Washington State International Kite Festival

About the Event

Come and be a part of the largest and longest running Kite Festival in North America!

7 Fun Filled Days of Events, Competitions, and Fun for the Entire Family. There is something for everyone!

Schedule of Events:

KIDS Kamps:

Glenda Davenport – Event Coordinator
Registration 9:30-10:30 am, Tent #2
Event hosted everywhere
Judging from 1:30-2:30pm

Join the fun! With your family and friends, set up a camp display that appeals specifically to kids by us- ing current or classical books, movies, songs, and/or nursery rhymes as inspiration for your camp display. You will earn extra points if you have an educational component and/or actual kite making activities tak- ing place at your camp. All participants will receive a special-colored Kids Day pin. There are separate awards for camps that have been set up by kids under the age of 18, so be sure to let the registration people know if you are a “kid” with your own camp. Make sure registration knows where to locate and how to identify your camp.

20th Annual foster grandparents fun fly:

Brian & Debbie David – Event Coordinators
Kids Ages 3-12
Registration 9:15–11:30 am, Tent #2
10:00–11:30 am, Field A

During this event, “Foster Grandparents” are paired up with kids who select a kite, and are given lessons on how to properly fly and care for it. For many, the first memory of flying a kite is associated with an outing with an older family member, often a grandparent.

The Foster Grandparent Fun Fly event was inspired by Mariam Schaffler, who made and gave away kites to kids at the festivals she attended. For the first few years of the event, kites were purchased and given out to the kids. Then, several years ago, Ann Huston started sewing a Fringed Delta Kite that is given away during the fly. As the popularity of the event grew she enlisted the help of James Babst to help sew kites and cut out kite kits that are given to sewers. For 2024 we have 33 kite makers creating the 200 Handcrafted kites needed this year. Kite Kits will be available for those who would like to make kites for the 2025 season. (Contact Brian or Debbie David.)

KIDS: The first 200 kids (ages 3-12) to register for this event will be paired with a “Foster Grandpar- ent”, who will help them pick out, and show them how to safely fly their new kite.

ADULTS: The first 75 to register to be a “Foster Grandparent” will receive a special event pin and share their joy of kite flying with one of the next generation. They will accompany their “Student” for kite selection and then onto the field for flight lessons.

ENTHUSIASTIC FLYER:

During the Foster Grandparents Fun Fly show that you are
an Enthusiastic Flier! Judges will have wide latitude on guessing fliers ages and who are the most Enthusiastic Fliers.

AGE CATEGORIES:

5 and Under
Kids: Ages 6 to 12
Teens: Ages 13 to 20’
Young Adults: Ages 21 to 45
Young Grandparents:
Ages 45-ish to 60-ish
Grandparents: Age 60+

KIDS FOR TODAY EVENTS:

Glenda Davenport — Event Director
Sign-up Sheets in Tent #2 to help the Kite Fairy events throughout the week

Please join WSIKF participants in the effort to make the enjoyment of kiting more accessible to the younger spectator. In 2001, Glenda Kleppin, the WSIKF Kite Fairy, began adding events to the WSIKF program to invite participation of younger kite fliers. In 2019 she decided to retire and passed the WSIKF Kite Fairy duties onto Glenda Davenport.

Special Kids Day pins will be awarded to helpers of the Kite Fairy, Kids Camp participants, Foster Grandparent participants, Enthusiastic Fliers, and Parade of Colors.

Kids Games:

Bob Wendt & Paul Muncrief — Event Coordinators
11:30 am–12:30 pm, Field A

Children do NOT need to register for this event. They should go directly to Field A. A large turnout may result in more age groups being added to this event.

4-9 years – Participants may be coached, but may not receive physical assistance.

10-12 years – May not receive any assistance.

Paint Me Patriotic:

Robert Moar – Event Coordinator
Judging will be from 2:00–4:00 pm
All day event

Fly your red, white, and blues all day, everywhere, starting from 12:00 noon.

TOP KID ON THE BEACH AND SUPER SENIOR:

Glenda Davenport — Event Coordinator
Wednesday through Saturday
Ballots must be cast by 4:00 pm on Saturday
Ballots available Wednesday thru Saturday, 9:30 am–3:00 pm, Tent #2

There are always special kite fliers on the beach who spend a great deal of time and energy at WSIKF doing things to attract kids to the sport of kiting. This award is to acknowledge their efforts.

Fighter Kite, Kids Games, Demos and Lessons:

Wednesday through Saturday
Ballots must be cast by 4:00 pm on Saturday
Ballots will be available Wednesday thru Saturday from 9:30 am–3:00 pm, Tent #2

Glenda Davenport — Event Coordinator

There are always several special kite flyers on the beach who spend a great deal of time and energy at WSIKF doing things to attract kids to the sport of kiting. This award is to acknowledge their efforts.

FIGHTER KITE, KIDS GAMES, DEMOS & LESSONS:

Robert Loera — Event Coordinator
12:30–2:00 pm, Field A

Back by popular demand, Robert will present the “Catch the Tail on the Fighter”, a challenge for young audiences with prizes for those who can catch the tail! There will be two age categories for the compe- tition: 4-9 years old and 10-15 years old.

Robert will show off his skill maneuvering the fighter acrobatic kite while the tail goes up, around and away from the group of challengers. This is Robert’s version of kite piñata!

SENIOR BALLET:

Bob Wendt & Paul Muncrief — Event Coordinators
Registration 10:00 am-1:00 pm, Tent #1
Performance 2:00–3:30 pm, Field

Performers must be age 50+. This competition will be judged on music selection, which should include change of tempo or mood suited to kite flying, smoothness of movements to show control and flow with the music, number and variety of moves, innovation and overall enthusiasm. Each perfor- mance is limited to 5 minutes.

RED, WHITE & BLUE INDIVIDUAL ROKKAKU BATTLE:

Ronda Brewer — Event Coordinator
Registration/Pilots Meeting 3:15 pm, Tent #2
Registration/Pilots Meeting 3:15 pm, Tent #2

This event will follow the same rules as on Tuesday with the following additions:

1 extra point for red, white & blue kites
1 extra point for seniors age 50+
1 extra point for costumes
Gloves are mandatory.

WKA DINNER & AUCTION:

Doors open at 5:00 pm
Dinner at 6:00 pm
$15 per person, pre-sales on the beach

Location: Long Beach Grange, 5715 Sandridge Road

Movie Night:

Nanny McPhee
Starting at sunset (approx. 8:30 pm)
on the beach

A frightfully entertaining nanny takes on the daunting task of reigning in the seven bratty children of a widower. Meanwhile, the widower must find a new wife in order to retain his inheritance. Sponsored by WWest Communications. Check out their new streaming platform, Columbia Coast!

We want to hear from you if you have an event to share or updates to this event.