Sky Fest covers the sky at Fort Stevenson State Park

Garrison, ND ( KXNET ) — Sky Fest is an annual North Dakota kite festival for all ages at Fort Stevenson State Park. The festival is held over Memorial Day weekend each year.

“So we are in our 32nd year of flying kites here at Fort Stevenson,” says Sky Fest coordinator Rena Rustad. “And this is an extra special year because the park is celebrating its 50th anniversary. So, we have extra flyers here from all over the Midwest and even on a day where there’s been a few sprinkles, we still have kites in the sky and people smiling.”

Rustad says that this festival holds special significance for not only her, but for families who make the journey to Fort Stevenson as well.

“Well it’s a long-standing tradition here at the park,” she says, “and they’ve been doing [kite-flying] since the wars way, way, way back when. So, when we can bring people out and put a kite in their hand, it just makes for a wonderful family event.”

People gathered for the event from not only across the country, but also from the surrounding area.

“We were on Instagram and saw this festival here,” shares attendee James Hix, “and we just decided to come out and see what it was like. We are new to Minot.”

Hix comments that he enjoys watching the kites and finds the atmosphere welcoming and inviting. He also adds that he plans to make this a tradition for the future.

“So we’re thinking of settling down here and maybe bringing our kids out here one day,” he says.

The festival continues on Monday. The public is welcome to fly their own kites.

Fort Stevenson is located on the north shore of Lake Sakawea in Garrison. Admission to Sky Fest is free, but you’ll have to pay for parking, which $7 if you plan to attend.

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