Community View Dallas Hosts First Annual Reliant Trinity Wind Festival Perhaps the most popular of the sky attractions were the professional show kites, many of which reached widths of fifteen feet. Kites of all colors, shapes and sizes covered the sky as the day progressed. Warren Harris, Barry Ogletree, Troy Gunn, and members of DAKO showed their flying skill. REI and Kayak Power hosted a free 40-kayak paddle event on Trammell Crow Pond for those interested in trying their hand at boating. Visitors interested in outdoor survival and camping were also pleased to find REI sponsoring a tent exhibit. For children, Kroger sponsored four bounce houses and clowns who made various balloon animals and performed tricks. From 12:30-3:30 pm, kids also took part in a paper airplane contest hosted by Xerox, where they put together their own creations to see whose could glide the farthest. Another popular display was the hot air balloon exhibit by Gentle Winds Ballooning. Spectators got a close and personal look at the machinery itself as pilots demonstrated the power of the aircraft’s burner by igniting the liquid propane and sending bursts of flame into the sky. Another crowd-pleaser followed as members of the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center hailing from Lake Levon with native raptors allowed spectators to engage the birds up close. Thirty minutes later, renowned animal behaviorist now working with the Dallas Zoo, Dr. Steve Martin (who has been bringing exotic wildlife to the Texas State Fair for over 22 years) and his trainer, Lindsey Morse, hosted a bird show of their own which showcased various species of birds including a rare white hawk and amazing talking parrot. The late afternoon brought with it a variety of other performances, with the first being a Frisbee demonstration put on by members of the University of Texas at Arlington’s Ultimate Frisbee team. But the real gem of the evening was the festival’s final spectacle, a captivating performance by the Dallas Wind Symphony. The show received mountainous applause from its audience and the festival ended with a happy crowd. |
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