PrairieGrove2023

Cane Hill Kite Fest

let-friendly venue for families. It’s free to park (there is handicap preferred parking closer to the hospitality tent), $1 for kids and $2 for adults to fly and free to watch. Military (active or retired) and their families fly for free. In addition to kites, you can also buy extra string, rewinders, and bubbles. Although food is provided on site, guests are welcome to bring picnic lunches. We were honored to make someone’s birthday very special this year. The popular 50 cent raffle (so named because each person may buy one 50 cent ticket) awards a large nylon kite at 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00. You must be present to win. Small cash prizes are awarded throughout the day for sometimes silly categories. After the 2:00 drawing, there is a contest for kids only to guess how many armadillo holes were filled in to make the flying area safe.

Cane Hill Kite Fest 2023 After a 2 year hiatus due to weather and Covid, the Cane Hill Kite Festival was back under sunny skies as 683 attendees enjoyed the pleasant day on the spacious acres of Springfield Ranch. 2023 saw a few changes and surprises with a new non-profit caterer, Blind Hope Cat Sanctuary — the reviews were an enthusiastic 5 meows. One of the sponsors went above and beyond and was handing out T-shirts and stickers. An area dulcimer group came to entertain fly ers and also provided a donation bucket for Kite Fest 2024. Many of the kites that had been in storage for 2 years found air and homes. Kites are for sale on site for $1-$16 in a wide

variety of themes, sizes, and styles; all are bought with the amateur flyer in mind. In the Kite Hospital our skilled specialists, all PHDs (pretty high-fly ing device experts) will assemble and repair your kite, whether you bought it onsite or not. There is also a “Make an Offer” box of kites that have been recovered, repaired, or previously loved and donated. Thanks to our generous sponsors and donations, the event has continued to remain a truly wal

The fun starts at noon and goes until the last kite comes down, usu ally around 5:00. The Cane Hill Kite Festival is held on the spacious pastures of Springfield Ranch in Downtown Cane Hill. The driveway is across the highway from the Cane Hill Post Office, but you can’t miss all the flags. Kite Fest 2024 will be March 9. In case of rain, snow, or other detrimental Arkansas weather, the fallback date is March 16. For more information, call 479-824-8109 (there will be an event day recording in case of iffy weather), email canehillkitefest@ aol.com , or like us on Facebook, where you will find updates and numerous photos of past fests.

Article & pictures courtesy of T.A. Sampson

• hometown magazine •

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