Last weekend on a gorgeous spring day, kites of all colors took flight at the Kite Festival St George.
Presented each year by Dixie Power, the Kite Festival St George rewards reading, while bringing families together for a fun-filled day in the sun.
Kite Festival St George 2018
This year’s event took place at Dixie State University for the second year. It was the 19th annual event. Although the days leading up to the Kite Festival St George this year were filled with gusting winds and speckled with showers, April 21 dawned clear and beautiful. Maybe a little too beautiful. Even though the Kite Festival St George is for flying kite — among other things — not too many kites could catch a breeze in the afternoon hours.
Still, there is plenty of other rewards to be had besides flying a kite.
How it all works
Kite Festival St George paperwork is distributed throughout Washington County School District schools at the beginning of the year. Students are encouraged to read a certain number of minutes per day or week. The number of required minutes varies by grade. Parents fill out and sign the reading calendar from January to April. Then, on the day of Kite Festival St George, students bring the signed reading calendar and redeem it for a reward.
Originally, kites were the only reward. But after a few years, some students felt they had enough kites in their collection, and the Kite Festival St George board decided to add books as another reward option. Now, students can also choose to exchange their reading calendars for tickets to be used in the bounce house fun zone at the Kite Festival St George that day.
Who can participate?
Although the actual reading calendar and reward program is for students in Washington County School District, families with children of all ages are encouraged to attend. Participants are welcome to bring their own kites to fly in designated areas. And everyone is welcome to purchase tickets to play in the bounce house fun zone. Plus, there are several free activities available. And don’t forget the food booths and other vendors. With all that, plus a stage filled with entertainment throughout the day, there is more than enough to do.
What’s the point?
According to the Dixie Power Kite Festival web site, the mission behind the Kite Festival St George is four-fold.
- Provide a wholesome, uplifting, family-oriented event where everyone can participate, regardless of experience, training, financial means or physical abilities.
- Promote reading as a fundamental basis of education for every child of elementary school age.
- Support education with additional funding and make that funding available to selected participating schools at the discretion of the Washington County School Foundation.
- Patronize those members of the business community whose financial sponsorship make the Kite Festival possible.
Highlights from the day
After spending several hours at the Kite Festival St George on Saturday, several events emerged as highlights.
The kites
The kites, of course, are always a fun part. Even with minimal wind, there were plenty of people doing their best to get their kites aloft. And several were quite successful. One kite even appeared to be so high, it was either being flown from the roof of a nearby building, or it had escaped its owners’ hands and was being carried away like a balloon on the wind.
Dixie Power demonstration
As the title sponsor of the event, Dixie Power has a demonstration booth on site. Kids and adults alike are in awe of the true power of electricity. Using special tools, Dixie Power workers are able to show what could happen to a person if they were to come in contact with electricity. Using a hot dog, an orange and a hair dryer, electricity — and the need to use extreme caution — becomes very clear.
Bounce houses and more
A definite highlight for kids, the Kites Festival St George offers a wide range of Fun Time Inflatables. Bounce houses, giant slides, zip line, water walk balls, obstacle courses and more. Parents may feel a little harried by the end of it all, but the smiles on faces are worth the wait in the lines.
Free kids’ activities
One area is completely free. Games for children like beanbag toss, ring toss, miniature golf and more. And inexpensive prizes for their efforts.
When it comes to getting kids excited about reading, you will want to join the fun next year at the Kite Festival St George.
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