Free Family Kite Festival from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Date: April 16
Time: 12-4pm
Location: Rotary Centennial Park
Central Coast residents of all ages will send hundreds of brightly colored kites soaring into the sky Saturday, April 16, at the annual Free Family Kite Festival. More than 2,000 people are expected to attend this highly anticipated community event, which will run from noon to 4 p.m. at Rotary Centennial Park, 2625 S. College Drive, in Santa Maria.
Presented by the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum, the Santa Maria Recreation & Parks Department and the Santa Maria Public Airport, the Kite Festival will feature professional kite-flying demonstrations, contests, food, vendors and music. Kite Ambassadors from the American Kitefliers Association will be on hand to help families and to ensure smooth flying. There will also be a kite “hospital” at the park for kites that need first aid.
Children of all ages will get to chase after kite tails and try their luck at the “Running of the Bols” race, during which contestants strapped to parachute-type kites race each other in an epic demonstration of how energy, inertia and personal grit come together for some wild family fun. Children can also pick up one of our Blowin in the Wind activity bags, while supplies last and take a bit of the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum home with them.
The Kite Festival is made possible by our presenting sponsor, the Santa Maria Public Airport, and community sponsors Allan Hancock College, Boys & Girls Club of the Mid-Central Coast, Community Bank of Santa Maria, KSBY, Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Santa Maria Sun, and others.
Schedule of Events: All scheduled events are “wind dependent.” Times are approximate and subject to change at any time due to weather and other considerations.
MUSIC will play throughout the day thanks to Benz Jamz
- 12:00 Let’s Go Fly A Kite! Opening Ceremony.
- 01:30 Guest Flyer Interviews.
- 02:30 “Running of the Bol’s!” – Not for the feint of heart. Our next contest will literally be a Kite “Drag Race”. Contestants will be strapped in and race each other down the field for bragging rights – Field 1.
- 04:00 Event Concludes – The City gets their park back.
SAFETY NOTES:
When flying your kites during the festival, please fly safely and be considerate of other kite flyers and non-flyers alike.
Please Obey All Directions Given by Festival Organizers and Law Enforcement