Kite Festival Set for Cherry Valley Friday, Saturday

CHERRY VALLEY - Cherry Valley Artworks will present the 10th Cherry Valley Kite Festival on the weekend of September 27th-28. 

The biennial festival has become a highly anticipated event on the Otsego County Fall Tourism schedule drawing over 1,500 attendees to the beautiful and historic village of Cherry Valley. Kite Flyers, kite makers and members of kite clubs from all over the Northeast and Canada will travel to Cherry Valley, filling the autumn skies with kites of every size and description. 

The opening event on Friday evening will be the amazing Indoor Kite Fly. Some of the world’s best indoor flyers, including former world champions, will enchant the audience with their skill and grace. This gravity defying display of athleticism, entertainment and science will be preceded by a mini-kite building workshop for people of all ages. Both events will be held in the Cherry Valley Community Center, 2 Genesee Street and both are free of charge. There will be a food truck serving Barbecue and other delights on site. 

Saturday morning will begin with a 9am Children's Kite Building Workshop in the Old School Community Center.  Children will make kites that they can then bring up to the kite field where kite flying lessons will be available. A $5 fee includes all materials. 

The main event, an all-day outdoor fly (10am-5pm), takes place on a hillside belonging to 200-year old Glensfoot Farm. It provides an amazing setting with glorious views. Events on the main field will feature precision team kite flying.

A championship team will be displaying spectacular aerial ballet performances throughout the day. Giant kites will fly depending on wind conditions. The audience will be invited to take part in The Running of the Bols (a race for different age groups dragging an inflated parachute-like kite). Lots of other fun surprises! Lessons in proper kite flying techniques will also be offered and people are invited to bring their own kites.

A hospitality tent set up on site will provide shelter with tables and chairs for eating and drinking. Local organizations such as churches, scouts and civic organizations are given priority space at no charge.  Delicious food, crafts, home-made goods and other goodies will be for sale.

The weekend will close with a Sunday morning pancake breakfast at the Cherry Valley firehouse.

Cherry Valley Artworks is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting art, culture and community in Cherry Valley and the surrounding area. We are committed to nurturing the creativity and talent in our own community as well as expanding interest and access to a wider world of artistic excellence through a broad range of programming featuring concerts, art exhibits, film, dance, photography, and community-wide festivals and events.