They passed with flying colors!
Families from Kings County and beyond gathered to fly kites and enjoy a sun-soaked day of science and entertainment at the Waterfront Kite Festival at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5 on May 11.
The day offered kite building workshops, a live performance by the all-female brass band Brass Queens, several stations for kids to learn some hands-on science, and most importantly plenty of space to hoist their airborne devices, a rarity in the crammed five boroughs, according to one Manhattan dad.
“It was just fun to have the open space,” said Tim Glenister, who made the trip all the way from the Distant Isle with his wife and two daughters Lily, 9, and Haddie, 6, with their own kite. “We don’t get to take it out too often because if you go to other parks like Central Park, you’re always worried you might hit somebody.”
There was more than enough room at the green space off of Furman Street and Bridge Park Drive for the dozens of kids trying their hands at kite flying – and seeing some of the more skilled and colorful flyers was half of the fun, according to one Brooklyn Heights mom.
“There were some very professional kite flyers, there was a purple sea creature which was phenomenal,” said Mary Kim,
Her son Mackenzie Servais, 8, and his school friend Dane Delacour,9, watched the experts and then got to fly their kites way higher than usual, according to Kim.
“He managed to figure out by himself how to get it to fly really, really high,” she said. “He just took it and ran and watched others do it.”
Other activities included launching custom-built top flyer launcher toys using robotics with the Brooklyn Robot Foundry, designing a psychedelic spinning spiral wall-hanging, and learning about wind speeds, air pressure, and other science workshops.
The event made Kim appreciate the chance to relax with the young ‘uns against the scenic backdrop of the borough’s waterfront.
“It was just so nice in this bustling to be on the grass on a sunny day and everybody having a fun and stress free time,” she said. “It was such a special event and it makes us so appreciative of living in Brooklyn and to have Brooklyn Bridge Park is lovely,” she said.
