Kite Festival

The following extract is from http://kitefestival.org/ about the 44th Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival.

With the sun shining in a cloudless sky, Sat., March 27 proved to be a perfect day to go fly a kite—on the National Mall. Throngs of enthusiastic kite flyers (and watchers) descended on the Washington Monument grounds for the 44th annual Smithsonian Kite Festival to enjoy a day of kite competition and craft.

The festival’s theme--CRAFTed for Flight—was a celebration of the art and joy of kite-making and kite-flying. Family-oriented activity tents helped guide festivalgoers through the intricacies of kite-making and the craft of getting their creations to fly. Among the sponsors of this year’s tents were The Drachen Foundation, West Indian American Kiters Association, the National Aquarium, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival. For those who preferred to fly pre-made kites, our lead sponsor, the Smithsonian Women’s Committee, graciously sponsored a giveaway of 1,000 mini-kites to children at the festival. There was also a display of dozens of handmade kites that were a tribute to craftsmanship.

Hundreds of kite makers of all ages came out to display and fly their homemade beauties and enter them into the various competitions. Children entered the contest in one of two age groups: 11 and under or 12 to 15. Amateur kite makers were given a chance to showcase and fly their homemade creations while judges from the Smithsonian Kite Committee chose the best of each category. Noteworthy contestants were honored with special-recognition awards including most artistic, most humorous, and most patriotic. Additionally, kite flyers, participants, and spectators were invited to vote for their favorite kites throughout the day, and the winner was named the Peoples’ Choice for 2010.