Coastal Breezes Assure A Successful Launch Of Washington State International Kite Festival On Aug. 16, 2010

LONG BEACH, Wash. – Kites of all shapes, colors and sizes will fill the skies along the Long Beach boardwalk during the well-treasured Washington State International Kite Festival, taking place from August 16 through 22, 2010. This free, weeklong summer festival promises spectacular displays, thrilling competitions, graceful choreographed kite ballets, and more. Highlights include a magical, lighted night fly and mass ascensions of over 250 kites.

Featured flyers for 2010 are the Windjammers International Kite Team of Michigan (http://www.windjammerskiteteam.com/Windjammers_Kite_Team/Contact.html), known for spectacular train kite performances using their signature flag stacks, and Bernhard Dingwerth of Germany (http://www.DrachenBernhard.de), internationally recognized for his giant, three-dimensional kites including fierce dragons, fanciful creatures and more.

Beyond kite watching, kite enthusiasts of all ages are invited to participate in kite building, flying lessons and friendly competitions, as well as hands-on activities, throughout the festival.

The festival, which began as a humble gathering of nine participants and one kite team, has grown into one of the largest kite festivals in North America, enticing thousands of visitors from around the world who share a passion for kite flying. The first kite festival in 1981 still holds the Guinness record for keeping a kite in the air for the longest time – 180 hours. The team from Edmunds Community College set that record. In 1983, the festival began attracting an international audience with flyers from Japan and now sees flyers from Australia, Italy, England, Indonesia, New Zealand, India, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Brazil, China, and other far-reaching places. For detailed Kite Festival events and a full schedule of activities, please access www.kitefestival.com.

Long Beach has been called the ‘Kite Capital of the U.S.’ Kite shops, resident kite flyers, and the beloved World Kite Museum & Hall of Fame provide enjoyment for kite enthusiasts and first-time flyers alike. In addition to the town of Long Beach, the Long Beach Peninsula boasts a string of coastal communities with satisfying restaurants, comfortable accommodations, unique shops, and fine art galleries. Attractions include national and state parks, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, two historic lighthouses, an eight-mile paved coastal bike and pedestrian trail, the Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge, one-of-a-kind museums, and a 26-mile span of wide, sandy, public beach. For event and visitor information, please call the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau toll-free at 1-800-451-2542 or visit www.funbeach.com.

Nikki

Nikki is a writer and editor for Do It Yourself RV, RV LIFE, and Camper Report. She is based on the Oregon Coast and has traveled all over the Pacific Northwest.