The long-running Festival of Colors kite festival will take place along the coast in Ocean Shores this weekend.
Kite fliers from amateurs to demonstration teams will send their kites aloft, said chairman Rick Beveridge.
“We’re considered probably the second biggest kite fest on the coast behind Long Beach,” Beveridge said in a phone interview. “We’re kind of starting to grow again.”
Beveridge has served as chairman for six years, he said, and has received a good deal of interest for this year’s event as he prepares for a weekend of flying.
“The beach here in Ocean Shores for kite fliers is considered one of the best for kite fliers for two reasons,” Beveridge said, citing the consistent, steady wind, without much unexpected volatility, and the broad area of the beach itself for fliers.
“We have about 50 or 70 dedicated fliers that come every year that are really involved in the kite-making community,” Beveridge said. “The dedicated fliers … probably 60% of what you see flying is a not a commercial kite. It’s a handmade kite.”
Events will begin Friday evening, Beveridge said; the festival will go forward rain or shine. The events will be centered around Damon Approach Road, in northernmost Ocean Shores near the Lighthouse Suites Inn.
“Friday night, we start at dusk with a lighted kite fly,” Beveridge said. “That starts at dusk and we fly for a couple hours.”
The events will go throughout the weekend, from demonstrations by the Quad Squad Northwest, a demonstration team, to mass ascensions of different themes of kites, to kid’s workshops on how to built kites.
“These people travel the world doing demonstration flights,” Beveridge said. “We’re trying to get younger people excited about kite flying.”
Updates and times are available on the Festival of Colors Grays Harbor social media, Beveridge said. The events are free for all.
“Come on down. It’s all free. We don’t charge for any of that stuff,” Beveridge said. “I support the kite festival through sponsorships from local businesses.”
Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or michael.lockett@thedailyworld.com.
