Let's Go Fly a Kite at the Dan's Papers Kite Fly, Aug. 17

By Jaime Felber

It's that time of the year, when the beaches are crowded, the snack-truck offerings are expensive, and the year's social calendar highlight takes place. Which means it's also time for Dan's Papers annual kite fly on Sunday, August 17. Sponsored by Southampton Town Parks and Recreation Department, the event will take place on Sagg Main Beach, from 5-7 p.m. This event brings out the elite of the social kite-flying world, and blessedly there are no dress codes nor particular rules. All that is needed is an open mind, a good spirit and a smile. Oh...and a kite.

A Southampton Town beach permit is not required for the festivities, since parking restrictions will be temporarily suspended for the event. In addition, the facilities will remain open later in the afternoon to make for a more comfortable experience. At the kite fly, children are the center of attention, and also provide the entertainment and inspiration.

During the first hour this year there will be plenty of live entertainment, including jugglers, face painters, caricaturists and a surprise guest appearance - a little something for everyone. While recent weeks have brought tempestuous thunderstorms that postponed many big nights out here, we at Dan's Papers have no fear. It has been rumored that our intrepid founder, Dan Rattiner, has abilities King Canute could only wish for, and good weather with favorable winds is expected. (Of course, should the weather not adhere to our schedule, it wouldn't be right to let all the hard work and talent go to waste, so in the event of rain, kites will still be judged and sampled on the ground.)

At 6 p.m. a bullhorn will sound, announcing the beginning of the rigorous Olympic-standard judging selection. The panel of judges, hand-picked and overseen by Rattiner, will comb the beach, leaving no kite untested. Eighteen categories will be judged: Best Nautical Kite, Funniest Kite, Highest Flying Kite, Longest Tailed Kite, Most Beautiful Kite, Most Geometric Kite, Most Exotic Kite, Most Futuristic Kite, Most Graceful Kite, Most Natural Kite, Most Newsworthy Kite, Oldest Kite Flyer, Youngest Kite Flyer, Scariest Kite, Tiniest Kite, Ugliest Kite, Best Colored Kite, Funkiest Kite, Lowest Flying Kite and Best Homemade Kite.

After about a half-hour of deliberating, judges will invite all participants to the judging station, where the winners will be announced and prizes awarded. The winners will also see their names in print in the following week's issue.Win or lose, at the end of the day the important part is just getting out there with your kite and your kids, and experiencing the joy that comes from flying it higher and higher, while keeping it from crashing into anyone else's craft.

Back to Contents