Dixie Power Kite Festival rewards kids for reading, supports literacy programs in local classrooms

CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Every spring, the Dixie Power Kite Festival brings local families together to play in the sunshine and get kids excited about reading books. It’s the largest kite festival in the state and Southern Utah’s premier fundraising event in support of literacy programs. 

Families enjoy the 20th annual Dixie Power Kite Festival, St. George, Utah, April 13, 2019 | Photo courtesy of the Dixie Power Kite Festival, St. George News

This year’s kite festival returns to the Encampment Mall at Dixie State University on April 2. As always, it’s free to attend. Sponsored by Dixie Power alongside numerous community partners, all proceeds will be donated to the Washington County School District Foundation. 

“This funding makes a real impact on the lives of the teachers and students in our community,” festival director Rick Schofield said.

In early January, each of Washington County’s approximately 14,000 elementary school students receives a reading chart and are challenged to read books at home. Students record their daily reading on the chart over the next 13 weeks and have their parent or guardian sign it. Then they can bring their completed chart to the festival to be rewarded for their efforts with a kite, a book or tickets to on-site activities.

Bahama Buck’s in St. George is also offering a free shaved ice to every student who turns in a reading chart.

Cash awards will be given to the classrooms with a participation rate of 50% or higher. 

The festival features plenty of kite flying, games, vendor booths and fun activities including bounce houses, zip lines and a rock climbing wall. There will also be food trucks and two live entertainment stages for the first time. Another addition is the support of T-Mobile as presenting sponsor.  

Families enjoy the 20th annual Dixie Power Kite Festival, St. George, Utah, April 13, 2019 | Photo courtesy of the Dixie Power Kite Festival, St. George News

“We’re really excited,” Schofield said. “This is the first year that we’ve had a presenting sponsor, and it just allows us to raise more funds for the school district.”  

The Washington County School District Foundation’s book booth will be selling a variety of books for $1 each. Kite enthusiasts of all ages are invited to attend and fly their own kites in a designated area.

Despite lingering concerns about COVID-19 and the county fair taking place over the same weekend, Schofield said last year’s event drew a record-breaking crowd of approximately 30,000 people and raised $50,000 for the Washington County School District Foundation. 

Over 2,800 reading charts were redeemed for either a kite, a book or $10 worth of activity tickets. With an average of 1,000 minutes of reading required for each chart, the festival promoted more than 2.8 million minutes of reading by students in grades K-5.

“This year I think we’re going to do even better, so I’m excited for it,” he added. 

The kite festival was founded with a four-part mission to: 

  • Provide a wholesome, uplifting, family-oriented event where everyone can participate regardless of experience, training, financial means or physical abilities.
  • Promote reading as a fundamental basis of education for every child of elementary school age.
  • Support education with additional funding, and make that funding available to selected participating schools at the discretion of the Washington County School District Foundation.
  • Patronize members of the business community whose financial sponsorship makes the festival possible.
Families enjoy the 20th annual Dixie Power Kite Festival, St. George, Utah, April 13, 2019 | Photo courtesy of the Dixie Power Kite Festival, St. George News

It takes a village to help kids make reading a habit, and the kite festival relies on sponsorships from Southern Utah businesses. As primary sponsor, Dixie Power is heavily involved in the planning and execution. The company provides thousands of dollars in funding and hundreds of hours of manpower every year. 

The Washington County School District Foundation first partnered with Dixie Power in 2000 in an effort to promote reading to elementary school students. Over the past 23 years, the festival has touched generations of families and tens of thousands of children by raising nearly $700,000 to support local literacy programs. 

“We’re grateful for Dixie Power,” Schofield said. “Without them, this wouldn’t be happening.”

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

•  S P O N S O R E D   C O N T E N T  •

Event details

  • What: Dixie Power Kite Festival. 
  • When: Saturday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Where: Dixie State University Encampment Mall, 225 E. 700 South, St. George. 
  • Tickets: Free.
  • Resources: Website.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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