Dave Downey of Boardman flies a bowl kite in Canfield on Saturday afternoon at the Loghurst Museum. The Mahoning Valley is invited to fly kites again today in an open field next to the structure at 3967 Boardman-Canfield Road from noon to 4 p.m. The event is free. Staff photo / Ashley Fox

CANFIELD — Folks brainstorming ways to enjoy the weather today can go fly a kite.

The Loghurst Museum kicked off spring with a kite-flying event Saturday that continues today.

“We’ve been in COVID. We’ve been undercover. Everybody’s been inside, and everybody wants to get outside again. What better way than to go fly a kite?” said Beverly Vangeloff-Cook, vice president of the Canfield Heritage Foundation, which operates the museum.

The idea came about as CHF board members brainstormed different events to hold at Loghurst at 3967 Boardman-Canfield Road.

“Flying a kite is fun. It’s spring. It signals spring and summer,” Vangeloff-Cook said, adding the kite-flying event this weekend is the kickoff to more events Loghurst will host this summer.

Kite enthusiasts from 4 years old to nearly 70 made their way out Saturday.

Four-year-old twins Cecelia and Jackson Vivo of Canfield flew kites for the first time, with help from mother Megan and grandmother Maureen Donahue.

For the inaugural experience, the family used small, light kites, but will upgrade to larger ones in the future.

“When we go to the beach, we’ll use bigger kites,” Megan said, adding they will practice again at home on the family’s three acres.

Also attending Loghurst for kite-flying were seasoned kite fliers.

As their fists held tight to the strings of their kites, friends Cheryl Kear and Dave Downey, of Poland and Boardman, respectively took advantage of the sporadic breeze and sunshine.

“When (the kite) is up, it’s good,” Kear, who turns 70 this week, said.

Both are members of the Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites.

Saturday was the first time this year Kear has been out, while Downey said he’s been flying kites a couple times so far.

One of the kites Kear flew Saturday had the Canfield Fair rooster on it. She made the kite for an arts and crafts competition at the fair.

“There are a lot of books,” Kear said, adding that the rooster kite had a specific pattern with dimensions and which type of materials to use.

Both Kear and Downey go around northeast Ohio, as far up to Lake Erie to send their kites soaring.

Organizers were happy people attended the event, which will be followed by a salute to Canfield responders May 15 and 16.

“We are very pleased to have kicked off our exciting season with terrific kids and older high-flying kite aficionados,” said Councilman Bruce Neff, president of the CHF.

The kite-flying event continues noon to 4 p.m. at the museum at 3967 Boardman-Canfield Road. It is free and open to the public.

The Canfield Heritage Foundation oversees the Loghurst Farm Museum and is welcoming new members and seeking board members. The board meets semi-monthly.

For more information, call 330-533-4330 or email info@loghurst.org.

afox@vindy.com