Kites to fly high over Nahant

NAHANT – Some area residents will be flying high as they welcome in the New Year.Members of Kites Over New England (KONE) will gather at Long Beach, near the Tides, starting at noon on New Year’s Day.Lynn resident Gary Quinton, who is a longtime member of KONE, said the informal New Year’s Day kite fly is always a blast.”Sometimes people bring new kites they got for Christmas that they want to try out,” Quinton said. “This event is very informal, but it’s always a lot of fun.”Quinton said he would be at Long Beach again this year, but he hasn’t decided what kite or kites he will fly.”What I fly depends on the weather,” he said. “The kite buggies will be there.”Quinton explained a kite buggy is a three-wheeled vehicle that is pulled across the sand by large kites.”It’s a lot of fun,” Quinton said. “Sometimes you get sandblasted though.”The die-hard kite enthusiasts said they plan on having the New Year’s Day Kite fly regardless of the weather.The group was formed more than 30 years ago.This year KONE members will be flying kites near the Tides Restaurant in Nahant from noon until 2 or 4 p.m., depending on the tides. The event is free and open to the public. Additional information is available online at www.KONE.org.