Blossom Kite Festival

Mar 30, 2013
SaturdayMar302013

Time: 10 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: Washington Monument grounds – Constitution Avenue & 17th Street, NW (Map)
Cost: FREE
For info on lost or missing items recovered at the Kite Festival, contact ncbf@downtowndc.org.

Spring is in the air – literally!

The third annual Blossom Kite Festival presented by the National Cherry Blossom Festival showcases the creativity of kite makers and skill of kite fliers from across the US and other countries through a variety of competitions and demonstrations including the popular Hot Tricks Showdown and the Rokkaku Battle. Bring your own kites or children can make a kite at an activity station (while supplies last) to fly on the Public Field.

The Blossom Kite Festival includes 5 areas to enjoy: the Competition & Demonstration Field, Family Field, Kite Club Display Area, Activity Tents, and Public Field. To view a map of the areas, click here.

Blossom Kite Festival Schedule

PLEASE NOTE: DEPENDING ON WIND AND WEATHER, SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

  • 10:00 AM            Opening Remarks, National Anthem, Launch the Centennial Kite Arch and Blossom                             Kite

Competition Field

  • 10:15 AM – 11:00 AM             Kite Ballets & Demonstrations
  • 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM               Adult Kite Makers Competition
  • 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM                 Demonstration: Kite Aquarium
  • 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM                 Hot Tricks Showdown
  • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM                 Rokkaku Battle
  • 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM                 Kite Arch & Awards

 Family Field

  • 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM            Youth Kite Makers Practice Fly
  • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM            Youth Kite Makers Competition
  • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM              Learn to Fly
  • 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM                Mini Rokkaku Challenge
  • 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM                Bol Races
  • 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM                Family Open Fly & Kite Lessons

Kite Ballets
Master kite fliers synchronize the movement of their kites into fancy formations and figures to music.

Kite Demonstrations
Marvel at a variety of styles, shapes, colors and sizes of kites during the “Kite Aquarium” and International Kite Demonstrations. Be on the lookout for sea creature kites and a showcase of small Indian fighter kites during the demonstration time slots.

Kite Club Display Area
Master kite fliers and kite makers will show off their prized kites throughout the day. Feel free to approach the perimeter of the area to ask questions, but please leave the interior of the roped field for the pros!

Public Field
All attendees are welcome to fly kites on the Blossom Kite Festival’s Public Field, which requires no registration.

COMPETITIONS

To fly a kite in the Kite Makers Competition, Hot Tricks Showdown, Mini Rokkaku Challenge or Rokkaku Battle, kite makers, kite fliers and kite clubs must register at the Registration Tent on the day of the event. Registration is free of charge. Please note: several competitions for youth require no previous kite experience.
Kite Makers Competition Registration Hours:

  • Adult Kite Makers Competition             10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Youth Kite Makers Competition             10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Registration for all other competitions will remain open until spaces are filled or approximately 30 minutes before the competition begins. Be sure to arrive early to register!

Rokkaku Battle (Rules)
Competition & Demonstration Field
The rokkaku is a hexagonal shaped fighter kite commonly flown in Japan and now in many other parts of the world. In the Battle, teams of kite fliers compete to “cut” or “ground” opposing kites.

Mini Rokkaku Challenge (Rules)
Family Field
Youth are invited to try their hand at flying a small version of the rokkaku kite flown during the Rokkaku Battle. Participants will be coached by seasoned kite fliers 30 minutes prior to the start of the competition, so prior experience is not necessary!

Kite Makers Competitions supported by Turkish Airlines (Competition Details)
Experienced and first-time kite makers will compete to win awards in youth and adult categories. During the competition you may see kites celebrating cultural heritage, international kite traditions and international friendship to address this year’s suggested theme of “Spring Around the World.”

New this year: Youth (11 & Under and 12-15) may enter a Group Entry or a Kit/Workshop Kite and Adults categories are also expanded.

Kite Maker Competition Prizes
The Grand Prize for the Adult Kite Makers Competition is two economy class roundtrip tickets from Dulles International Airport to any of the more than 200 destinations where Turkish Airlines flies (via Istanbul).

*Tickets must be issued by June 15, 2013 for travel through April 1, 2014. Travel is not permitted during the months of June, July, and August or from December 15-31.

Winners of all other categories will receive an award, and other small prizes will be given to youth.

For more information and prize information refer to the Kite Makers Competition Details & Kite Making Resources here, or the Blossom Kite Festival Kite Makers Competition Rules, here.

FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES

Kite Making with the West Indian-American Kite Association (WIAKA)
Children make a kite to fly on the Blossom Kite Festival’s Public Field (while supplies last).

National Cherry Blossom Festival Goodwill Ambassadors
Activity details to be announced soon!

Wind Socks with National Aquarium – Washington, DC
The sky and water meet through this activity as children create and decorate a wind sock.

Kite Doctor
Visit the Kite Doctor to repair a damaged or broken kite.

Kite Flying Lessons
Family Field
Get advice from an experienced kite flier on how to make your kite soar.

Getting There

METRO: Smithsonian, Orange/Blue lines. Use Trip Planner.

Contact Information

For info on lost or missing items recovered at the Kite Festival, contact ncbf@downtowndc.org.
P: 877.44.BLOOM (877.442.5666)
ncbf@downtowndc.org

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