Eloise Ogden/MDN Paul Luetzen, Minot, is shown on Saturday with Nemo, a huge orange fish kite, in the background. That day Luetzen flew several large kites that attracted many passing by an area in northwest Minot. He was flying the kites that day to honor the late Rollie Metz of Minot, who died last August. Metz was an avid kite flier.

Paul Luetzen hopes to get people interested in continuing to hold kite fests in Minot.

Luetzen, of Minot, was flying several gigantic kites from a grassy area in northwest Minot on Saturday.

An avid kite flier, Luetzen and the late Rollie Metz, also of Minot, who died last August, started flying kites when they were young kids. Metz and Luetzen organized and hosted the MAYSA Kite Fly in Minot held for several years before the 2011 flood and also for about two years following at the MAYSA area before moving it to the south side of Minot where kite fests were held for three years.

Luetzen, who had left Minot for a time, returned in 2006. “Rollie got me back in (kite flying),” Luetzen said.

He participates in kite events at Garrison, Jamestown, Mandan and Medora. He said kite fests also used to be held in Devils Lake, Beulah and Parshall.

Luetzen’s kite Nemo formerly belonged to Metz. Rena Rustad, event coordinator of the annual SkyFest over Fort Stevenson at Garrison has Metz’s alligator kite.

“We tried to keep his kites in the kite family,” Luetzen said.

Luetzen said he and Rustad are working to continue the kite fests in Minot and are looking for anyone interested in kiting and helping organize a kite event, along with seeking sponsors. They are planning kite event for Aug. 10-11 in a grassy area at 27th Street Northwest and Fourth Avenue Northwest. Anyone interested in participating or as a sponsor can contact Luetzen at 833-3350.

Although Luetzen was flying kites solo this past Saturday, he said it was a “Rollie Fest” to honor Metz. “In August it will be another ‘Rollie Fest,’ “ Luetzen said.