Great Delaware Kite Festival: 50 years of high-flying fun
The Great Delaware Kite Festival started 50 years ago as a kite dueling contest between Lt. Gov. Eugene Bookhammer and the Maharajah of Bharatpur, India. While a kite duel was a new experience to people in this area, kite dueling is a popular sport in India.
The object of the competition is to cut the other flyer's kite line. Bookhammer had beginner's luck and was able to defeat the Maharajah for two years. In the third year, a kite-flying expert from Baltimore came to the park and won the contest. Eventually, spectators began bringing their own kites, and it didn't take long for the festival to become an event that attracts thousands to Cape Henlopen State Park each Good Friday. It's one of the oldest kite festivals in the country.
The Best All Around Kite Flyer Award is named in honor of Bookhammer, who passed away Feb. 23, 2013, at the age of 94. Another key person who contributed to the festival, Delaware State Park's Jack Goins, was involved with every festival except the first until his passing in February 2017. It was his love of music that inspired the musical accompaniment to kite-flying competitions.
During the March 30 event, Sen. Ernie Lopez and Rep. Steve Smyk presented House and Senate proclamations to mark the 50th anniversary to Lewes Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Betsy Reamer and Delaware Division of Parks Regional Parks Administrator Pat Cooper.
Kite Festival winners: Best All Around, Gene Bookhammer Award: Mark Blattel, Milton.
Children and teen competitions
Best store-bought kite: 1. Zach Faubert, Milton; 2. Mila Patel, Cary, N.C.; 3. Emilia Faubert, Milton.
Best homemade kite: 1. Abagail Kissling, Reading, Pa. 2. Novalee Coleman, Bel Air, Md.
Most attractive homemade kite: 1. Novalee Coleman.
Most unusual homemade kite: Dylan Kissling, Reading, Pa.
Teen, best store-bought kite: 1. Anna Jungkeit, Leesburg, Va.
Youngest flyer: Bruce Leister, 8 months old, Camden.
Adult competitions
Most attractive homemade kite: 1. Phil Broder, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Best flyer, homemade kite: 1. Phil Broder; 2. Arnold Simon.
Precision flying award: 1. Mark Blattel.
Ballet flying award: 1. Dennis Smith, East Brunswick, N.J.; 2. Jim Cosca, Fort Washington, Md.; 3. Mark Blattel.
Special competitions
Highest kite: 1. Arnold Simon, Pikesville, Md.; 2. Chase Nessa, Georgetown; 3. Anna Jungkeit.
Most senior flyer: Thomas Bassett, Manchester, Pa.
Traveled most distance: Walker and Jonathan Schepf, Clifton Park, N.Y.
Smallest kite: Bill Goodwin, Ocean View. Largest kite: Phil Broder.
![Jim Cosca of Fort Washington, Md., left, and Dennis Williams of East Brunswick, N.J., perform a stunt kite-flying demonstration March 30 during the 50th annual Great Delaware Kite Festival at Cape Henlopen State Park. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/03/field/image/DSC_9933.jpg)
![Phil Broder of Mechanicsburg, Pa., looks through his colorful homemade kite. Broder took top honors as the best adult homemade kite and also won an award having the largest kite.](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/03/field/gallery_large/DSC_0067.jpg)
![Sen. Ernie Lopez gives kite flyer Amanda Mendoza, visiting the area from Pennsylvania, a little help.](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/03/field/gallery_large/DSC_9874.jpg)
![Mark Blattel of Milton, a regular participant in the event, does a kite ballet to the music of Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” Blatell earned top honors winning the Gene Bookhammer Award, named in honor of the founder of the festival.](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/03/field/gallery_large/DSC_0007.jpg)
![Anna Jungkeit of Leesburg, Va.,is flying a 30-year-old kite in the highest-kite competition, which she placed third.](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/03/field/gallery_large/DSC_9867.jpg)
![Michael Coleman of Belair, Md., holds 11-month-old daughter Novalee, a fifth-generation kite flyer and winner of two medals.](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/03/field/gallery_large/DSC_9910.jpg)
![There is no doubt Bill Goodwin of Ocean View has the smallest kite at the festival. It’s that red dot he is holding for the judges to see.](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/04/field/gallery_large/DSC_0031.jpg)
![Bradly Dillon, left, of Onley, Md., and Jackson Witzler of the Washington, D.C., area show off their eggs and baskets.](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/04/field/gallery_large/DSC_9633.jpg)
![Local legislators gather to honor the 50th anniversary of the Great Delaware Kite Festival. Taking part in the ceremony are (l-r) Rep. Steve Smyk, Pat Cooper, Delaware Division of Parks regional administrator, Betsy Reamer, Lewes Chamber of Commerce executive director and Sen. Ernie Lopez.](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/04/field/gallery_large/DSC_9890.jpg)