The numbers are in and show that last year's Windscape and Long Day's Night Festivals generated millions in revenue for Swift Current businesses.

 

The Windscape Kite Festival and the associated Long Day's Night Festival are non-profit events that feature professional kite operators during the day and musical performances during the night.

 

Sheri Florizone, executive director of cultural festivals in Swift Current, said that this information is courtesy of an economic impact study.

 

"The economic impact study told us that the Windscape Kite Festival and the Long Day's Night Festival together bring about $2.78 million into the community in terms of tourism, and people staying in our community, shopping, and all those sorts of things."

 

Last year was the first year that the economic impact study was put into place, and showed an estimated attendance rate of about 8,500 for the kite festival and about 1,700 at the Long Day's Night Festival with a sold-out show on Saturday to see The Dead South perform.

 

Florizone also said the kite festival has given Swift Current recognition on a global scale.

 

"The SaskPower Windscape Kite Festival is well known across Canada and internationally as well, and we create a unique, family friendly, free event, and that's definitely something that people are looking for and word has gotten around over the years. Next year is going to be our 15th year putting on the Windscape Kite Festival and we're looking to have another fantastic year."

 

Florizone plans to keep bringing in new kite opperators and musical performances to the event in the future, futher helping to benefit the city.