DeKALB  — Kite Fest returned to DeKalb Kiwanis Park for its 19th annual community gathering. Both novice and professional kite flyers had open space to let their kites soar.

Operating from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Kite Fest entertained crowds with giant inflatable kite flying, a variety of arts and crafts, music, bubbles and food trucks.

Kite Fest had a variety of food and drink options including The Press Box, Big D’s Hot Dogs, The Lovely Lemon, Kona Ice, Sweet Butts Cotton Candy and The Cream King.

Volunteers helped attendees make kite-related crafts, a windsock, biodegradable nature kites and origami under the park’s gazebo.

Kite Fest began as a small community event in 2005 where families would fly kites to celebrate the end of summer. Over the last decade, it has evolved into a fest which has entertained the DeKalb community and gotten the attention of professional kite fliers such as the Chicago Kite team, who was in attendance this year.

“We start thinking about these things in advance. It’s been the last month and a half that we have really just been nailing down all the finesse,” organizer and recreation supervisor at the DeKalb Park district Emily Kvasnicka said. 

Kite Fest is attended by NIU students, alumni and members of the DeKalb community. 

“It is super cool to see the different huge kites,” Kaitlyn Cheop, a sophomore psychology major said. “My sociology professor talked about it, and my mom wanted to come because she loves flying kites,” Cheop said.