Blossom Kite Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smithsonian Kite Festival / Blossom Kite Festival |
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|---|---|
| Genre | kites |
| Location(s) | Washington, D.C. |
| Years active | 1967–2019, 2022– |
| Website | http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org |
The Blossom Kite Festival is a super fun yearly event where people fly all kinds of kites! It used to be called the Smithsonian Kite Festival. This festival usually happens in late March in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall. It's part of the bigger National Cherry Blossom Festival. Since 2020, the festival has been paused because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Who Started the Kite Festival?
The festival began in 1967. It was started by Paul E. Garber, who loved flying things! He was the very first person in charge of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM).
For many years, until 2010, the Smithsonian Institution helped organize the festival. Then, in 2011, the group that runs the National Cherry Blossom Festival took over. They changed the name to the "Blossom Kite Festival."
Exciting Moments from Past Festivals
The very first kite festival was held on March 25, 1967. It was called the Smithsonian Kite Carnival back then. People could enter contests with kites they made themselves or ones they bought. There were even workshops where you could learn to make kites! Paul Garber himself led some of these workshops.
When Kites Were Against the Law
Believe it or not, there was an old law from 1892 that said you couldn't fly kites, balloons, or parachutes in Washington, D.C.! Because of this, the festival couldn't get a permit in 1970. Some people protested by flying kites anyway and were arrested.
Since they couldn't have the festival in D.C., they moved it to Fort Washington Park in Maryland that year. Luckily, the law was changed soon after. This meant the kite festival could come back to the National Mall!
Celebrating Chinese Kites in 2008
The 2008 festival happened on March 29. It celebrated the art and history of Chinese kites. The Smithsonian shared that the Chinese invented kites over 2,000 years ago! They first used kites for military purposes, like guessing distances. But over time, kites became a beautiful art form and a cultural symbol around the world.
Going Green with Kites in 2009
On March 28, 2009, the festival's theme was "Going Green." People were asked to make kites using earth-friendly materials. Things like bamboo, paper, and cloth were encouraged. The organizers even gave away 1,000 free kites to kids that day!
Creative Kites in 2010
The 2010 festival was called "CRAFTed for Flight." It had cool events like the Rokkaku Battle, where people flew special fighting kites. There was also a "Hot Tricks Showdown" and a display of kites on the ground.
A big part of the festival was the kitemaking competition. People of all ages could enter their handmade kites. Judges, including kite experts and local celebrities, picked the winners. There were different age groups, including kids aged 11 and under, and 12–15. Even if you didn't compete, everyone was welcome to fly their kites!
Recent Festivals
The first festival under the new name, Blossom Kite Festival, took place on April 10, 2011. It was supposed to be earlier but was moved because of bad weather.
The festival continued to be held on the Washington Monument grounds in the following years:
- March 31, 2012
- March 30, 2013
- March 28, 2015
- April 2, 2016 (They reminded everyone that drones were not allowed!)
- April 1, 2017
- March 31, 2018
- March 30, 2019
The 2014 festival was canceled due to heavy rain. Since 2020, all festivals have been paused because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Images for kids
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Smithsonian Kite Festival, March 27, 2010
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Smithsonian Kite Festival, March 27, 2010
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Smithsonian Kite Festival, March 27, 2010
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Blossom Kite Festival, March 31, 2012
