Kiting events in the USA come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. Some are really competition only events. Others are huge kiting extravaganzas – The Washington State International Kite Festival (WSIKF) for example. And there are large events like the ones held at Berkeley, CA and Wildwood, NJ every year. But there are also lots of annual non-competition events around the country, such as the Zilker Park Festivals in Texas and the Southern Oregon Kite Festivals by the Port of Brookings, Oregon. These smallish 1-3 day events are LOADS of fun.

Without getting into any comparisons among kite fests, the annual “San Ramon Art & Wind Festival” is just such an event – and it’s certainly a dandy!!! If you’re not doing anything over Memorial Day weekend (May 29-30), and you happen to be in the Bay Area, by all means – check this one out! It’s well worth your time…

Organized by the beautiful city of San Ramon for the past 16 years or so, this two-day event often features an early morning hot air balloon launch, Coast Guard helicopter landings, lost of individual and team flying exhibitions, and children's activities - as well as local and visiting artisans' handiwork in addition to the full variety of kite making classes, performances, and displays.

Originally at a different park, the San Ramon Art & Wind Festival has been held at Central Park in conjunction with a craft fair for the last dozen or so years, and the crowds always come out to cheer on their favorite kite pilots and demonstrations. In addition to the incredible arts and crafts, there is an even more amazing selection of foodstuffs! From sushi to gumbo, elephant ears to ice cream, you just can't run out of culinary choices.

Thousands of onlookers surround a large grassy park area over the weekend to watch kite fliers who come from as far away as Oregon, Washington, and sometimes even further just to fly their kites in a carefully choreographed aerial dance set to music... Also featured is power kite buggying, synchronized team flying, and much, much more!  Past performers include Penny Lingenfelter, Carl Bragiel, Ron Despojado, Susan Shampo, Miguel Rodriguez and others!

You can also check out Moon Kushner's report from the 2005 festival in issue 43 of Kitelife!

For more information about this event, feel free to contact the organizer, Brian Champie, through his web site... Or just drop in on Memorial Day weekend:

San Ramon Community Center
& Central Park
12501 Alcosta Blvd
San Ramon, California

Photos showing people and events were taken during last year’s San Ramon Art & Wind Festival, and are copyrighted by Dan Whitney, Jim Strealy, and John Chilese.