Set against the majestic backdrop of the Olympic Mountains and the sparkling waters of Puget Sound, the Whidbey Island Kite Festival features a two-day sportkite competition, impressive single-line displays, and quite the raffle. Activities include kids’ kitemaking, beginning sportkite lessons, sportkite demonstrations and parachuting teddy-bears for the kids - and the kids get to take home the bears!

The Whidbey kite festival is one of the most popular among Northwest fliers, as well as being well-attended by the public. Although festival space is limited to about 4 acres, it is on a level grass parade ground of an old army fort - right on the edge of Puget Sound, looking westward towards the Straight of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic mountain range. The festival is at Camp Casey Conference Center - just north of Fort Casey State Park. Both are just south of the town of Coupeville on central Whidbey Island.

Coupeville is located within Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island - 25 square miles of preserved forest, prairie, farmland, bluffs, beaches, parks and hiking trails. Whidbey Island is a popular tourist destination, known for its many scenic attractions and lovely Bed & Breakfast establishments.

Perhaps two of the major reasons why the Whidbey Island festival is so popular have to do with its location and time of year.  Because of its easy access to the Canadian border, the fest is regularly attended by kite lovers from British Columbia as well as US kiters from all over the Pacific Northwest. And as the traditional "last" festival and outdoor competition of the year, it's a final opportunity for many good friends to get together before the weather chases pilots indoors for the winter.

The highlight of the weekend is the Whidbey Island Sport Kite Championships, one of the premier sportkite competitions in the Pacific Northwest. Individual, pair, and team events are included. Competition takes place 9 AM - 5 PM both Saturday and Sunday. There is also an indoor sportkite competition Saturday evening following the popular banquet dinner.

There are two mass ascensions - one Saturday and one Sunday. The first 40 people to sign up and participate in each event receive a special-issue event pin. The style of kite for Saturday is either delta or cellular and Sunday is flat/bowed or sparless.

The Beginner’s Competition is an opportunity for those with just a little flying experience to learn about competitions - the “ins” and “outs”, so to speak. It’s held on a separate field, away from the spectators, so “stage-fright” is not such a factor.

Another feature is the “used kite tent,” where sportkiters can sell some of those kites that don’t see much flying time anymore. There are always flyers new to the sport looking for a less expensive way to try a new idea, and this has turned out to be a great way for people to get a leg up on new kites.

Featured flyers this year are the duo of John and Marzlie Freeman, from Parksville BC  (Vancouver Island). Frequent teachers at Fort Worden Kitemakers Conference and the Long Beach Kite Museum, their innovative designs are truly awe-inspiring. They're very much-admired kitemakers in the Pacific NW, and a couple of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. They build exquisite kites and banners together.

We're very pleased they're coming this year.  John and Marzlie don't get down to Washington State much - they come for Westport and WSIKF, and they're going to Up Your Winds in Pacific Beach the weekend before Whidbey Island, so they decided to hang around for a week so they could come to Whidbey this year.

The Central Whidbey Lions Club has a booth at the field with hot dogs and soda, and there is also a latte stand. Deli lunches are available by pre-order by September 1 (form is available at our website.) T-shirts and sweatshirts are available, also by pre-order by September 1. Pins are available onsite.

The Whidbey Island Kite Festival is presented by the Whidbey Island Kite Festival Association and the Whidbey Island Kite Fliers. Our primary sponsors are Bartelson Designs and the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce.

We’re the little festival with a lot of heart.

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