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As one of the longest running events in California, the Berkeley Kite Festival always brings out many of the premier fliers, kite makers and personalities in the kiting community... With sport kite competition, rokakku battles, candy drops and so much more, this is one of those events that truly has "something for everyone". |
Held in North Waterfront Park (also known as Cesar E. Chavez Park), the festival is flanked on the upwind side by the beautiful San Francisco bay (complete with Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge) and consistantly offers wind speeds of 10-15 mph... With such ideal surroundings and conditions, organizer Tom McAlister does an outstanding job of presenting a wide variety of kiting demonstrations and events.
Having been a local attraction since 1987, the BKF is almost always held on the last weekend of July and brings out thousands of loyal spectators every year, one of the most appreciative and colorful audiences found anywhere in the USA... With such qualities, this event is consistantly a photographer's dream. |
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Just a few past recurring highlights:
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Octo-Pile
Kite enthousiasts bring out their inflatbale Peter Lynn octopus kites in droves! 2003 saw them set a record with 8, and in 2004 they raised that mark with a grand total of 11... The sight of so much multi-colored nylon in the sky is incredibly breath-taking. |
Candy Drop
One of the best family events in the country, the BKF always has a number of candy drops on both days, inviting children in various age groups to chase down candy dropped from kites above... Even if you're too tall to play, it's great fun watching 50+ kids running across the field in search of sweet treasures.
Sport Kite Competition
Being one of the top flying spots in northern California, Berkeley brings out a lot of the Bay Area Sport Kite League's top pilots all shooting it out for top ranking in both their league and in the American Kitefliers Association's conference ranking... Having produced many of the top competitors in sport kiting's history, it only seems natural.
Demonstrations
In addition to the competitions, the main field sees top level performances throughout each day, even from pilots no longer competing... With the pressure off, the show kicks it up a notch.
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Rokakku Battles
One of the main highlights of the BKF is the rokakku battles, where pilots use traditional Japanese kites to do battle, attempting to cut or knock down opponent's kites and be the last one standing... With teams of 1-5 people, it can be quite an entertaining melee. |
Buggy/KGB Demonstrations
Also a frequent attraction, extreme power kite pilots demonstrate their abilities on both buggies and land boards, doing spins, riding on two wheels, or jumping as much as 20' into the air while doing aerial tricks much like in pro skate boarding.
Free Lessons
You can always count on one or more manufacturers being out on the field all day as well, offering up free lessons on both dual and quad line kites... Nothing like getting it from the experts, first hand!
These really are just a sample of what the BKF has to offer... As a kiteflier, it's a Mecca with so much to see and a friendly base of other fliers well-versed in everything from sport kites to miniature kite making.
Also a must-do is the Sunday night dinner cruise around the SF Bay... Good grub, good company, and a tour out past Alcatraz, Ghirardelli, Pier 39 and the Bay Bridge.
For more information visit:
http://highlinekites.com/Berkeley_Kite_Festival/
For directions to North Waterfront Park:
MapQuest
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