Red Bull Flugtag

For whatever reason, humans have always been obsessed with figuring out a way to take flight. Some have failed spectacularly along the way, and many of these moments seen on film are as comical as they are endearing. That is the essence of today's event, which aims to capture the imagination of anyone who has jumped off a bunk bed with a parachute blanket. "Flugtag" translates to "flying day" in German, and competitors aim to have just that. Building up to the big day, teams work tirelessly to construct their homemade flying contraptions in hopes of reaching the stars (or perhaps just the clouds). How will they do this? Flight will be achieved by launching vehicles down a 30-foot-high ramp, which will project them into the sky. Things may eventually come crashing down to earth (or the river), but those brief airborne moments should be transcendent (or at least really funny). Contraptions in other cities have included inventions shaped like a taco, a Winnebago, and Snoopy, so it should be interesting to see what shows up. Contestants will be judged on distance, creativity, and showmanship. Do you prefer water vehicles to aircraft? Bring your boat up to the buoys and watch the show (with narration from 87.9 FM). Visit www.redbullflugtagusa.com/applymian.aspx for more info.
Sat., July 24, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 2010