In Chicago's labyrinth of skyscrapers, tunnels, and rivers, a green-little knoll, called Cricket Hill, lies away from the concrete buildings, stop lights, and heavy traffic.
On a gorgeous sunny day in May, with a cool breeze wafting in from Lake Michigan which was glistening there in the background, we found this little knoll to be an instant stress reliever. Located near Montrose Harbor and the famous Montrose Beach, Cricket Hill is a well-known destination where large crowds gather for picnics in the spring, movie nights in the summer, long walks and naps in the fall, and sledding in the winter. But, rather than the sound of crickets – as the name would suggest -the only sound on this specific day was the wind and the flapping of kites aloft for the city’s celebration of the 20th annual “Children & Kites Festival”.
Among the crowd gathered for this event were spectators, parents and their children who were eager to get to the kite making. Food and beverages were available from sponsors, as were face-painting, balloon artistry, and other crafts. “The Windjammers Kite Team” dazzled the audience with astonishing synchronized kite maneuvers. My significant other and I also entertained the audience through our attempts to try and lift our kite into the air without hitting anyone who was simply there to enjoy their Sunday!
We first visited the kite booth where volunteers provided us with the paper kite and string with directions printed right on the kite. We then went to two other booths where we were given the required materials, scissors, crayons, and tape, which we needed in order to construct and design our kite. The kite kits and all the materials were complimentary, thanks to the sponsors.
We interviewed one parent named Steve and his two-year-old son James who came out for the festival. He told us:
"I saw it on Twitter yesterday. And so far so good, we just have to make our kite and we are off. James is pretty pumped!”
Attendant Maureen Sharer said:
”This is my first year here. I just recently moved over to the North of Chicago. I found about it from my husband who's out of town. It's a nice Sunday out."
The joy and beauty of all the colorful kites on Cricket Hill was fantastic. Smiles arose on the faces of the hundreds gathered to watch; along with parents helping their children make the kites , seeing them struggling to get the kites into the air and then leaning back to see the joy and beauty of all the kites swirling and dipping against the brilliant sunny sky.
In advance of the event we interviewed Jeneene-Brown Mosley, Program Coordinator for DCASE (Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs and Special Events) She explained:
"I am a long-time programmer here, for the past 32 years. This festival is a wonderful family-friendly event created with the help of Country Financial, a major fellow sponsor. which helped to get the kite kits for us. These paper kites are easy for kids to cut, decorate, and fly right after they make them! There will be entertainment: a DJ, vendors, and giveaway prizes throughout the day. The Chicago Kids and Kites Festival is an event for all. This is the twentieth anniversary of the festival and it is quite special for the city of Chicago, DCASE, and fellow Chicagoans. Celebrating our youth is the greatest gift the festival brings to the city.”
2018 has been designated the “Year of the Creative Youth of Chicago” by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). Because of this designation “Creative Youth Festivals” will be taking place throughout the year and all over the city. offering Chicago’s citizens opportunities to participate in many varied events and programs.
If you missed the Kite Festival this year, be sure to come in 2019 to see what you missed!
Creative Credits
- Written by
- Hristo K. Bojilov
- Photography
- Juan Montano
