A colourful display at Portsmouth International Kite Festival (Photo: The Kite Society)
When: 12th & 13th August 2017, 10am – 5pm
Where: Southsea Common, Southsea, Hampshire
£: Free
What is it?
This year’s Portsmouth International Kite Festival will take place on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th August, on Southsea Common.
It is the 26th year the event has taken place and this year’s theme is ‘The Seven Continents’. The festival hope to have kites and kite fliers from six of the continents. Countries expected to attend are China, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, North and South America, as well as countries across Europe. Plus, of course, kite fliers from Great Britain.
The festival is free to attend and will have demonstrations of the art of kite flying, and kite making reflecting the tradition of kites around the world, with many kites in the sky and on the ground for visitors to enjoy.
Head to Southsea Common and watch the displays (Photo: The Kite Society)
Kites will include single line kites which are intricately appliquéd or painted with designs, cellular kites, and 3D soft kites in a range of shapes and sizes. Visitors will be able to watch the kite flyers performing tricks and routines to music.
Last year, the festival set a world record for the number of Trilobite kites flown together, the record has passed to the USA since, but kite fliers intend to try again at this year’s event.
The festival will kick off with the altitude sprint, where fliers will race against one another to get their kites highest in the sky.
At 1.35pm, the Trilobite kite record attempt will be taking place. The events end on both days with the Japanese fighting kites, and kite teams flying multi-line kites.
Other entertainment during the festival will include specialist kite traders, food traders, craft stalls, and children’s entertainment. A free children’s kite workshop will also be taking place.
Portsmouth Kite Festival is organised by Portsmouth City Council and The Kite Society of Great Britain.
More info: www.portsmouthkitefestival.org.uk