Washington skies blossom with flying colors
Children of all ages run to and fro to keep their colorful kites floating in the breeze during the Seventh Annual Blossom Kit Festival beneath the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, DC, Mar. 31.
A teenager darts across the Monument grounds with his dragonfly kite in tow.
A father teaches his son how to fly a kite for the first time.
Imaginative kites of all sorts and colors could be seen floating through the skies over the National Mall in Washington, DC, Mar. 31.
Hundreds of kites swoop, turn and soar through the sky under breezes from 5 to 15 mph.
Novice and expert kite fliers launch their kites into the lofty skies beneath the 555-foot Washington Monument during the Seventh Annual Cherry Blossom Kite Festival held on the National Mall in Washington, DC, March 31.
A grandmother watches as her grandson makes his first practice flight of his Ironman kite.
The Washington Mall brimmed with the sounds and sights of spring as thousands of kite enthusiasts from around the world launched colorful kites around the base of the Washington Monument during the Seventh Annual Blossom Kite Festival, the kickoff event for the National Cherry Blossom Festival Mar. 31.
Sponsored by the National Cherry Blossom Foundation Inc., first-time kite flyers and experts shared air space to catch swirling breeze in the clear sky.
According to Nora Strumpf, NCBF Communications Coordinator, the Blossom Kite Festival kicked off kite flying season and thousands came out to enjoy the event.
“There were kites as far as the eye could see on the National Mall, and attendees enjoyed kite demonstrations and performances, kite making activities, competitions, and more,” Strumpf said.
Strumpf noted the free family event is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, now celebrating its 91st anniversary in the nation’s capitol.
Although the lofty 555-foot Washington Monument is not scheduled to open to the visiting public until 2019, festival goers didn’t seem to mind as the historical structure served as the perfect measuring instrument to see who could fly their kite the highest on breezes gusting from 5 to 15 mph.
The public enjoyed the long-awaited spring day in various ways as some flew kites, while others took in the day on air-inflated furniture, blankets and lawn chairs under a picturesque day with clear skies and sunbathed 61-degee temps.
For Montgomery County resident, Vadim Shenderay and his family, it would be their first time attending the annual National Cherry Blossom kickoff event. “I think that it’s a great way for the kids to enjoy themselves and just a great family outing.”
Ann Lampron, a silver-haired senior from Denver, North Carolina, laughed uncontrollably running sideways across the Washington Monument grounds tightly clutching a string with her two-year-old grandson’s kite in tow.
“It’s a great event and it gives us a good way to found out where the breeze is, too,” said Lampron, appreciating the occasional swirl winds to keep her kite aloft. “It’s so neat to see all the kites flying out here.”
The array of kites were endless, including flying turtles, dragonflies, sharks, butterflies, giant, octopuses, Avenger comic books heroes, Barbie and many others.
The free event which started with a kickoff parade showcasing the creativity of kite makers and the skill of fliers from across the nation and other countries through a variety of competitions and demonstrations; including Kite Ballets and Demos, Adult Kite Makers Competition, Wind Jammers and Wings Over Washington, Demonstrations, Hot Tricks Showdown, Rokkaku Battle, Wind Jammers and Wings Over Washington, Kite Arch and Awards.
There was the Family Field — Practice Fly for Youth Kite Makers, Youth Kite Makers Competition, Youth Kite Makers Awards, Blossom Build-off Competition, Bol Races, a Hot Tricks Showdown, a stunt kite-flying event, and a Rokkaku Battles Showdown.
Children could customize their own kites at an activity station, while others purchased kites from local vendors onsite.
Despite the cherry blossom not reaching their full bloom capacity, the colorful kites engulfed the skies above the monument grounds with a kaleidoscope of colors signaling the beginning of the National Cherry Blossom Festival Season of events for the nation’s capitol.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is the nation’s greatest springtime celebration. The 2018 Festival, which runs through April 15, includes four weeks of events featuring diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit.
The 2018 Festival commemorates the 106th anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan.
