20th Annual Callaway Kite Flight
Labor Day Weekend - Sept. 4 & 5, 2010
Come, fly a kite in Callaway!
Callaway Kite Flight is an amazing AKA-sanctioned event that has hosted guests from 14 nations and 25 states these past 19 years. Guests of Callaway Kite Flight drive into the event site between a row of flags from our guest states and countries including:
25 States:
California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
14 Nations:
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Romania, Russia, United States, Ukraine
If you're up for the most unique (and visually arresting) event of the outdoor season, hosted by a friendly, welcoming village, plan now to join us Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend (Sept. 4 & 5).
How did 20 years pass so fast?
20 years ago Connie May and her family were camping at Pressey Park, one of their favorite get-away places north of Oconto, NE, when Connie looked up, saw a kite in the sky, and considered an event, set in Callaway, that would bring kite fliers and spectators together. If you knew Connie, you know that an idea soon became an expanded thought which became a "wild and crazy idea" segment to the local Chamber economic development meetings which then became a full-blown attempt to start something new and fun in Callaway, a village of some 600 people in central Nebraska.
She contacted the American Kitefliers Association's Region VII Director Don Murphy who contacted AKA members such as Scott Skinner. The rest is history.
A few fliers came that first year. Connie wrote a grant for state tourism funds to market the event.  Chamber and other Callaway citizens stepped up to help, host people in their homes, and stage a fun fly which has grown into a small legend in both tourism and kite flying lore: a crazy combination of volunteers who believe in their small town and want to bring guests here, professional fliers who often are paid to fly at other flies (but not at Callaway where the small budget truly is), and guests from near and far who fly, watch, and simply enjoy the skies full of colors and shapes and designs.
Today a small group of women organize and manage the Callaway Kite Flight, a small group of Callaway Lions Club members provide unbelievable support including getting the Kite Flight site ready, and a large group of Labor Day weekend volunteers give of themselves to work at the gate, the concessions stand, and the registration building plus serve as parking aids and Fly Cops.
A new t-shirt design each year always includes a windmill (we're in the Sandhills of Nebraska where cattle and ranches abound), stick figures flying a kite, the words Callaway Kite Flight, and the number of years for the event. The Callaway Kite Flight t-shirt and each year's special commemorative pin are available during the event, online, and in Callaway businesses prior to Labor Day weekend. This year's pin is a special 20th year issue and has Connie May's name on the kite. The t-shirt, also a special 20th year design, includes Callaway's new sport colors.
Saturday evening (Sept. 4) at 5 p.m. the Connie May Memorial Walkway will be dedicated in honor of our good friend Connie who passed away March 2009. The Walkway will connect the village park's tennis court, new playground area, new picnic area, and the swimming pool, and will contain a kite-shaped concrete area in memory of a visionary and fun-loving woman who would have loved being near all the action in the park.
Hope you can join us this year.
Honors? You bet. Callaway Kite Flight was named by USA Today as a top ten place to fly a kite. Callaway is also the Kite Flight Capitol of Nebraska.
We promote "Adopt a Spectator" each year. Amateurs/spectators and professional fliers team up for mutual kite flying enjoyment.
Safety? Of course! Amateurs and professionals fliers can fly their kites and enjoy themselves without worry at our site - Foster Smith Field. That's because we have Fly Zones and Fly Cops! Who wouldn't want to see these cops coming? (They have fly swatters attached to their golf carts and are more information officers and taxis than Hills Street Blues types.)
Pastures and concessions and candy drops ... oh my! What a setting for Callaway Kite Flight! A pasture surrounded by  rolling hillsides and wonderful vistas, and the best concessions you can imagine with homemade Yum Yums, fruit pies, and super burritos. Plus Cold Stone Creamery, Shaved Ice, kite vendors and more. And Candy drops at the Callaway Kite Flight! It's not just about the candy falling from the sky via kites, either. Watching excitement on the faces of the children, and their happy parents, is worth the trip alone.
One of our 2009 Candy Drops.
Just where is Callaway? Click on Where is Callaway for a map. As for what Callaway has to offer, please click here.
Schedule of Events
Saturday Sept. 4th
| 10:00 |
am |
Raising the Flag (concessions and vendors open) |
| 10:15 |
am |
Flying: Stunt, Single Line Kite, Rokkaku, Demos, Adopt-A-Spectator & Flyer |
| 1:00 |
pm |
Candy drops begin - KIDS! Don’t miss this! |
| 4:00 |
pm |
last Candy drops today |
4:00
5:00
5:30
7:00 |
pm
pm
pm
pm |
Kite Flight concessions close, other vendors remain open
Dedication of Connie May Memorial Walkway, Callaway Park
Dinner, Callaway Community Center - hosted by United Methodist Women
Bingo, Callaway Community Center - prizes awarded, and hosted by Callaway Senior Citizens
|
| Dusk |
|
Night Fly – weather permitting, kites fly in the night sky. A must see! |
Sunday Sept. 5th
| |
|
|
|
|
|
10:00
|
|
|
|
Raising the Flag (concessions and vendors open) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
10:15 |
|
|
|
Flying: Stunt, Single Line Kite, Rokkaku, Demos, Adopt-A-Spectator & Flyer |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1 pm
|
|
|
|
Candy drops - KIDS! Still more candy dropping from the sky ( via kites) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
2 pm
|
|
|
|
Kite Flight concessions close, other vendors remain open |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
4 pm |
|
|
|
last Candy drops - thanks to Callaway Market & Region VII AKA |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Dusk
|
|
|
|
Night Fly – Weather permitting! Awesome! |
Monday Sept. 6th
8:00 - Noon
|
|
Wrap-up flying for our weekend guests
the event officially ended Sunday evening, but if you want to fly a kite -- come on!
|
Fees
| $ |
|
2.00 |
Gate Fee (per person each day) |
| $ |
|
5.00 |
2010 Collectors Pin |
| $ |
|
12.00 |
Youth t-shirt: S M L |
| $ |
|
12.00 |
Adult t-shirt: S M L XL |
| $ |
|
15.00 |
Adult t-shirt: XXL XXXL |
Lodging
Callaway Motel 308.836.2226
Chesley's Lodge 308.836.2658
Camping is available at the City Park - limited hook-ups available. For information contact Village Office 308.836.2262.
Food
In addition to food at the Callaway Kite Flight site Concessions:
- Jo's Cafe, Callaway, open Saturday breakfast and lunch
- Bear Pad, Callaway, open Saturday and Sunday with convenience foods, pizza, and subs.
|
