‘Kites in the Field’ wows crowds in Lucknow

Lucknow's annual Kites in the Field festival is again drawing large crowds to view some of the greatest high-flying creations. CTV London's Scott Miller reports

The skies over Lucknow will be filled with some of the most beautiful and expensive kites in the world this weekend at the 11th annual Kites in the Field kite festival.

“We have a big one that just come from Colombia. It’s probably $5,000,” said Kites in the Field organizer Murray Irvin.

Kiters from across North America have converged on the Bruce County town of Lucknow to show off their latest and greatest high-flying creations.

“I’ve been in kiting for about 35 years. I had a friend who got me hooked on the little $40 kite, and then you can go from there, and once you get hooked, you’re hooked. Where else can you go outside in this beautiful weather and just enjoy yourself?” said Kerry St. Dennis from Guelph.

St. Dennis actually built his Canadian heroes 300 square foot wide kite to commemorate fallen Canadian soldiers. He flew it every time a Canadian solider returned to Canada and travelled the Highway of Heroes.

“On the tail is actually signatures for all fallen soldiers. We have a World War I veteran that actually signed before he passed away. It’s a heroes’ kite that someone can come up and sign, and put their loved one’s name on to remember them by,” said St. Dennis.

Gary Maynard and his team of precision kite fliers, called the Windjammers, came all the way from Detroit for Lucknow’s Kites in the Field.

“You get to meet great people. It’s like a family reunion. Some guys, I haven’t seen since last year. We catch up, and it’s fun. And I love the Canadian festivals. They are my favorite. You folks are wonderful,” said Maynard.

While there is a separate section of sky for novice kite fliers to strut their stuff, the real show is the “professional” kiters, like Matt Black, who has a 70-kite collection worth thousands of dollars, including his newest, “Toothless” from “How to Train Your Dragon.”

“Well, you’re outside. It’s good exercise. We get such nice weather up here, and living on the lake, which is where I’m from over in Kincardine, we always have wind. So, it’s very seldom that you can’t fly,” said Black.

The free festival is growing too, from humble beginnings to thousands of spectators over the two day event.

“Second year, we had about 50 to 100 people show up. Last year we had over 3,000 people show. So it’s been amazing to let people see what kites can do, the history of kites from over the years. And just sit there, look up and forget what ever they’re doing. It’s about seeing the smiles on people’s faces,” said Irvin.

The kites will be flying at the Graceland Fields in Lucknow.