Smithsonian Kite Festival / Blossom Kite Festival
Genrekites
Location(s)Washington, D.C.
Years active1967–2019, 2022–
Websitehttp://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

The Blossom Kite Festival, formerly the Smithsonian Kite Festival, is an annual kite event usually held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in late March during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The event's organizers cancelled all kite festivals since 2020 because of concerns related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.[1]

Organization

The festival was founded in 1967 by aviation pioneer Paul E. Garber, the first curator of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM).[2][3] Until 2010, the Smithsonian Associates, the cultural, educational, and membership division of the Smithsonian Institution organized and sponsored the festival. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. began producing the festival in 2011 and renamed the event to the "Blossom Kite Festival".[4]

Past Festivals

Sponsored by the Smithsonian National Associate Program (see S. Dillon Ripley Center) and the NASM, the first annual Smithsonian Kite Carnival (later referred to as the Kite Festival) took place on the National Mall on March 25, 1967. Individuals could compete in contests with homemade kites as well as ready-made ones. The festival also included kite-making workshops led by Paul Garber, a lecture series, and a special display of kites made by Garber and his wife.[2]

However, an 1892 law that was still in effect barred the flying of kites, balloons and parachutes within the city limits of Washington, D.C. In 1970, the Smithsonian Institution was therefore denied a permit to hold its annual kite flying carnival on the National Mall. On April 18, 1970, police arrested 11 people who were protesting the law by flying kites near the Washington Monument. As kite enthusiasts were not allowed to have the kite carnival that year in D.C., they moved the event to Fort Washington in Prince George's County, Maryland. The law was subsequently changed, permitting the kite carnival/festival to again be held on the National Mall.[5]

The 2008 Smithsonian Kite Festival was held on Saturday, March 29 on the National Mall. The festival, which was tied to the 2008 Summer Olympics to be held in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008, highlighted the art and history of Chinese kites. The Smithsonian stated that the Chinese introduced the first kites more than 2,000 years ago. According to the Smithsonian, the Chinese first used kites in military affairs for estimating distances and carrying propaganda leaflets, but the kites' influence gradually spread to Western countries to become what the Smithsonian called a “familiar artistic and cultural icon.” The Smithsonian stated that kites continue to play an important role in China.[6]

The 2009 Smithsonian Kite Festival was held on Saturday, March 28, on the Washington Monument grounds. The theme of the festival was "Going Green". Participants were encouraged to create environmentally and thematically “green” kites from renewable resources such as bamboo and recyclable goods such as paper and cloth. Organizers expected to distribute 1,000 free kites to children on a first come, first served basis.[7]

The 2010 Smithsonian Kite Festival, which the Smithsonian Associates and the NASM presented, took place on Saturday, March 27. The theme was "CRAFTed for Flight". Events included the competitive Rokkaku Battle, Hot Tricks Showdown and Ground Display. The festival also featured a kitemaking competition that was open to any hand-made kite. Adult competitors and a team of judges ranging from kitemaking experts to local celebrities to museum staff chose the winners of awards in each category. Kitemakers were grouped according to experience and age: kitemaker, master kitemaker, age 11 and under, age 12–15. The event also encouraged non-competitors to make and fly kites on the Washington Monument grounds.[8]

A girl flies a kite at the 2013 Blossom Kite Festival.

The first Blossom Kite Festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Sunday, April 10, 2011, following a postponent from March 27 because of forecasted inclement weather.[9]

The 2012 Blossom Kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 31.[10][11]

The 2013 Blossom Kite Festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 30.[12]

The 2014 Blossom Kite Festival was originally scheduled to take place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 29.[13] However, the event's organizers first postponed the event to Sunday, March 30, because of rain and then cancelled the Sunday event because inclement weather had saturated the Monument grounds.[14]

The 2015 Blossom Kite Festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 28.[15]

The 2016 kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, April 2. The organizer's announcement for the festival stated: "Please note: drones are prohibited at this event."[16]

The 2017 kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, April 1.[17]

The 2018 kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 31.[18]

The 2019 kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, 30 March.[19]

