The San Diego Kite Club was honored to participate in a very special event in Los Angeles. The Huntington hosted an event called “This Land Is…”, which featured a wide variety of activities for visitors to enjoy throughout the day. Guests explored live music performances, cultural dance demonstrations, hands-on family crafts, natural dye workshops, curator-led gallery tours, community exhibits, educational children’s activities, documentary screenings, and interactive art experiences.
One of the day’s featured outdoor attractions was Art in Motion with the San Diego Kite Club, where club members helped fill the sky above the East Lawn with colorful kites. Our goal was to present spectacular aerial displays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., giving visitors an opportunity to experience the beauty and artistry of kite flying while enjoying one of Southern California’s premier kite clubs in action.
We were very fortunate to receive an email from Pamela Garrison, Membership Events Manager at The Huntington, who wanted to learn more about what the San Diego Kite Club could offer in support of the event. After two planning meetings and finalizing the logistics, we assembled our team and prepared for what turned out to be a wonderful day.
This event also provided valuable funding for our club, along with several generous perks. The Huntington provided $3,000 in compensation, admission tickets for our pilots and their families to enjoy the gardens, and an additional 25 tickets for club members to return and visit again in the future. Each pilot received two complimentary tickets, with additional tickets available for those wishing to bring more family members.|
We are extremely grateful to Pamela Garrison for inviting us to participate, to The Huntington for welcoming kite flying on the East Lawn, and to all of the San Diego Kite Club members whose time, talent, and volunteer spirit helped make this fundraiser a success.
Our Flight Team:
The following club members represented the San Diego Kite Club during the event:
Vernon White, Ray Miller, Don Fox, Rick Spurgeon, Diane Spurgeon. Robert Freed, Carol Freed, Mark Quirmbach, Ziggy
Event Details:
The San Diego Kite Club arrived at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, located at 1151 Oxford Road in San Marino, California, at 9:20 a.m. to prepare for a full day of flying from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Lunch Breaks
To keep the flying field active throughout the day, pilots rotated through lunch breaks in groups of two. The Huntington generously provided lunch for all participating pilots.
Parking & Transportation
Parking was provided free of charge in the West Lot, and Huntington staff transported our group and all of our equipment to the East Lawn using their shuttle service. Their hospitality made setup and logistics smooth and efficient. The morning began with cool, comfortable weather, providing a pleasant start to what would become a memorable day of kite flying.
All members arrived on time and we were quickly met by one of the team coordinators Kim. We had a quick parking lot meeting and were escorted to the East Lawn, including our gear. A quick shoutout to the entire team leading up to this day. Everyone on Pamela’s team were excellent from the very beginning. Starting with the video call meeting, emailing documents and preparing our team with all the informati9on to make sure the day ran smooth. Our club recognizes how professional the entire team is.
We should admit the wind never showed itself. When it did, we would have Ray take the spotlight as he waiting in the wings for his moment. The very beginning of our time was used to setup the field and setup kites. With the help of Rick Spurgeon and Robert Freed, we had gliders up. As that moment faded, quad line flying took place by Don Fox and Ziggy. Ray Miller was dedicated to getting a little attention for his Ultra Light Hyperkite 12 stake. He managed to work his magic a few times and we rejoiced.
The absolute coolest move was when Rick Spurgeon and Diane Spurgeon pulled some kites forward to where the foot traffic was positioned. They knew kites were not able to stay up so the wise Spurgeon household stood in the sun educating the guests as they approached the field. A great example of how experience shows itself and brings the best out of our club. Afterall, we always aim to give each event our all and improvise as needed.
The day was beautiful and the teamwork was solid. All members were treated to a lunch provided by the event host. We would take breaks in groups of 2 for 30 minute lunch periods. This kind gesture to make sure or team was fed meant a lot to everyone involved. Keep in mind this is a full 12 hour day for anyone involved. The drive both ways, working hours on the grounds and equipment preparations leaving and returning home to unpack. We worked hard and it showed. The lunch breaks gave everyone a chance to peak around the area we were stationed on the property. Fortunately, with the guest passes we received, All members who volunteered can take the opportunity to really check out the Huntington estate upon visiting again.
For the record, our club is always willing to help the Huntington. They deserve nothing but the best and we always plan to bring just that. Here are some photos provided by the event photographer. Thanks for reading and happy flying.