Go Fly a Kite
Most of us were probably introduced to kites even before grade school.
That we still reflect on our kite flying days as one of our favorite childhood memories is testimony to their power of attraction. I still recall the pull of the string of my first box kite, plus the joy I felt as it soared above the rooftops. I also remember the heartbreak of watching it get hung up in a tree too tall to climb. Fortunately, many people carried their passion for kites into their adult life and have improved upon the simple designs I remember from my childhood.
Kite flying has been around for 2-3000 years with earliest records being from China. When someone mentions a kite, most of us think of small either paper or nylon versions. The five most common types of kites are: diamond kites, box kites, winged kites, sled kites, and power kites. Over the years they have had applications in sport, military, and even science. Examples of these uses include Ben Franklin using a kite to experiment with electricity, the Wright Brothers first flying their airplane as a kite, military lookouts flying in a kite to get better distance views, and flaming kites flown with military application.
Kite boarding has become popular in windy areas. Kites have even been adapted to assist travel over ice. Kite battles are fought around the world and are quite popular. In a Japan kite battle, the last kite flying is the winner. Kiting has even spread to the internet, where new kite games are continuously added to its game menu.
Entry level kite flying is relatively inexpensive. Simple kites can be purchased for under ten dollars but you will need roughly another seven dollars for string. Fair warning: Once you visit online sites and see the variety and interesting shapes available, your entry level cost is bound to go up.
Locally you will see kites flown on beaches from Golden Gardens to Gasworks Park but they really get popular when you travel to the wide-open stretches of ocean beaches. It is rare that I don’t see several kites flying when I visit Westport or Ocean Shores to try my luck at razor clamming during good weather.
Kite Festivals
Kite celebrations are popular across our country with kite festivals held in at least 20 states from Texas to New England. It just takes a quick visit to the internet to start planning your next kite viewing vacation. Nearby festivals include Lincoln City “Zoom” June 22-23 & Cannon Beach (Rockaway Beach) August 17-19. We are not the only country that celebrates kites either as India, China, Japan and several other countries all have celebrations, some even declaring their festivals legal holidays.
Washington State International Kite Festival
Likely the most popular kite event in our state is the week-long kite extravaganza, known as the “Washington State International Kite Festival”. It is held annually at Long Beach during the third full week of August. The event includes flying competitions and even kite workshops and a trip to the beach will dazzle you with both the number and quality of unique kites being flown. Long Beach is also home of the World Kite Museum and has been called Kite Capitol of the United States. I suspect that if you are a kite enthusiast and visit photo galleries of past events on the internet, your next vacation may be this summer in Long Beach. It amazes me that some kites, with their complexity and size, can fly. Linda and I hope to see you there this year.
