10th Annual
Skydance Sakakawea
Kite Festival 2002
"Party on the
Prairie"
Dreams do come true. And the dream of producing a kite festival that one day would showcase some of the best of the best on the shores of Lake Sakakawea, at Ft. Stevenson State Park, near Garrison, ND is a dream realized.
For three days, the residents of North Dakota were treated to visual images never before seen. Over two thousand spectators were able to watch the graceful motion of two 90 foot (brought by David Willis and Don Murphy) and two 45 foot Spinsocks. Huge flowforms with their Gomberg tube tails were viewed from distances of 10 miles away. CBS and NBC affiliate TV crews filmed for over an hour on the opening day and gave precious airtime during their news programs to promote the festival. One of Peter Lynn's Squids, Bruce Kenkel's bright green one, lorded over the flying field like a predator ready to enter the water and do battle. Lofted beside the big stuff were over 100 sled kites made during the kid's kite making workshop and other single line kites of all shapes and sizes. Sport kites entertained the crowd with axles, fades, and graceful ballets. Skydance had it all.
Guest fliers at the festival included: David Willis, kite pro from "Catch the Wind" in Oregon; Mike Shaw, master kitemaker from Colorado; Don Murphy, AKA Region Seven Director from Nebraska; Ann and Tony Killip, kitemakers from Illinois; Kathy and Doyle Wolf, kite enthusiasts from Colorado; Bruce Kenkel, buggy expert and Squid owner from Nebraska; and Mike Gee, Chris Dodson, and Rollie Metz, expert fliers from North Dakota.
When the day was done, fliers were treated to a steak dinner on Friday; a walleye fish feed on Saturday, and grilled brats on Sunday. Evenings saw kites being launched into silky pre-sunset breezes(which in the extreme north latitude meant daylight flying until nearly 10:00pm) and then conversation and s'mores enjoyed around the campfire until sleep called.
The festival ended on Memorial Day. Fliers left the field feeling lucky to have
experienced three days of incredible flying. There was also a sense that a special moment
in kiting had been witnessed. Skydance Sakakawea Kite Festival, a little event, held in a
remote part of the US for its 10th anniversary became a big show and great party on the
prairie. And everyone there knew that they had helped make my dream come true.
