The sky's the limit
The Niagara International Kite Festival promises to sweep festivalgoers off their feet as the skies above Niagara Falls on both the American and Canadian side will be filled with magnificent kites of all colors and sizes from Thursday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Sept. 30.

The Niagara International Kite Festival takes off Thursday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Sept. 30 over the skies of Niagara Falls USA and Ontario.

Families will especially enjoy seeing the kites fly over Reservoir State Park in Lewiston all day on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 30.

The weekend festival will also include kite making workshops, historical re-enactments, kite competitions and even kite buggying and mountain boarding, with teams from all over the world - as far away as Japan and Tasmania - participating.

The annual theme for the Niagara International Kite Festival is "Connecting the Past, Present, and Future with a Kite String." The third annual festival will highlight the myths, the history and the time-honored tradition of daredevils lured to Niagara Fal ls.

MY TH

Sacrificial Ceremony, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27 and Friday, Sept. 28, with location determined by wind speed and direction the day of the event.

The Iroquois Nation believed the thundering sound of the falls was the voice of a spirit living in the waters. In order to appease this spirit, the Iroquois made an annual sacrifice of a maiden of the tribe. The maiden sacrifice was sent over the falls in embellished white canoe and was considered a position of great honor and privilege.

In true kite festival fashion, a kite made of organic materials will be "sacrificed" to the mighty cascades in hopes of pleasing the wind and weather gods.

H ISTORY

Homan Walsh 1848 Re-enactment Contest, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27 and Friday, Sept. 28, Victoria Park, Canada & Prospect Point, Niagara Falls State Park, N.Y.

In 1848, Niagara Falls residents decided a bridge spanning the great Niagara gorge would be a big boost to the local economy. The technology to build the bridge was not a problem, but the locals were at a loss as to how to get that very important first line across the gorge. Homan Walsh, a 15-year-old boy came to the rescue and attempted to fly the line over with his kite. Homan finally achieved his goal and was rewarded with the (then) princely sum of $10.

In honor of this innovative and extremely successful boy, several teams of kite fliers from both the United States and Canada will attempt to re-enact Homan's ingenious accomplishment.

Arch Across the Gorge, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27 and Friday, Sept. 28, Prospect Point, Niagara Falls State Park, N.Y.

A kite arch spanning the Niagara Gorge and connecting the United States and Canada has become a tradition of the Kite Festival. The arch, to be flown by Iqbal Husain of Switzerland, is a symbol of peace and unity between the two countries. The exact location of the arch crossing will be determined by the wind speed and direction, but it will likely be between the Rainbow Bridge and Table Rock on the Canadian side and the Rainbow Bridge and Prospect Point on the USA side.

DAREDEVILS

For centuries, the lure of the mighty Niagara has drawn thrill-seekers and daredevils from around the globe. These risk-takers come to test their courage, skill and strength.

The Kite Festival will recognize this lure of the falls by creating a unique daredevil in the form of Extreme Kite Flyers. The Niagara International Kite Festival will have kite and wind-powered buggies, landboards and wheeled contraptions of all types, demonstrating the extreme power that can be harnessed from the wind.

Adding height to this year's festival is professional kite flyer Ray Bethell. Bethel, aged 82, is a kite flying icon who has won numerous awards all over the world as a master kite flyer and performer who simultaneously flies three separate two-line sport kites.

For more information on the Niagara Kite Festival, visit www.niagarakite.com or call 877-325-5787.