By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY – Senior Writer

Whoever said “Go fly a kite” was taken literally as hundreds of kids of all ages swarmed the San Moritz Meadow at Lake Gregory Regional Park last Saturday for the first-of its-kind Kite Day.

Youngsters, many with assistance from Mom, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa, let loose on the kite string and let the gentle breeze hoist their colorful kites skyward or, in some cases, plunge downward, nose-first, into the plush green grass below.

Nine-year-old William Carr and his mom had fun flying their kites together.

The event, which was sponsored by the Lake Gregory Company and Crestline’s Designed by Faith Gift and Home Decor Shop, began under a cloud-free blue sky at 10 a.m. and ran until 2 p.m.

Event Coordinator Vicki Vargas, owner of Designed by Faith, was encountered at a pop-up vending booth, selling kites and kite kits to those who arrived without a kite. When asked how the scores of participants and onlookers learned about the event, she attributed it to promotion by local social media networks and Facebook pages such as Crestline Happenings, as well as the Lake Gregory Company website.

Despite several failed attempts, Noah finally got his kite airborne.

Despite several failed attempts to get his kite airborne, 9-year-old Noah persisted and finally got his kite airborne. Noah, who is home-schooled, said his favorite subject is science. “Magnets are really cool!” he exclaimed.

One-year-old Lillianne helped her dad fly his kite.

One-year-old Lillianne Stamp from Rancho Cucamonga, who was visiting her grandmother who has a vacation cabin in Crestline, tugged on the kite string held by her dad and was excited to see her kite fly upward into the blue sky.

“We come up here all the time,” said Grandma.

A colorful kite floats over Lake Gregory’s shoreline.