All festivals have been on hiatus since 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ↑ Hahn, Fritz. "Coronavirus closes Smithsonian museums, cancels National Cherry Blossom Festival events". Going Out Guide. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  2. 1 2 (1) "First Kite Festival Held". Chronology of Smithsonian History. Washington, D.C.: Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
    (2) "First Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival". Histories of the National Mall. Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, George Mason University. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  3. ↑ (1) "Smithsonian Kite Festival". DCpages. DCpages.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
    (2) Lambert, Bruce (September 24, 1992). "Paul E. Garber, 93, First Curator Of National Air and Space Exhibit". New York Times. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Blossom Kite Festival Moves to Sunday of Opening Weekend". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  5. ↑ (1) "Old Law Bans the Flying of Kites in Washington; Dueling Also Prohibited". Madison Lake Times. Madison Lake, Minnesota. October 27, 1938. Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
    (2) "The Great Kite Bust". Nation. Time. May 4, 1970. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
    (3) Hoosier, Emily (March 27, 2014). "UPDATE: Kite festival swoops, soars into D.C. on Sunday: Pros, amateurs, kids take to the skies Sunday". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2016. "At one point it was illegal to fly a kite on the National Mall. It scared the horses or something," said Jon Burkhardt, treasurer of the Maryland Kite Society. An 1892 law barred the flying of kites, balloons and parachutes within the city limits. Violators incurred a $10 fine. But on April 18, 1970, police arrested 11 people who were protesting the law by flying kites near the Washington Monument. When kite enthusiasts were not allowed to have the kite carnival that year in the District, they moved the event to Fort Washington in Prince George's County. Thanks to their efforts in changing the law, amateurs, masters and spectators now peacefully flock to the Mall with their kites.
  6. ↑ Green, Eric (April 17, 2008). "Kite-Flying Contest Part of U.S.-China Friendship Series:Smithsonian Institution program tied to 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing". America.gov. United States Department of State. Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  7. ↑ "The 43rd Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival Celebrates the Environment by Going Green". News Releases. Newsdesk: Newsroom of the Smithsonian Institution. February 16, 2009. Archived from the original on November 11, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Awards". 44th Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival. The Smithsonian Associates. Archived from the original on June 11, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  9. ↑ (1) Johnson, Rebecca (March 25, 2011). "Cherry Blossom Kite Festival Postponed". We Love DC: Your Life Beyond The Capitol. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
    (2) "New Date For Blossom Kite Festival - Sunday, April 10". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. March 26, 2011. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
    (3) "Blossom Kite Festival presented by the National Cherry Blossom Festival: April 10, 2011". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on June 1, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Blossom Kite Festival: March 31, 2012". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on April 28, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Kites of many colors". PostLocal. The Washington Post. March 31, 2012. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Blossom Kite Festival: March 30, 2013". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Blossom Kite Festival: March 29, 2014". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  14. ↑ (1) Hoosier, Emily (March 27, 2014). "UPDATE: Kite festival swoops, soars into D.C. on Sunday: Pros, amateurs, kids take to the skies Sunday". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2016. This celebrated tradition, which has been rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday due to rain, ....
    (2) wtopstaff (March 29, 2014). "Blossom Kite Festival canceled". WTOP. Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2016. The Blossom Kite Festival, part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival events, was supposed to take place rain or shine on Sunday. But the windy and rainy conditions completely saturated the National Mall grounds where the event was to be held. Mayhew says damaging the grounds was a concern.
    (3) "Blossom Kite Festival: March 30, 2014". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014. As of March 30, 2014, the Blossom Kite Festival is canceled due to inclement weather.
  15. ↑ "Blossom Kite Festival: March 28, 2015". National Cherry Blossom Festival. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  16. ↑ (1) "Blossom Kite Festival: April 2, 2016". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
    (2) Campbell, Paul (April 4, 2016). "Blossom Kite Festival - Washington DC". RealUnitedStatesVlog. Archived from the original (video) on June 6, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  17. ↑ (1) "Blossom Kite Festival: April 1, 2017". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on January 11, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
    (2) Cooper, Rachel (November 4, 2016). "Blossom Kite Festival 2017 on the National Mall in Washington, DC: Annual Kite Festival presented by the National Cherry Blossom Festival". About.com: About Travel: Washington, DC: Sports and Recreation. About, Inc. Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
    (3) Goldchain, Michelle (April 3, 2017). "D.C.'s Blossom Kite Festival, in photos". Curbed: Washington DC. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 3, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  18. ↑ (1) "Blossom Kite Festival: March 31, 2018". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
    (2) Cooper, Rachel (February 14, 2018). "Blossom Kite Festival 2018 in Washington, D.C." tripsavvy. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
    (3) Weil, Martin (March 31, 2018). "Washington skies fill with color". Local. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  19. ↑ (1) "Blossom Kite Festival: March 30, 2019". National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
    (2) Cooper, Rachel (February 1, 2019). "Blossom Kite Festival 2019 in Washington, D.C." tripsavvy. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
    (3) Hendrix, Steve (March 30, 2019). "Kites and spirits soar on the Mall as D.C. revels in its first nice weekend of spring". Local. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
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