September 20-21, 2003, Central Whidbey welcomes the Whidbey Island Kite Festival to the Camp Casey Conference Center, just south of Coupeville. Set against the majestic backdrop of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, the kite festival features impressive ground and air displays of color and imagination. Activities include kids' kitemaking, beginning sportkite lessons, and sportkite demonstrations.

The highlight of the weekend is the Whidbey Island Sport Kite Championships, one of the premier sportkite competitions in the Pacific Northwest. Individual, pairs, and team events are included. Competition takes place both Saturday and Sunday. The Whidbey Island Sport Kite Championships is an AKA-sanctioned (aka.kite.org) event.

The Whidbey Island Kite Festival is presented by the Whidbey Island Kite Festival Association and the Whidbey Island Kite Fliers. It's a wonderful, fun-filled outing for the entire family.

There will be two mass ascensions - one Saturday and one Sunday. The first 40 people to sign up and participate in each event will receive a special-issue event pin. A mass ascension is where everyone is invited to fly a kite of the specified style on the field at the same time. The style of kite for Saturday is either delta or cellular and Sunday is flat/bowed or sparless.

There will also be a teddy-bear drop each day at 1:00 for children under 10.

The Central Whidbey Lions Club will have a booth at the field with hot dogs and soda, and a latte stand will be available. Also, you may order field-delivered deli lunches in advance by using the registration form.

For more information, call (360) 678-9358, e-mail or visit our website at www.whidbeykites.org.

If you are interested in general visitor information for the area, please contact our local chamber of commerce.