Kites fly high over Camp Casey

Blustery weather will benefit local kite flyers participating in an annual festival on Central Whidbey Island.

In its 15th year, the Whidbey Island Kite Festival will provide one of the last chances of the year for people to fly their favorite kites on the wind swept fields of the Camp Casey Conference Center Sept. 25 and Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Despite its fall date, the festival has traditionally been blessed with favorable weather.

“Two years ago for the first time it rained,” said Mel Vance, one of the organizers for the festival. “We’ve been pretty lucky as far as rain goes.”

The two-day festival features a variety of high-flying events including a stunt-kite competition, single-line kite competition, a teddy bear drop and kite making for children. On Saturday, Sept. 25, an indoor kite-flying event will take place at the Coupeville High School gymnasium.

Vance said the kite flying festival attracts between 20 and 30 kite flyers and so far about a dozen have signed up.

The Whidbey Island Kite Festival started in Everett before moving to its current location overlooking Admiralty Inlet. Vance said the conference center provides excellent winds for folks to fly kites in addition to spectacular views.

“You’re right there with a view of Port Townsend and the Strait of Juan de Fuca,” Vance said. “People just love it.”

The Whidbey Island Kite Festival is free and is presented by the Whidbey Island Kite Festival Association and the Whidbey Island Kite Flyers.

For more information, visit www.whidbeykites.org.

Contact Whidbey News Times Staff reporter Nathan Whalen at nwhalen@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5058.

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