The sky over the Gould Peterson Municipal Airport east of Tarkio was full of flying kites of all shapes and sizes, colors, and varieties at the Atchison County Library’s Books & Breezes Kite Festival Saturday, August 9, 2025. (Ken Miller photos)
Approximately 600 people attended the event, which showcased kites from the Great American Kites & Events company.
Around 50 kites were flown on Saturday, including the huge inflatables provided by the Great American Kites & Events crew and regular kites that attendees brought or purchased there to fly. Pictured flying a kite are Corey Martin, Whitney Martin, and Martin Driskell.
Bounce houses and games were an additional fun activity provided at the Atchison County Library’s Books & Breezes Kite Festival Saturday, August 9, 2025.
Atchison County Library supporters enjoy the sights and sounds of the Books & Breezes Kite Festival. Pictured are, from left to right, Betsy Chapin, Vicki Pearson, Rebecca Adams, Amanda Vette, Jayne Martin, and Carol Clark.
Kids also enjoyed having their faces painted.
The Atchison County Library held its first-ever Books & Breezes Kite Festival Saturday, August 9, 2025, at the Gould Peterson Municipal Airport in Tarkio, Missouri. This special event supports the future of the Atchison County Library, including the new facility in Rock Port.
Great American Kites & Events, a family run business in Missouri, put on the show. They own one of the nation’s largest collections of giant kites. Owner Sean Beaver described the company as specializing in producing, planning and managing giant kite displays and festivals with over 15 years of “once-in-a-lifetime” kite shows. Attendees experienced perfect views featuring colorful kites of all shapes, sizes, and variety soaring through the sky. Community members were also able to fly their own kites. In addition to kite-focused activities, the festival also included food trucks, inflatable games and more.
Community partnerships were also a huge part of this event. Sponsors included Creal Clark & Seifert, Clodfelter Insurance Agency, Inc., Midwest Data Center, Oswald Crow Agency, Citizens Bank & Trust, Minter Funeral Chapels, Atchison County Development Corporation, Fertilizer Service Company, Kent Fisher Insurance, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rock Port Oil and Tire, Farmers State Bank, Burke and Sons Lumber, Luke Therapy Services, Lola’s Paw Spa, A Perfect 10 Salon, The Gym 24 Hour Fitness, Rachel Ottmann Photography, and Jacob Erdman – Shelter Insurance. Others who assisted in making the event a success were Quad State Ink, Nick Howell Construction, Lydia Hurst and family, Josh and Kayti Hayes, A to Z Event Rentals, and Sean Beaver and crew.
