The 2024 Kites over Enid Festival will be held April 20-21 at the Richard Dermer Memorial Flying Field behind Autry Technology Center.

April is National Kite Month, and the goal of Kites Over Enid is to introduce – or reintroduce – the joy of flying a kite to children and adults alike.

History

Kites over Enid was held in 2009 and 2010 in a large field behind Autry Technology Center. Both events were held as attempts to break the Guinness Book of World Records for number of kites in the air at one time. In 2009, Enid broke the North American record with 2,598 kites in the air at once but fell short of setting the world record. The 2010 Kites Over Enid event again fell short with “only” 2,439 kites in the air. The 2,598 kites flown in 2009 remains the North American record.

AKA National Conventions

American Kitefliers Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing kite flying with the world. Richard and Marti Dermer, the founders of Hideaway Pizza in Stillwater, were avid kite flyers involved in AKA and in 2010 heard about Enid’s efforts to set the world record. Once Richard came to Enid and saw the field behind Autry Technology Center where Kites Over Enid had been held, he told people, “This would be perfect for the national convention.” Richard helped convince the AKA to bring its national convention to Enid in 2012. Based on the fun they had and the way they were welcomed by our community in 2012, AKA brought its 2015 national convention back to Enid. Richard passed away in 2014 but the city of Enid honored his memory and contributions to kite flying at the beginning of the 2015 AKA convention and members flew kites on the Richard Dermer Memorial Flying Field. It’s the same field being used for Kites Over Enid.

The idea to bring Kites Over Enid back came from the 2015 AKA National Convention with city and AKA leaders saying a kite festival in Enid each year would help advance the joy and values of kiting. Phillip Whitaker, Enid native and AKA President, was the Field Coordinator for the 2015 national convention and continues to lead the efforts for Kites Over Enid.

SKY DANCING

What a wonderful sight!
The sky alive with kites
Of all shapes and sizes,
And everyone realizes
What extraordinary fun
It is to be flying one.
Folks of all ages
Pipsqueaks and sages
Join in the sky-dance
Just for a chance
To go fly a kite.
There’s one at an amazing height
Flown by a precocious child
Turned loose into the wild,
Wide world of sun and breeze,
Of sky and distant trees.
I hear as she joyfully exclaims,
Look, Dad, Enid Kites Up The Plains!

Paula Nightengale
Sept. 19, 2009