The Granddaddy of all kite festivals in North America, the Long Beach kite festival is a whole week of kites, kites, kites. Officially known as the 2006 Washington State International Kite Festival, it is seven full days of kite flying starting Monday Aug. 21 and terminating around 4 PM the following Sunday. For example:

Monday was Kite Trains, arches and multiline stacks, and fighter kites.

Tuesday team day, tubes, rokkaku battles, and Ben Franklin events.

Wednesday Paint Me Patriotic along with Senior fly, fighters, rokkakus and indoor kites at night,

Thursday Handcrafted Competition, quilted kites, more fighters, and more indoor,

Friday included mass ascensions, sport kites, more fighter kites, Ft. Worden made kite fly, and the highlight of the day. The I-quad Revolution team wowed the crowd with synchronized flight of 6 Quads. It was amazing. John Baressi and crew barely had time to work out the moves together the night before. It was so incredible to watch. And they flew at days end in high wind. All this followed by the cocktail party at the World Kite Museum, and the unveiling of the Hall of Fame.

Early in the week there was a shortage of wind. By Thursday the wind picked up to 7 miles per hour with some sun. Friday was overcast and foggy mist all day. The wind whipped up to 25 mph, moving sand and blowing over tents in higher gusts. Most kites and even the giant inflatables disappeared into the mist most of the day. The evening lighted night fly was mostly not, and the fireworks show was eerie in the mist. You heard them more than saw them.

But Saturday, although starting out misty, was a nice day with good wind. More fighter kites, sport kite competition, mass ascensions, rokkaku challenges, teddy bear drop, cody fly, parade of colors (feather flags) and more quad line fun. A world record was set with 17 giant wind spinners, each 40 plus feet across. Then the awards and auction, and indoor fly. Ending in fireworks on the beach.

Sunday was the completion of the sport kites, hot tricks, and the memorial fly. Weather was good, and the week ended with lots of tired and windblown folks. Attendance was good., but the attendance down a bit each year. There are limited accommodations, with some folks staying up and down the peninsula.

For me the highlights were people. Wednesday night was the Washington Kite fliers Association annual Spaghetti Feed and auction at the Grange. Thursday night was the Associated Oregon Kiters pot luck / barbecue and auction at the Illwaco Heritage Center. Both were well attended and loads of fun. We met such great people, all interested in kites.

All in all this is a great “kite circus”. There were 5 flying fields, each 400 ft by 400 ft. That makes over 2000 linear feet of flying fields, plus a half mile of giant inflatables at one end, and power kites and buggies at the other. And then there is the 1/4 mile of vendor tents with food, kites, windsocks, and more. And if you have not walked enough over the 7 days, there is the 1/2 mile long boardwalk along the edge of the dunes and the beach, and the not to be missed tour of the World Kite Museum, and evening strolls by shops in Long Beach.

How to best enjoy this festival. Pick out what portion of the week you want to attend. Even serious kiters often go for only part of the week. Make reservations early, months early. Consider staying as far away as Astoria, 20 minuets south, or Ocean Park to the north. Go early to the beach, like 9 AM, to get good parking, or park away from the area and take the shuttle trolley. Bring a folding chair, a sun tent or windbreak, and suncreen. And plan on a couple days of possible rain or heavy mist, so put an umbrella in your car. You can also drive down onto the beach, if you get there before 9 AM. But you can’t leave until after 5. This is reserved for those who put up Easy Ups and participate in the flys. Go for Saturday or Sunday if you can’t get vacation time for the weekdays. Either way, you should attend part of if not all of this Granddaddy of all kite festivals.

Mike Hale, Kiteguy@kitestoo.com