CLEVELAND — The 42nd annual Cleveland Kite Festival was hosted by the Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites on Sunday.
Dozens came out to fly their kites at Edgewater Park in Cleveland and even more came to watch.
Ben Frustos was a kite pilot who has been attending this festival for many years.
His passion for this sport began years ago.
“It started about 20 years ago. I was at the beach in North Carolina and saw some people flying a dual line kite,” Frustos said. “I visited a kite store down there, bought a kite and that’s when the addiction started.”
Now, Frustos is an expert in the sport and has a healthy collection of his own kites.
“With single line and dual-e kites, I’m probably in the neighborhood 50 or 60 kites at home in my basement,” he said.
Frustos said he flies his kites any chance he gets.
“I try and get out for probably three or four hours a week,” he explained. “It might not all be at one time.”
For Frustos, flying kites is a way to relieve stress.
He especially enjoys it when he gets to participate in his hobby with other like-minded individuals, like at the Cleveland Kite Festival.
“Just being outside in the fresh air with nothing to do but watch my kite,” he said. “We are a small (community) but we are a pretty tight-knit community.”
For more information on the Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites, visit their website.
