By Ian Thompson | Daily Republic | April 28, 2009
Bill Vierra with one of the kites he will be flying at the Suisun City Kids & Kites Fest on May 2. Photo by Courtesy Photo
SUISUN CITY - Kite aficionado Bill Vierra of Calavaras laughingly described his first kite as 'a crash and burn.'
'When I was a kid, I flew the paper kites. And when they crashed and broke, I was disappointed,' said Vierra, who added the broken kite's next destination was usually the fireplace.
Vierra, 58, rediscovered kites six years ago when his wife bought him one made of ripstop nylon and carbon fiber spars instead of paper and sticks.
'When I got it, I thought, 'Wow, kites have really evolved,'' Vierra said. 'You now see all types, ones created for high winds and light winds, all shapes and sizes. Kites now are only limited by the imagination, and kite flying is terribly addictive.'
Vierra will bring his array of unusual and colorful kites to Suisun City on Saturday for the Kids & Kites Festival, which will be 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. along the waterfront.
There will also be rockwall climbing, giant slides, trampolines, tile painting and a bike rodeo. Bikes can be registered, and there will be a safety checkpoint and riding course. The Fairfield Visual Arts will display works by several local artists.
Entertainment at the Harbor Plaza will feature the DOC Band at 11 a.m., the Solano Youth Theater Touring Group at 12:45 p.m. and the Hipwaders at 2 p.m. A boat parade and the blessing of the fleet in the Suisun Marina will be at 4 p.m.
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