Let’s Go Fly a Kite!

I immediately think of Mary Poppins when someone says that phrase. This fall I went to one of the many kite festivals in Baden-Württemberg (BW) and what fun!

Luckily, we live in a windy county of Germany and there are plenty of kite festivals so if you’ve missed a few of them, take heart, there are still a few left this year. Also, most of these are annual events so you can catch it the next time around, unless of course your pcs’ing and I can’t help you there.

As a matter of fact, here is information about learning to be  “schooled” on proper and safe kite flying of all kinds…

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© Wendy Payne
We arrived in Aalen, one of my new favorite towns to visit. The hospitality, food and old town is lovely. It’s also a short driving distance to this part of BW but there is a little construction going on. We were re-routed a few times. I use the Waze app for navigation and she won’t let me travel through a red zone, so although we occasionally will come upon a delay we usually aren’t in a dead stop.
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© Wendy Payne
The atmosphere of the kite festival reminds me of going to the state or local fairs back in the states. There is certainly a following for kite lovers.  Lined with RV’s and pop-up stores were where we could buy small to large kites, accessories and other fun in the wind items.
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© Wendy Payne
 The kite displays were set up by professional, amateur and family sections. We enjoyed all three sections.
Professional kites
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© Wendy Payne
Family fun
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© Wendy Payne
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© Wendy Payne
In the family section, people brought blankets and picnicked while watching the displays. From this location, we saw all sections. This was a great view as the sky was dotted with colorful bright ribbons of string and sheen flying high above us.
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© Wendy Payne
With a huge fest tent set up and traditional fest food, going hungry was not an option. However, we chose to visit the old town again and catch a bite to eat at one of the many tasty restaurants for some Maultaschen soup. It was a chilly September day and we needed to warm up.

Upcoming fests

There are kite events and festivals throughout the year not just in the fall, so be sure to check out this site for a more complete listing for Germany.

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© Wendy Payne
Both of my girls thoroughly enjoyed watching all the different kites in the sky. My little one is a budding photographer and she was able to take some unforgettable shots. If you are wondering about adding another fall fest to your line-up and bring the little ones, consider the kite festivals of Baden-Württemberg. It’s just toppins’ for paper and strings.

Author’s Profile:Wendy Payne is a military spouse and lives with her family in Stuttgart, Germany. She is a freelance writer, blogger and photographer. She also enjoys gardening, hiking, yoga and sharing Europe with people.

Featured Image Photo Credit: © Wendy Payne