crew, noble purpose, and scenic location deserved another shot.

The Niagara International Kite Festival is a very unique event that provides sensational kite flying opportunities and experiences for the Kiteflier that does not normally exist.

The NIKF is a four day festival (6 – 9 October 2006) held over the Canadian Thanksgiving and Columbus Day weekend. To maximize the areas resources the festival programs are taking place at two different venues. Friday 6 October and Monday 9 October will be right at the brink of Niagara Falls and along the Niagara escarpment. Saturday 7 October and Sunday 8 October will be located at Reservoir State Park. A remarkable park that has an open, cut grass field a half mile by a third of a mile in size.

Listed here is a sampling of the weekend’s activities.

The Homan Walsh Kite Contest Re-Enactment: Teams of 3 or more kite fliers will attempt to fly a kite across the Niagara Gorge and land it on the opposite side. We are re-enacting the 1848 kite contest when a kite was used to connect the two countries with a line which was then used to begin construction of the areas first suspension bridge. The complete Homan Walsh story is under the history heading on the Niagara Kite Festival home page.

The Kite Arch Connecting Canada and the USA: Seikoo & Akiko Nakamura of Nagasaki, Japan are currently making their third kite arch that they will fly across the Niagara gorge in an attempt to connect Canada and the USA. They do this massive undertaking as a labor of love, a heartfelt display of friendship and peace as well as a tribute to their kite friends around the world.

Location, Location, Location: Registered Kite Flyers will also have the rare and unique opportunity to fly their kites along the Niagara escarpment from the Rainbow Bridge to either Terrapin Point on the USA side or Table Rock on the Canadian side of the border.

‘MEGA MOON’, the Largest Kite in the World; will be flying at the Niagara International Kite Festival on both Saturday and Sunday, wind & rain gods permitting of course. It is something that has to be seen to be believed and appreciated. Come and join Masaaki Modegi of Tokyo, Japan and his team as this magnificent kite makes its US debut.

The specs on the Mega Moon kite are;

* Total area/size: 10,968 square feet or 950 square meters (about the size of an Olympic size swimming pool)

* Kite Measures: 131.3 feet wide x 83.7 feet long with an inside height of 21 feet or 25.47 meters x 40 meters x 7 meters

* Kite weight: 400 pounds or 200 kilograms

* Kite Material: 27,000 square feet of specially loomed rip-stop nylon material or 2,500 square meters

* Hours to manufacture: 750 hours to sew

* Flying line strength: 20 ton braided spectra line

The Berkeley Kite Wranglers: will be joining our impressive list of kite flyers with their vast collection of Giant Kite Creatures. How cool is it going to be to see their infamous ‘octo-pile’ flying at the brink of Niagara Falls?

For More Information and details please go to:

http://www.niagarakite.com

The Niagara International Kite Festival will also have the usual festival staples; free kite making workshop, exhibits, displays, and lessons. There will be huge inflatable show kites, art kites, multiple line kites, and maneuverable kites. This is not one to be missed.