“Kite people are really friendly and open and fun,” says Lesley Meaux. “They’re a unique breed of people.”

Their ranks are slowly growing in these parts, too, thanks to efforts like Meaux’s and events like the sixth annual Kite Fest Louisiane. It will be held this month at the West Baton Rouge Soccer Complex in Port Allen on April 10 and 11, with a special education day for school children on April 9 (see the calendar listing on page 21).  

Sharon Boudreaux-Stam of the West Baton Rouge Convention and Visitor’s Bureau first brought the festival to the area in the early 2000s after attending a similar event in South Padre Island, Texas. Since festivals are as endemic to south Louisiana as humidity, it seemed like a natural fit and a good way to bring people to West Baton Rouge Parish, which had a perfect venue for the event.

Over the years, the festival has grown to include an impressive line up of competitive events, as well as demonstrations, kite-flying lessons, and kite design workshops. There will also be food, music and a lot of kites for sale. Last year’s event attracted more than 25,000. This year’s is expected to be even larger.

“It’s really done a lot to help grow the kiting community here,” says Meaux. “It has enabled people to get together and make connections with other kite enthusiasts.”

Which is a good thing, in the opinion of Lesley Meaux, who says there is nothing like seeing the joy on her husband’s face when he’s flying a kite. It’s the kind of experience more people should have.

“I have a picture of him on my desk at work and you can see his expression— he’s just beaming and that’s what he looks like when he’s flying,” she says. “It’s like he’s ten years old. He’s so happy, he’s giddy.” 

Stephanie Riegel is a Baton Rouge-based writer and communications consultant. Forthcoming projects include a cookbook she is publishing with her sister and a documentary on the Huey P. Long Memorial Bridge in New Orleans.

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