Festival brings hundreds of colorful kites to California beach — see photos

The skies above a California beach burst into color Sunday as hundreds of kite lovers gathered for an annual festival celebrating a centuries-old Bangladeshi tradition.

The 13th annual Long Beach Kite Festival took over Rosie’s Dog Beach from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., filling the waterfront with fun creations ranging from a giant octopus to a witch riding a broomstick.

Other eye-catching kites included a black and green spider, a rocketship and a shark.

Hosted by the Pacific Kite Club of California, the free festival honors Shakrain — the Bangladeshi Festival of Kites — while bringing together families and kite enthusiasts for an afternoon of flying, food and live entertainment.

Among the seasoned fliers was Greg Morrison, who was spotted sending his octopus kite soaring over the beach.

“The wife and I try to go to as many Kite festivals as possible. This is our second year at the Long Beach festival,” Morrison said.

Jimmy Westby, meanwhile, showed off a homemade BLM kite before the festival got underway.

“I try to travel to all of the Kite festivals in California as far north as Morrow Bay. I take the wife and family to the 2-day fest and it’s a great experience every time,” Westby explained.

Organizers handed out 500 free kites to children and families and 300 free backpacks to kids on a first-come, first-served basis.

The day also featured games and art contests, an awards ceremony, live Bangladeshi music and cultural dance performances, food and local vendors.

A group of local ocean lovers and community organizers started the Pacific Kite Club to bring people together through kite flying and encourage care for the environment.

Today, the grassroots nonprofit hosts kite festivals and leads year-round beach cleanups, donation drives, and outreach programs to help strengthen the community.

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