Kites will be flying high in the Parksville Community Park this weekend, very high.
It’s the sixth annual international Kite Festival, presented by the Parksville Lions Club, and club member Clarence Esslinger said some of them may reach heights of 530 meters.
“We’re going to have to notify KD Air,” he joked, “Look out for a kite.”
The featured flier this year is multiple kite world champion Ray Bethell of Vancouver. Esslinger said this world traveller has yet to come to the Parksville festival, but he’s delighted to be coming this year.
Brent Winterbottom from Nanaimo will fly 25 kites at once and the Island Quad Team from Victoria will perform to music.
The ever popular Teddy Bear Drop will also take place over the two day festival, where children’s names will be drawn to catch a parachuting bear dropped from a large kite. This event happens at noon both days and children can sign up for a chance to win between 10 a.m. and noon.
Kids can also make their own kites at the event while adults can peruse over 26 craft vendors and 12 food vendors.
The Kite Festival is July 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
