Swift Current skies come alive at Windscape

Kites of all sizes, shapes and designs filled the skies over Swift Current during another colourful Windscape Kite Festival.

The annual kite festival not only attracted a wide array of colourful kites, the event also attracted kite designers and performers from across North America.

Dick Curran and his wife, who hail from Edgewood, Washington, were making their second appearance at Windscape. He has been flying kites for seven decades, so he is very experienced when it come to kites.

"I flew kites back in the 40s, that was in high school. Then I went to Korea and spent my two years and got back into Washington in 1958, but it was probably in the early 70s that I got back into kiting."

Curran and his wife, Georgean build all their own kites and at one point Saturday had six of them in the air at the same time.

"Two years ago we were invited guests over there on the hill (Highland Park) and we were invited back this year.

Curran explained why he keeps coming back to Windscape.

"It is 1,300 miles and as we drive across the country we have a car that every time it sees a flower it will stop, and for some flowers it will actually back up, and waterfalls. Also, we hit hot springs and as we go back we will hit Radium and Banff and Jasper because we love hot springs."

The people in Canada are different from where Curran comes from.

"The people in Canada are entirely different, especially out here in the country. You have very little crime and you have few problems in comparison when you have a city and people packed in real tight together."

A Windscape highlight was the precision flying by the members of the Windjammers Stunt Kite Team. The competitive kite flyers amazed the crowd with their intricate flying patters and exacting skills.

The Marston St. and 11th Ave. S.W. site of the kite festival was also a treat for the ears, with the annual Long Day's Night Music Festival hosting three nights of entertainment. They boasted outstanding shows by The Mocking Shadows, a double bill feature Mondegreen and the Roxanne Potvin Band, and a rousing final night performance by the Mykal Gambull Band and Cousin Harley.

gbowditch@swbooster.com