Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

Time To Fly:

Fifth Annual Mile High Kite Festival on Beech Mountain September 2

Story by Ron Fitzwater

It is time again for the skies over Beech Mountain to be filled with brilliant colors as the Annual Mile High Kite Festival returns for a fifth year.

A great tradition on the mountain, the festival brings an array of fun activities for kids of all ages.

Kites of all kinds from the simple to unbelievable will be flying a mile high on Sunday, September 2. “We fill up the whole field across from Town Hall. There are just kites flying all over,” said Peggy Coscia, office manager for the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce. “We expect to get about 500 to 600 people out there because people come just to watch,” she added.

Activities will be Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and include kite giveaways to the first 100 children. The Avery High School Key Club constructed and donated the kites. The kites are white and the chamber is providing tables so the kids can decorate them. Those who do not arrive in time to get a free kite can purchase kites at the event or bring their own. People are also encouraged to bring kite-making supplies as there will be kite-building and decorating clinics for children.

Kite clubs will attend to demonstrate flying techniques and also display their kites.

Returning for this year’s festival are kite clubs the Richmond Air Force, Wings Across Carolina Kiting and Okra Society Kiting. “They bring these huge kites that are very colorful. They can do these amazing tricks with them,” said Coscia.

Vendors will be on hand including Cindy’s Shirts and Hodges Kites, and local favorite Trish Daniels will be face painting. Some refreshments will be available, and

local restaurants will be open to serve visitors.

The festival will also feature contests for children, and prizes will be awarded for largest, smallest and best decorated kites. Prizes include gift certificates to local stores and passes to Tweetsie Railroad and Grandfather Mountain. Additionally, Mayor Rick Owen will present certificates to all children who would like one, proclaiming that they have flown a kite a mile high.

The event is free to attend and is sponsored by the members of the chamber.

Coscia said, “I want people to remember that on Saturday night, September 1, is our last street dance of the season. The dance is from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. in the parking lot in front of Town Hall. We want everybody to just come to the dance Saturday and stay on for the kite festival Sunday.

Parking and admission for both events is free. For more information, call the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at 828-387-9283.

Want To Go?

Date: Sunday, September 1
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Beech Mountain
Cost: Free