ATLANTIC COAST KITE FESTIVAL

Atlantic Coast Kite Festival presented by The Oceanfront Inn

Event Date:
May 1, 2009 - May 3, 2009
Location:
17th Street Park
On the beach between 16th and 18th Streets
Courthouse Galleries in Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Park
A collaboration between the Courthouse Galleries in Portsmouth and the Beachevents program, the Atlantic Coast Kite Festival is an exciting weekend of high-flying kites and fun for families, participants, and spectators of all ages!

Sponsors:

Kite fliers and spectators of all ages will experience a visual feast at the 5th Annual Atlantic Coast Kite Festival Friday-Sunday, May 1-3, 2009! Held in two locations, this popular event features a variety of activities appropriate for all ages and all levels of kite aficionados. “I Dreamed I Could Fly” is the theme that participants will explore in the first-ever Atlantic Coast Kite Festival “Best Kite Contest.”

Schedule of activities:
Kick-off Party - Friday, May 1, 2009 – 5:00pm-10:00pm at the Courthouse Galleries (Corner of Court and High Streets in Portsmouth). Meet kite fliers from across the country, enjoy refreshments, and tour the Courthouse Galleries current exhibit for free. Lewis McGehee, local acoustic guitar entertainer, will perform. Free to the public.

Kite Festival in Virginia Beach – Saturday, May 2, 2009 – 10:00am-5:00pm on the beach at 17th Street and in the 17th Street Park. Features the Best Kite Contest. In addition, families are invited to participate in kite building workshops led by Archie Stewart of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Archie is a member of: American Kitefliers Association (AKA) www.aka.kites.org; Past Board Member and Chairman of Festivals and Competitions for Kites Over New England (KONE) www.kone.org; the regional kite club of New England. He is also a member of ConnectiKiters kite club, headquartered in Norwalk, CT and a member and competitor of the Eastern League Flyers Association. These workshops (for a nominal fee) include kite materials and cover the aerodynamics of kite flying and kite safety.

American Kite Association members from throughout the Southeast will present kite demonstrations, perform kite routines to music, and fly giant kites (up to 80 feet long) that include an octopus kite! Kite vendors will be on site to sell various kinds of kites. Admission to the kite festival is free. There is a nominal charge for the kite building workshop led by Archie Stewart.

Kite Festival in Portsmouth – Sunday, May 3, 2009 – 10:00am-5:00pm at City Park in Portsmouth (140 City Park Avenue). Features the Best Kite Contest. In addition, families are invited to participate in kite building workshops led by Archie Stewart of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. These workshops include kite materials and cover the aerodynamics of kite flying and kite safety. American Kite Association members from throughout the Southeast will present kite demonstrations, perform kite routines to music, and fly giant kites (up to 80 feet long) that include an octopus kite! Kite vendors will be on site to sell various kinds of kites. Admission to the kite festival is free. There is a nominal charge for the kite building workshop led by Archie Stewart.

The Atlantic Coast Kite Festival is sponsored by the Oceanfront Inn, Jackite, New Tech Kites, HQ Kites, the Courthouse Galleries, the City of Virginia Beach, and Integrated Management Group.