On July 17th and 18th the skies of Brookings-Harbor will be filled with an array of colorful kites during the 18th Annual Southern Oregon Kite Festival. This free event, held at the Port of Brookings-Harbor, is a very unique festival in comparison to other kite festivals in the United States as the kite flyers attend by “invitation only.” This festival is truly a “one of a kind event” and has become the model to which other festival organizers throughout the country aspire.
Nationally and internationally renowned kite pilots will be on hand to entertain the crowds with their fantastic aerials choreographed to music. Returning this year is fan favorite, John Barresi, who, in addition to being a member of the team iQuad, will perform individual routines. Team iQuad will be performing as a six-member team flying their multi-directional Revolution kites. The gigantic kites of Rod and Cindy Thrall will amaze the crowds. Rokkaku specialist Ronda Brewer will be on hand as well as national champion Ron Despojado. David and Susan Gomberg will feature their big “show kites.” These are just a few of more than twenty-five kite flyers and kite makers who will continually rotate their skills over the two days of the Southern Oregon Kite Festival.
A free Children’s Kite Building Workshop for kids ages 3 and up will be held each day of the kite festival from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The kite festival’s weekend activities will also feature food and beverage vendors as well as arts and crafts booths for the enjoyment of the attendees.
Spectators are invited to set up their chairs or blankets along side the kite field. Parking will be available in the large parking lot near the Chamber of Commerce building, located on Lower Harbor Road. Curry Transportation will provide a free shuttle to and from the kite festival every 15 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – a less than 5-minute trip from the parking lot to the kite flying field.
The Southern Oregon Kite Festival committee invites you to join the weekend’s festivities and enjoy the kites and amazing flights. For additional information, visit the festival’s web site at www.sokf.org.
