One of Gopal Patel’s favorite memories of his childhood in India is flying kites during the country’s Makar Sankranti festival, a celebration of both kites and community.
So, about three years ago, Patel and his family held the first kite festival at McDade Park, bringing out families to spend a day in the sunshine and hopefully, enough wind to lift their colorful kites off the ground.
Patel’s parents taught him how to fly kites, and now he wants to provide parents with the chance to teach their own children how to fly kites and to keep the activity alive.
The event has grown every year and was deemed a success by organizers.
Saturday was no exception. Children of all ages ran across an open field flying bright paper kites in a variety of colors and shapes.
Erin Lakatos of Scranton, said her family fell in love with kite flying at the beach.
When she learned that there would be a kite flying event close to home, she knew her family would enjoy participating.
Her children Aurora and Declan, 5, and Vincent, 7, enjoyed everything from putting the kites together to seeing them head for the sky.
Lakatos admitted the heat, with temperatures nearing 90 degrees, was a bit of a challenge.
But, the slight breeze that marked the day’s weather was enough to get the kites off the ground and into the air.
Jay Patel said organizers expected up to 1,000 people to participate in this year’s event.
Organizers provided simple kites to participants, but encouraged those who had their own kites to bring them along.
Patel said the event was a great opportunity to bring a beloved Indian family-themed custom to the Scranton community.
Participants couldn’t help but smile as each successive colorful kite rose from the ground to a clear blue ski marked by puffy clouds.
The Patels noted the event is held in January in India. In the United States, the summer season’s warmer temperatures make it a better time of year to host the event.
They hope to make the event an annual tradition.
Kite Festival organizer Gopal Patel prepares kites to be flown at the fourth annual event at McDade Park. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
Erin Lakatos of Scranton brings her colorful kite to the air Saturday at a Kite Festival at McDade Park, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
Area families came out to a kite festival at McDade Park Saturday, July 12, 2025. (GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
Erin Lakatos of Scranton, helps her children, Delcan and Aurora, both five, prepare a kit for flight at a Kite Festival on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)