Fly a kite in Morro Bay.
Kite-making workshops, flying contests, demonstrations, lighted night kites, and more
—Experience Friday night lights in a unique way at the Morro Bay Kite Festival. A Central Coast go-to event since 2007, the festival starts Friday night, April 25 with lighted kites filling the night sky. The kite fun and adventures continue all day on Saturday and Sunday with free kites for the first 500 children on Saturday, two candy drops a day, kite-making workshops, flying contests, musically synchronized kite-flying, professional kite flying demonstrations, vendor booths, food, beverages, and more.
The festival got its start in Paso Robles in 2006. Event director, Shaun Farmer, brought a small group of local kitefliers together for a kite flying event. The next year, he brought the event to Morro Bay to take advantage of the favorable springtime wind conditions. Since then, the event has grown to entertain around 3000 kite flyers and visitors.
Friday night kites
As soon as the sun goes down on Friday, LED-lighted kites are launched by professional and amateur kitefliers. The weaving, dancing lights in the dark sky awaken senses of awe, magic, and anticipation for the high-flying colors to be seen on Saturday and Sunday.
The professional kite flyers, many known personally to Farmer, are invited to fly the huge kites and display their unique kites and technical flying skills. Professional kitefliers are required to handle the big display kites for their vast amounts of knowledge about high winds, lifting, and anchoring techniques, and safety practices. The pros also participate in activities throughout the weekend, flying and controlling multiple-lined kites and performing acrobatic, synchronized demonstrations.
Professional kitefliers? Yep! There is such a thing! Most are members of the American Kitefliers Association, which holds events, competitions, and workshops to help kitefliers develop the advanced skills needed to reach professional status.
Bring your kites!
Personal non-professional kites are welcome! The first 500 kids to arrive on Saturday also get a free kite provided by the Central Coast Funds for Children. Along with enjoying some of the best kite-flying wind in the world, learn to make your own kites, pick up some professional kite-flying tips, or just sit back on the sand and enjoy watching the kites at this free and fun family event.
The Morro Bay Kite Festival is held on the beach at 101 Coleman Drive, near Morro Rock. Dates are Friday night April 25, and Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27. For hours and more information, visit morrobaykitefestival.com.
—By Jackie Iddings
