Registration for the 46th kitemakers’ retreat, MKS’s great celebration of kites and kite companions, is now open. It will be on President’s Day weekend, February 13-16, 2026.
We want you to be there -- it will be quite special.
Our brand-new venue for the retreat, the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, is just off Route 50 in Grasonville on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. CBEC is about 10 miles from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Check it out at
https://bayrestoration.org/ You can even fly kites over Chesapeake Bay during our long weekend.
MKS workshops are open to all - and all participants can do any or all of the projects. We all work communally in one large room for the sharing of ideas and projects. Registration is limited to 30 participants total -- so don't delay if you want to build one of these projects.
1. Chris Hanson’s Hargrave Double Box Kite, the kite that just won Grand National Champion at AKA’s convention in Niagara Falls, will be available in 2 sizes: kites that are 3-foot or 4-foot in depth. The kit prices look like they will be $115 for the 3' version and $130 for the 4' version. Subtract $10 if the student supplies their own custom sail. You’ll have your choice of which to build and you’ll have plans in advance of the retreat.
2. Rich Cairncross’s ultra-light Sweet Gum Leaf single-line indoor kite. Kite construction does not involve a sewing machine. Kit cost TBD.
3. Ben Huggett’s no-sew Delta Conyne. The price for the kit is $60. This 5 foot wide delta project is made from ripstop nylon and carbon fiber spars -- but requires no sewing (although you can sew it if you really want to). This is a great introduction to kitebuilding for those that haven't built a kite before.
We will also be featuring Adam Grow’s “Sew What, Part 4” presentation about getting the most out of your sewing machine, which will be useful in Chris’s project and your other projects in the future.
Phil Broder will be there with lots of kitemaking supplies from his Fly Market Kitemaking Supplies company.
Sleeping accommodations are available at the Holiday Inn Express, 1020 Kent Narrows Roda in Grasonville, 3.9 miles away from CBEC. For MKS, room rates start at $89.00 per night plus tax. Our room block ID code is MKS. [How about that?] Our room block expires January 17, 2026 at midnight. If you wait too long, some of their regular rates are $60 higher.
The Holiday Inn Express has created a direct link to our event. It is MKS - Holiday Inn Kent Island - Feb 2026 . Click this link to go directly to the site.
When you get ready to provide a credit card for your room reservation, the top of the page shows you an ad for a new IHG credit card that can save you $150.00. Skip this step. You do not have to get this new card to confirm your hotel reservation for the MKS retreat.
Celebrating our new location, we’re delighted to announce a SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED REGISTRATION RATE of $100.00 per person for attending the retreat. That includes the Saturday might banquet. If you are not participating in building any of the projects, you can sign up for only the Saturday night banquet for $60.00 per person.
Because the registration fee is so small this year, you can bring a lot more $$$ for fun at the auction! (And do bring those wonderful auction donations too.) You can send registration checks and banquet checks made out to the Maryland Kite Society to me starting now.
We can accommodate 30 registrants in our work room. Don’t wait to be the last person trying to register! You don’t want to miss this great event.
We’ll be sending more details as they become available. Check our website at www.mdkites.org later this week for the registration form and other information.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE !!
Also check out other Workshops in Grasonville, Nonprofit events in Grasonville.
