The sky above the wide open space of Community Park filled with an array of motion and color as an array of kites lift into the air, flying over the grass.
“Kite Day has been going on in Chico for over 40 years, so it is a pretty big tradition,” said Lindsey Barrett, public outreach specialist for the Chico Area Recreational and Park District. Barrett said that the event’s longevity is due to its simplicity and accessibility. Throughout the park, craft stations are set up for all children to customize their own kites before taking to the sky.
Hosted by the CARD, Kite Day took place on Saturday and has grown from being a small gathering into a multigenerational tradition.
Emily Ramirez, a senior at Chico State, attended Kite Day for the first time this year.
“It’s been really nice and the kids have been able to decorate their own kites,” Ramirez said. “Everyone has been so helpful.”
Those who don’t have a kite to decorate can get one from the organizers.
In addition to flying kites, attendees enjoyed live music and different community booths. Several local radio stations hosted pop-ups and the Butte County Library brought a mobile library to the park. At the entrance, there were food trucks such as Kona Ice, The Sippy Hippie and No Bones Fish n Chips.
Michael Saelee, who was working a booth for Results Radio, said Kite Day highlighted Chico’s sense of community. “I haven’t been doing this for very long,” Saelee said. “But I think it’s a really cool thing for families to do. It really brings out the community and makes you feel like you’re a part of something bigger.”
While the event itself is about taking time to enjoy nature, enjoy family and enjoy the pleasures of the community, Barrett said it requires extensive planning, coordination between vendors, staff and volunteers is a small fragment of work that goes on behind the scenes. “But if we’re doing it right, the community can just come out and enjoy the event without seeing any stress,” she said.
Kite Day offers more than just a few hours of entertainment for attendees; it gives the opportunity to completely unplug and participate in a tradition that has spanned generations. “I hope attendees feel joy,” Barrett said. “It’s such a beautiful day. When was the last time you flew a kite surrounded by hundreds of people?”
Bria Martinez can be reached at [email protected]
