140 FOOT-LONG OCTOPUS ON THE SHORES OF MILWAUKEE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          

For more information contact:

Jeannine Sherman
VISIT Milwaukee
800.231.0903 or 414.287.623
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140 FOOT-LONG OCTOPUS ON THE SHORES OF MILWAUKEE

Midwest’s Largest Kite Festival comes to Veterans Park

MILWAUKEE – Sept. 1, 2011 – Thousands of kites of all shapes and sizes will turn Milwaukee’s lakefront sky into a sea of color, motion and excitement at the Don Jacobs Toyota Frank Mots International Kite Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9 and Sunday, Sept. 10, 2011 in Veterans Park.

Massive sea creatures, gigantic geckos, beautiful butterflies, 3-D shapes and more will loop and swoop through the air, offering free, family-friendly entertainment for two days (Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). This choreographed, musical event will feature The Giant Kites of Yves Laforest from Montreal and The Chicago Fire Kite Team, the longest-running competitive sport kite team in the United States.

Over 600 kites will head high up into the atmosphere where the air is clear to the sounds of “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” at noon each day in a public participation Grand Launch by Caribou Coffee. Free kite flying lessons, whether you own a kite or not, will be offered by world-renowned kite flyers, Brett Williams and Jim Cosca, throughout the weekend. The first 100 children to sign up and participate in the Kids Mad Dash, a race to see who can get their kite the highest in 60 seconds, will win a kite of their own.

The Gift of Wings Kite store in Veterans Park will sell kites, food and beverages during the event. Parking is free and accommodations for large vehicles and buses are available.

VISIT Milwaukee markets Greater Milwaukee to tourists, and convention and meeting planners, both nationally and internationally. VISIT Milwaukee has more than 600 members, including hotels/motels, restaurants, attractions, services and area businesses. Tourism generated $2.5 billion in spending in Greater Milwaukee in 2010and supported more than 61,000 local jobs. The City of Wauwatosa, Frontier Airlines, Potawatomi Bingo Casino and the Wisconsin Center District are strategic partners with VISIT Milwaukee, providing funding support for conventions and tourism programs.  For more information call 1-800-554-1448 or visit www.visitmilwaukee.org.

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