A colourful display at Portsmouth International Kite Festival (Photo: The Kite Society)
When: 23rd – 25th August 2014, 10am – 5pm
Where: Southsea Common, Southsea, Hampshire
£: Free
What is it?
Portsmouth International Kite Festival takes place over the bank holiday weekend, 23rd to 25th August 2014, on Southsea Common. The festival is free to attend and is organised by Portsmouth City Council and The Kite Society of Great Britain. Over one hundred kite fliers from 4 continents are expected to travel to the event.
The Portsmouth International Kite Festival will be based on Southsea common overlooking the Solent, with wide open spaces and good winds, allowing kite fliers to show off their creations. This year the festival is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the First World War, with kite designs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A number of specialist historic kite makers from the UK and Europe will be displaying both replica and original kites from this period. As well as seeing these unique kites fly there will be the chance to see them up close and admire their craftsmanship in the exhibition area.
Smurfs, salamanders and more at the festival (Photo: The Kite Society)
There will be new kite fliers attending this year’s festival from Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Italy. One special guest is Oscar, the world’s largest Teddy Bear kite, measuring over 90ft in length. There will be colourful demonstrations of kites including swarms of snakes, frogs, lizards, whales, jesters, fish, salamanders and much more.
Visitors can enjoying seeing single line kites, intricately appliquéd or painted with magnificent designs, as well as cellular kites and 3D soft kites in a magical range of shapes and sizes. The kites will all be skillfully flown, performing tricks and routines to music. Many of these expert kite fliers have been coming to the kite festival for years and they always aim to put on their best display of beautiful kites.
Alongside the flying displays there will be a host of other activities for families. These will include a craft tent, free children’s kite workshop and a fun fair along with local amusements. There will be kite traders providing visitors with a wide range of kites, from colourful branded kites for children or the young at heart to power kites for the more adventurous. There will also be a Wind Gallery featuring Aeolian instruments which use the wind to produce beautiful sounds and music.
More info: www.portsmouthkitefestival.org.uk