SeeCalifornia.com

When March arrives, you’ll see the kites flying high at California’s beaches. Exceptional winds provide the lift required to make the box shapes, dragons, snakes, butterflies and bees on strings dance. While several notable California kite festivals have already happened this year (Gujarati Society of Southern California Uttarayan in Cerritos, and Cry Los Angeles Kite Festival,) there are many events ramping up.

From Kite Party in Huntington Beach to Kite Festivals in Redondo Beach, Livingston, San Diego’s Ocean Beach, Bodega Bay, Fremont, Menlo Park and Santa Maria, there’s simple pleasure in constructing kites and watching them fly. Just like the Chinese first learned the art of kite making using silk or paper (likely dating back to 5 BC,) today’s kite builders hone their skills by experimenting with materials and shapes to send their creations soaring into air space.

While the earliest kites were cleverly used for measuring distances, testing the wind, lifting men, communications and signaling, kite flying today is mostly fun entertainment that may include lessons about the weather and aerodynamics.

“Kalifornia” Kids ‘N Kites

• HUNTINGTON BEACH: Kite Party March 9-10, 2019
• REDONDO BEACH: Festival of the Kite March 10
• CHICO: Chico Kite Day March 24
• LIVINGSTON: Livingston Kite Festival April 7
• SANTA BARBARA: Color the Wind Kite Festival April 14
• SANTA MARIA: Santa Maria Family Kite Festival April 14
• MORRO BAY: Morro Bay Kite Festival April 26-28
• MENLO PARK: Kite Day May 4
• BODEGA BAY: Castles & Kites Festival May 18
• FREMONT: Kids & Kites Festival May 18
• SAN DIEGO: Ocean Beach Kite Festival May 18
• SAN RAMON: Art & Wind Festival May 26-27
• SANTA MONICA: Otis Kite Festival June 15