Few pastimes are as satisfying as making your own kite and watching it soar into the sky. Just ask 4-year-old Samantha Tancredi's mom, Andrea. "She loved the big purple butterfly kite so much, it hangs in a place of honor over her bed."

You don't need to be a child to love kite flying, which makes it a great outdoor activity for the whole family. And with spring ushering in kite festivals all around the country, it seems the perfect time to start your own tradition.

The Tancredis and their friends held their family kite festival in Wiscasset, Maine, at the Morris Farm, an organic farm and educational center. They brought all the fixings, from picnic food and paper plates to paints and ribbons. You can organize your own neighborhood or family kite festival too. Here's how to get started.

FIND A GREAT LOCATION

Grassy hills, parks, local football and track fields, an empty beach, or any open land is a promising spot. The perfect location should be at least a half-mile away from roads and traffic, telephone poles, electrical wires, or anything posing a danger to children and kites.

START FROM SCRATCH