HOW TO GO
What: Kites ‘N MPX
When: Saturday, April 11, noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Voice of America MetroPark, 7850 VOA Park Dr., West Chester (near the soccer fields.) Guests should enter the park off of Cox Road at the VOA Park Drive entrance (not from Tylersville Road.)
Cost: Free. Also, free MetroParks-City Barbeque kites will be available to the first 150 guests at City Barbeque, beginning March 30. City Barbeque is located at 7706 Voice of America Centre Dr., (513) 755-0518.
More info: www.YourMetroParks.net or call (513) 867-5835. In case of inclement weather (heavy rain or lightning), the event won't be rescheduled.
WEST CHESTER TWP. – Kite fans are in for a lot of high-flying fun Saturday, April 11.
MetroParks of Butler County has teamed up with PIGS Aloft Kite Club for a highflying event “Kites ‘N MPX,” which will be held at Voice of America MetroPark from noon to 5 p.m. This is a free, family-friendly event.
The event will offer gigantic kite-flying demonstrations, kite ballet, kite-making and more, according to Kelly Barkley, senior manager of community relations for MetroParks of Butler County.
“As windy as the Voice of America site is, it is the perfect place to have a kite-flying event, so we partnered with PIGS Aloft again this year, and also brought in another co-sponsor, which is City Barbeque at Voice of America Shopping Centre to help us with the project, and to help us market it,” Barkley said. “They are providing some kites, along with MetroParks that can be obtained at the City Barbeque location.”
There will be many different sizes and shapes of kites on display. Professional kite flyers at the event have an opportunity to demonstrate their choreography and showmanship skills, which are amazing for spectators to watch. The huge kites are expected to draw thousands of kite lovers. However, the festival is aimed at kite enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels.
Previously, there was a famously popular event at VOA Park called “KiteFest.” This year’s event restructures and revisits that, because it was such a popular event.
Flying kites continues to attract participants of all ages, from toddlers to senior adults, who enjoy all of the various activity stations that will be set up throughout the event, including a family kite-flying area, an area for the large kites, and a children’s area, which are all going on at the same time. The open fields at VOA MetroPark also provide the perfect space for kite flying.
“This is a free event, fun and something you can do with your family on a beautiful day,” Barkley said. “You can watch the kite demonstrations, there will be on-site kite making, so you can learn how to make a kite, and you can fly your kite with your family in the fly zone area. You can make a kite while you are there, you can bring one, or you can watch. There’s something for everyone to do.”
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