It’s the Great 2009 Westport Windriders Kite Festival
That’s right – the clock is ticking – and there is no time like the present to get ready for the upcoming 2009 festival celebrating flying, fun and friends. Mark your calendars and make your reservations for July 10th, 11th and 12th.

This year's guest kite flier is Cliff Quinn and here is his biography in his own words.

It was a warm sunny day back in '91 when my kite-venture started.  I can remember every detail of that day.  Going down the boardwalk in Ocean City Maryland, I saw many magnificent kites flying high over the beach.  I said to my wife Joyce, "I love those things, I want one".  Right at that point, we passed the Kite Loft Store and I said, "let's go in".  Inside we saw more kites - each better than the last.  After an hour in the store, we left without buying a kite.  But we bought kite magazines. 

At home I read those magazines cover to cover many times and sent for all the free stuff that was advertised.  Two things happened 1) I learned there was a kite club, Lehigh Valley Kite Society, in a town near by and, 2) there was also a kite supply store, Kite Studio. These two very important things shaped my kite journey.  A Kitelines magazines I bought had a plan for a Crossdeck kite and, as a team, my wife and I made that kite, brought it to the LVKS club meeting and the club members suggested we take it to the Smithsonian Festival.  We did just that and were lucky to win first prize in the co-op category.  We went home with a beautiful bronze medallion.  Going home we were flying higher than a kite (lol).  Shortly after, Joyce dropped a bomb.  She said that the partnership was over and I had to learn how to sew.  It was sew or sink.  Today I love sewing!  Through the years, I have been fortunate enough to win other kite making awards, including the AKA Grand National "Grand Champion" award.  However, during that same AKA Convention I also won the "Members Choice " award.  Of all the awards I've received, this is the award I cherish the most.  My fellow kiters voted on the kite they liked the best and the one they would like in "their" kite bag.

Looking back through the years and the kites I own, I realize that I've made more that were given as gifts and for auctions than I kept for myself.  One of the biggest thrills for me is sharing everything that others have taught me.  Each year I look forward to attending festivals and teaching in workshops.  But this leads to a problem - I'm retired and don't have enough time to do all the things on my kite plate.

For additional information on the Festival, click here.
For directions to the Festival, click here.