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Colorful Skies Predicted For Washington State International Kite Festival Being Held On The Long Beach Peninsula From August 18 Through 24, 2008 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Potential Calendar Item CONTACT: Carol Zahorsky OR Una Boyle LONG BEACH, Wash. – July 1, 2008 – Fair winds prevailing, a sky filled with colorful kites is forecast for the Washington State International Kite Festival, which will take place along the Bolstad Avenue beach approach, boardwalk and beach in Long Beach, from August 18 through 24, 2008. The weeklong festival will see the return of compelling past attractions – fighter kites, kite ballet, fireworks, exhibitions, the magical lighted night fly, and more. The festival has scheduled four mass ascensions, each promising a spectacular exhibit of 250 kites in the air at one time. Indoor kite flying utilizing ultra-light kites will be added at Long Beach Elementary School, just a few blocks from the beach. While spectators will find ample visual attractions, kite enthusiasts of all ages will be invited to participate in kite building, flying competitions and hands-on activities throughout the festival. This year’s featured flyer promises to add a unique blend of art and ingenuity to the week’s colorful skies. Olivier Reymond, a Swiss biologist, will be flying his signature portrait kites. First influenced by the two American artists, Roy Lichtenstein and Patrick Nagel, he has since developed his own style of flying portraits with interesting and expressive faces and eyes. His models are principally taken from comics or advertisements. The festival, which began as a humble gathering of nine participants and one kite team, has grown into one of the largest kite festivals in North America, enticing thousands of visitors from around the world to share their passion for kite flying. The first kite festival in 1981 still holds the Guinness record for keeping a kite in the air for the longest time – 180 hours. The team from Edmunds Community College set that record. In 1983, the festival began attracting an international audience with flyers from Japan and now sees flyers from Australia, Italy, England, Indonesia, New Zealand, India, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Brazil, China, and other far-reaching places. For detailed Kite Festival events, featured flyer biographies, and a full schedule of activities, please access www.kitefestival.com. With wide sandy beaches and coastal breezes, Long Beach has been called the Kite Capital of the U.S. Kite shops, resident kite flyers, and the beloved World Kite Museum & Hall of Fame provide enjoyment for kite enthusiasts and first-time flyers alike. In addition to the town of Long Beach, the Long Beach Peninsula boasts a string of coastal communities with award-winning restaurants, unique accommodations, shops, and galleries. Attractions include national and state parks, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, two historic lighthouses, an eight-mile coastal bike and pedestrian trail, the Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge, one-of-a-kind museums and a 20 plus mile stretch of public beach. For event and visitor information, please call the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau toll-free at 1-800-451-2542 or access www.funbeach.com. # # # NOTE: For downloadable images of the Kite Festival for editorial use, please contact Carol at 360.446.3645 or carol-at-zahorskypr.com or go to http://funbeach.com/pressroom. Thank you.
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