Go Fly a Kite returns to Wheaton Park District

Hundreds of kites will take flight next weekend when Wheaton Park District sponsors Go Fly a Kite at Graf Park.

The annual festival of paper and string will run - or soar - from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the park, 1855 Manchester Road.

Kristina Nemetz, superintendent of marketing and special events, says the district's record is 843 kites in the air at the same time.

"This year," she said, "we'd really like to break it."

Participants can bring their own kite or purchase one from an on-site vendor, and then participate in the grand launch at 11 a.m.

At noon, the Chicago Fire Kite Team will demonstrate its skills.

Following that demonstration, the district will hold its Highest Flying Kite Contest at 1 p.m. and then its Most Unique Kite Contest and Kids Candy Drop at 1:30 p.m.

Nemetz says the kite fly is a laid-back event "so we see a lot of families with young children, first-timers, and kite aficionados who want to practice for the summer."

It's a family-friendly outing where all ages are welcome and no registration is required.

Parking is available in the lot north of the DuPage County Fairgrounds; from there, Graf Park is accessible over a bridge. Handicap parking is available off Manchester Road by the playground.

Concessions, presented by the Wheaton Rams football program, will be available.

To learn more, visit wheatonparkdistrict.com/goflyakite.