Piedmont Kite Festival

Rain put a halt to the 6th annual Piedmont Kite Festival last Saturday, but the museum is hoping this Saturday's promising forecast comes to fruition and kites can fly high.

On Saturday, March 21, the museum and Henry County Parks and Recreation are hosting the Piedmont Kite Festival at Jack Dalton Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The free festival encourages residents to get outside and enjoy the spring weather.  The festival includes a kite building station, games, crafts, face painting, temporary tattoos, and live music by Kim and Jimbo Cary, who perform using all-natural instruments that children can play alongside them.  Of course, festival-goers are encouraged to bring their own kites, too.

“The Piedmont Kite Festival is a great way to kick-off spring,” said Sara Reichert, museum educator and coordinator of the festival.  “The weather is turning warmer, flowers are beginning to bloom, and the Kite Festival is a fun way for everyone to reconnect with the outdoors after a cold and snowy winter kept so many of us inside.”

The festival is a part of the museum’s Martinsville-Henry County Community Nature Network, which works with community partners to help residents reconnect with the outdoors.

“A significant aspect of our programming involves incorporating outdoor elements,” said Dr. Denny Casey, director of education and public programs at the museum.  “We believe it’s important to reconnect everyone with nature from educational, health, preservation, and stewardship perspectives.  Studies frequently show a disconnect with nature, especially in young children, and events like the Kite Festival are ways we hope to help counter that."

The 6th annual Piedmont Kite Festival is sponsored by American Global Logistics, helping keep attendance to the festival free of charge.

“We are thrilled once again to be able to offer the Kite Festival free of charge," said Ryan Barber, deputy director of the museum.  “Offering events for as little cost as possible to attendees is something we always strive for when planning our programming.  The generous support from our local and regional business community, like what American Global Logistics has provided, is exactly what we need to continue to offer high quality events for as little as possible.”

For more information about the Piedmont Kite Festival and other upcoming museum events, visitwww.vmnh.net.