Kids: Make, fly your own kite on Saturday

There’s something magical about kites, the way they soar, tethered to your hands by just a slim string. They’re even more fascinating when you make them yourself and fly them.

On Saturday, the Long Island Maritime Museum is sponsoring its annual Kite Festival, and a highlight of the day is the Kite Construction Zone, where children assemble and customize their own kites and then test them out on the grounds. Custom kite kits will be available for purchase for $6; attendees can also bring their own kites to fly.

"Throughout the day we get a couple of thousand people coming through," says Kathleen Prokesch, director of special events and marketing for the museum. "Because of our proximity to the bay and the great winds, we thought it would be nice to design a festival around kite flying. At any given time you can look up and there's 50, 60, 70 kites in the air and it's a beautiful site to see."

Admission to the festival is $2 per person and free for children ages 5 and younger. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the museum is at 88 West Ave. in West Sayville. 631-854-4974; limaritime.org.