International Kite Festival

Alief International Kite Festival draws families out for fun

Just the right amount of sunshine and a brisk wind provided an ideal backdrop for the International Kite Festival on Saturday, May 4, drawing early crowds to the Alief Nature Center.

“We couldn’t have ordered a more perfect day for a kite festival,” said Brian Burks, director of services for the International Management District, which helped sponsor and organize the day’s events. “This is an event the whole family can enjoy, and it unites the entire community.”

Entertainment included a deejay, lion and dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations, and two bouncy castles well-received by the little ones. Food trucks offered shaved ice, burgers and a unique fusion of Thai and Mexican food.

Meanwhile, a variety of kites in all colors and sizes zoomed over the grassy fields at Beechnut and Dairy Ashford, and judges were taking note to award prizes.

Winners for the largest kites were: Rafael Ajucam, first place; Joann Northrop, second place; and Gus Munoz, third place. For the smallest kite, winners were: Vickie Le, first place, Minh Le, second place; and Michael Le, third place. Prizes in the “most unique kite” caterory were: Luis Aguirre, first place; Amelia Lavadore, second place; and Juan Apolonio, third place.

Highest flying kite awards went to: True Nguyen, first place; Karen Tzoc, second place; and Anne Armstrong, third place. In the “most colorful kite” category, winners were: Joey Kocamarek, first place, Gizelle Precido, second place; and Abigail Zelaya, third place.

First-prize winner Rafael Ajucam said he and his son, Leonardo, 6, worked on their 7-foot octagonal kite together for more than eight hours, because kites play a big part in their cultural heritage.

“Kites are a tradition in my country–Guatemala,” Ajucam said. The Centro Organanizativo Guatemalico (COGUA) was a co-sponsor of the festival.

Other partners who helped sponsor the event were Texans Together, Alief Leaders Coalition, Houston Community College, the YMCA, the Alief Community Association and Crescent Park.