ENID — For the past two years, Enid has played host to an effort to break the world record for number of kites flown simultaneously. The Kites Over Enid event actually accomplished a North American record in 2010.
That effort caught the attention of the American Kitefliers Association (AKA), which announced Monday it will bring its 35th Annual Convention and Competition to Enid in 2012. The dates of the convention in Enid are set for October 1-6, 2012. The convention will bring more than 200 kite enthusiasts to Enid.
The AKA Conv-ention is an annual five-day gathering of kite enthusiasts, artists, and competitors. The convention ranks as one of the largest kite gatherings in the world. Convention activities include educational workshops, games, displays, and the Grand National kite competitions for kite making and sport kite flying. Committee and general business meetings are scheduled. Other highlights are the Great Kite Auction which offers unique and hard-to-get kite products and a retail FlyMarket for vendors.
This is the first convention to come to Enid since the new Enid Convention Visitors Bureau was developed in November.
“We got started (on trying to land the convention) the second week ECVB was in existence,” said Rob Houston ECVB communications coordinator. “Stan Hicks gave us the lead, and we’ve been working on this since the second week of November.”
“Our association’s purpose is to educate the public in the art, history, technology, and practice of building and flying kites and to advance the joys and values of kiting in all nations,” said AKA convention manager Maggie Vohs. “We supply our members with tools for making kites, conducting kite festivals, setting up kite clubs, tools for use in classrooms and more.”
Houston said one key component to the AKA accepting Enid’s bid was a building large enough to hold indoor kite flying.
“Northern Oklahoma College Enid stepped up to the plate by donating the use of its indoor baseball facility, with a ceiling height that allows a 60-foot by 100-foot indoor competition area,” Houston said.
Combined with the outdoor flying fields provided by Autry Technology Center and banquet and reception space at the Cherokee Strip Conference Center with its location in the heart of downtown Enid close to restaurants and shopping, AKA found Enid had everything it was looking for in a convention location.
“This is a big moment for Enid,” said Marcy Jarrett ECVB director. “It shows what we can do as a team. We would not have been able to bring a national convention such as the AKA to Enid without the help of so many partners.
“Dr. Jim Strate at Autry Technology Center donating the use of their land, Raydon Leaton at NOC for their indoor facility, the City of Enid and the Cherokee Strip Conference Center. None of this would have happened without their assistance and their vision for Enid.”
“It took the cooperation of many partners to bring this together and we will do what it takes to ensure they have a successful event,” said Cherokee Strip Conference Center general manager Debbie Campbell. “The award of the AKA national convention is a big step to showcase Enid as a desirable convention location.”
Field events will be held on the grounds of Autry Technology Center Oct. 2-6, 2012. Events will take place each day from noon until 5 p.m.
Competition events include Sport Kites, Comprehensive Kitemaking, Fighter Kites, Daily Mass Ascensions and Traction Kiting. The last day will be filled with Rokkaku Battles, Hot Tricks Shootouts and a Festival Extravaganza. The public is invited to view the competitions and learn more about the AKA.
2012 will mark just the second time AKA has brought its annual convention to Oklahoma. The 1995 gathering was held in Tulsa. AKA’s 2011 convention is Sept. 26-Oct. 1 in Wildwood, N.J.
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