Massive kites to fill the sky at Brookings Kite and Bike Festival

From simple tight-frame sails to elaborate, oversized kites, the South Brookings sky will be covered with flying shapes as bicyclists navigate an obstacle course during the 13th Annual Brookings Kite and Bike Festival Sunday, June 24.

Kite and bicycle enthusiasts are invited to attend the festival from noon to 4 p.m. at the Fishback Soccer Fields on South Medary Ave. and South 20th St.

American Kite Association member Mike Gee will show massive demonstration kites at Brookings Kite and Bike Festival Sunday, June 24.

American Kite Association member Mike Gee, Jamestown, N.D., will bring his collection of demonstration kites, known for their massive size and unique designs. Attendees are welcome to bring their own kites or purchase one at the festival from a vendor.

Bicyclists can ride to the event for a free bike check and ride through an obstacle course. Young children 18-months and older can partake in a strider bike adventure zone with the new pedal-less bikes from Sioux River Bicycles and Fitness.

Larry Browning, physics professor at SDSU, will help children make and launch paper rockets.

A kite candy drop, Girl Scouts building kites and a Nick’s Hamburger Shop vendor wagon will add to the wind-celebrating festivity.

“The festival is a great family fun day. People should bring their kites and bikes and enjoy the afternoon,” said Lynn Verschoor, South Dakota Art Museum director.

Festival sponsors include South Dakota Art Museum, Optimist International, Children’s Museum of South Dakota, Sioux River Bicycles and Fitness, City of Brookings and the Brookings Chamber Visitors’ Bureau.

More information is available by calling the South Dakota Art Museum at 605-688-5423 or toll free at 866-805-7590.

About South Dakota State University
Founded in 1881, South Dakota State University is the state’s Morrill Act land-grant institution as well as its largest, most comprehensive school of higher education. SDSU confers degrees from eight different colleges representing more than 175 majors, minors and specializations. The institution also offers 29 master’s degree programs, 12 Ph.D. and two professional programs.

The work of the university is carried out on a residential campus in Brookings, at sites in Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City, and through Extension offices and Agricultural Experiment Station research sites across the state.