Blossom Kite Festival

Smithsonian Kite Festival / Blossom Kite Festival
Genre kites
Location(s) Washington, D.C.
Years active 1967—
Website
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

The Blossom Kite Festival, formerly the Smithsonian Kite Festival, is an annual kite event usually held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in late March during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The 2015 kite festival is scheduled to take place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 28.[1]

Organization

The festival was founded in 1967 by aviation pioneer Paul E. Garber, also founder of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM).[2] Until 2010, the Smithsonian Associates, the cultural, educational, and membership division of the Smithsonian Institution organized and sponsored the festival. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., began producing the festival in 2011 and renamed the event to the "Blossom Kite Festival".[3]

Past Festivals

The 2014 kite festival was originally scheduled to take place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 29.[4] However, the event's organizers subsequently postponed the event to Sunday, March 30, and then cancelled it on that day because of inclement weather.[5]

A girl flies a kite at the 2013 Blossom Kite Festival.

The 2013 kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 30.[6]

The 2012 kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 31.[7][8]

The first Blossom Kite Festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Sunday, April 10, 2011, following a postponent from March 27 because of forecasted inclement weather.[9]

The 44th Smithsonian Kite Festival, which the Smithsonian Associates and the NASM presented, took place on Saturday, March 27, 2010. The theme was "CRAFTed for Flight". Events included the competitive Rokkaku Battle, Hot Tricks Showdown and Ground Display. The festival also featured a kitemaking competition that was open to any hand-made kite. Adult competitors and a team of judges ranging from kitemaking experts to local celebrities to museum staff chose the winners of awards in each category. Kitemakers were grouped according to experience and age: kitemaker, master kitemaker, age 11 and under, age 12–15. The event also encouraged non-competitors to make and fly kites on the Washington Monument grounds.[10]

The 43rd Smithsonian Kite Festival was held on Saturday, March 28, 2009, on the Washington Monument grounds. The theme of the festival was "Going Green". Participants were encouraged to create environmentally and thematically “green” kites from renewable resources such as bamboo and recyclable goods such as paper and cloth. Organizers expected to distribute 1,000 free kites to children on a first come, first served basis.[11]

The 42nd Smithsonian Kite Festival was held on Saturday, March 29, 2008, on the National Mall. The festival, which was tied to the 2008 Summer Olympics to be held in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008, highlighted the art and history of Chinese kites. The Smithsonian stated that the Chinese introduced the first kites more than 2,000 years ago. According to the Smithsonian, the Chinese first used kites in military affairs for estimating distances and carrying propaganda leaflets, but the kites' influence gradually spread to Western countries to become what the Smithsonian called a “familiar artistic and cultural icon.” The Smithsonian stated that kites continue to play an important role in China.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Blossom Kite Festival: March 28, 2015". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  2. ↑ "Smithsonian Kite Festival". DCpages. DCpages.com. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  3. ↑ "Blossom Kite Festival Moves to Sunday of Opening Weekend". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
  4. ↑ "Blossom Kite Festival: March 29, 2014". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  5. ↑ "Blossom Kite Festival: March 30, 2014". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  6. ↑ "Blossom Kite Festival: March 30, 2013". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
  7. ↑ "Blossom Kite Festival: March 31, 2012". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
  8. ↑ "Kites of many colors". PostLocal. The Washington Post. 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  9. ↑ (1) Johnson, Rebecca (2011-03-25). "Cherry Blossom Kite Festival Postponed". We Love DC: Your Life Beyond The Capitol. Archived from the original on 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
    (2) "New Date For Blossom Kite Festival - Sunday, April 10". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. 2011-03-26. Archived from the original on 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
    (3) "Blossom Kite Festival presented by the National Cherry Blossom Festival: April 10, 2011". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on 2011-06-01. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
  10. ↑ "Awards". 44th Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival. The Smithsonian Associates. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  11. ↑ "The 43rd Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival Celebrates the Environment by Going Green". News Releases. Newsdesk: Newsroom of the Smithsonian Institution. 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  12. ↑ Green, Eric (2008-04-17). "Kite-Flying Contest Part of U.S.-China Friendship Series:Smithsonian Institution program tied to 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing". America.gov. United States Department of State. Retrieved 2010-03-01.

Gallery

External links

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