Go Fly a Kite extravaganza sends spirits soaring in Wheaton

Ben Franklin would have felt right at home Saturday in Wheaton.

The Wright brothers, too.

And you know who else? Those kids who hung out with Mary Poppins until the wind changed.

Because if there's one thing they all had in common, it was a love of kites. And on Saturday at Graf Park, hundreds of others who shared the same passion came together for Wheaton Park District's annual Go Fly a Kite extravaganza.

The highlight of the fest was the grand launch, where anyone who brought their own kites or purchased one from an on-site vendor (a tuppence for paper and string?) could send their creations soaring at the same time.

After that, there were contests (Highest Flying Kite, Most Unique Kite) and demonstrations by the Chicago Fire Kite Team, who can do things with kites that old Wilbur and Orville never even dreamed of.