Zilker Kite Festival rescheduled for March 14

Zilker Kite Festival rescheduled for March 14

By Community Impact Newspaper Staff Monday, 08 March 2010

The 82nd Annual Zilker Park Kite Festival originally scheduled for Sunday, March 7 is rescheduled for Sunday, March 14. Producers of the Zilker Park Kite Festival said they decided to reschedule the Kite Festival because there was too much rain forecasted for the original date. The Sunday, March 14 forecast calls for sunny weather conditions with a temperature of 70 degrees and 7 mph to 9 mph winds.

The kite festival is the oldest continually running kite festival in the country. It takes place at Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; kite contest starts at 1 p.m. Free parking and shuttles are available at the state garage at the corner of Sixteenth and Colorado (1604 Colorado St.).

Participants are encouraged to compete with their homemade kites in the steadiest, highest angle, strongest pulling, most unusual, smallest, and largest events. The contest includes youth (up to 16 yrs old) and adult (16 yrs or older) categories and a 50-yard dash. Trophies will be awarded to the to three winners.

Demonstrations by professional kite fliers will be presented throughout the day. Kites choreographed to music will dance singly and in groups. Kite battles, Kite buggies, kite skateboards and huge 40, 50 and 90 foot kites will be displayed on all day.

Food, moonwalks, face painting, rock wall climbing, games and contests for the kids will be offered all afternoon. Through concessions sales, The Exchange Club of Austin raises funds to break the cycle of child abuse. Funds generated go to local organizations such as the Rainbow Room, Family Connections and the Pebble Project that are dedicated to helping central Texas kids lead safe and happy lives.

For more information, call 448-KITE (5483) or visit www.zilkerkitefestival.com.