First Annual Catonsville Kite Flying Contest

CATONSVILLE, MD—They’ve been used for power generation and meteorological forecasting.  They’ve served as light beacons and radio aerials.  Armies have flown them for observation and transport.

Inventors Benjamin Franklin, the Wright Brothers and Guglielmo Marconi, the father of long-distance radio transmission, all utilized them for experiments.

But since their first known use some 2,800 years ago in China, kites have brought people of all ages and nationalities together.

That tradition of fun comes to Catonsville on Saturday, May 19th from 10am-noon for the First Annual Catonsville Kite Flying Contest.  The family event is sponsored by the Catonsville Rotary Club and Charlestown, the Erickson Living retirement community on Maiden Choice Lane.

Participants will compete in four categories for Highest-flying, Longest-flight, Best Design & Most Creative, in three divisions: K-2nd Grade Students, 3rd-5th Grade Students & Seniors (55-plus).  Prizes will be awarded.

While it is estimated that there are more than 50 million kites sold in the United States each year, participants are encouraged to put their engineer’s hat on and design their own homemade kite.

The event will take place at Charlestown, located at 719 Maiden Choice Lane.

Pre-registration is required with a deadline of April 23rd.

To register and for more information about the First Annual Catonsville Kite Flying Contest, please contact Charlestown resident Pat Kasuda at 410-242-2257 or Catonsville Rotary Club President Cal Oren at 410-747-4300.