From almost a mile away, I could make out the small, multicolored shapes poking out from behind the trees that surround Zilker Park. The number of them grew as I got closer. Some sat high above the others, almost motionless. Figures of dragons and astronauts flowed closer to the ground. Thousands of people stood covering the Great Lawn, milling around or sitting on blankets with the colorful display suspended above them.
This year, ABC Home and Commercial Services hosted the 97th annual ABC Kite Fest at Zilker Park, one of Austin’s oldest traditions. The festival includes fun activities like competitions and kite races for young children and grown adults.
The first time I went to the ABC Kite Fest, I must have been around 4 years old. I don’t remember much other than holding onto the string of a butterfly shaped kite while my family watched. I was still young enough to have to take short breaks in a stroller while my 9-year-old brother flew a large Spider-Man.
Sitting there this year and watching the kites against the skyline, I kept noticing the construction crane and modern blue-glass high rises. When I was younger, there was almost no skyline to look at, just a handful of high-rise buildings. Coming back after so long made me thankful that the festival was still going on. Despite how much growth and change the city has gone through, over twelve thousand people still flocked to watch the display, fly their own kites and teach their children how to do it, too.
Walking through the field was a visual spectacle. It was hard to keep my eyes off the hundreds of kites floating overhead. I almost forgot about the dozens of children sprinting around to get their kite to catch the wind. One kite was anchored to the ground by an almost 600-foot line extending into the sky. The kite, a small fighter jet, sat seemingly motionless above all the others.
Not far off, a small crowd gathered to hear the results of the kite competitions that had taken place that day. However, it didn’t seem like many people were focused on the winners. They were caught up in their own experience and the company of loved ones.
Nearby, a family tried to get their kite in the air to hand off to their toddler. Once the kite took flight, the child jumped around in excitement, but quickly ran off to look at the other kites, abandoning his parents and older siblings. They called after him trying to get his attention, but gave up and laughed as he waddled away.
I saw few people my age there, and it made me think: not many young adults take the time to attend family-oriented events like this. In college, it’s almost second-nature to get caught up in a fast-paced lifestyle, constantly worried about assignments, exams, parties and other social obligations.
Watching all the activity around me, I realized it had been so long since I had taken the time for a truly wholesome and relaxing activity. Sitting in the park and watching kites fly gave me a feeling that I hadn’t felt since long before starting college.
It’s easy to forget that simple things like this can rouse the same excitement they did when you were young. So, take some time to do something fun to reignite that child-like wonder, and if you really want to, go fly a kite.
