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Wildwoods Kite Fest kicks off summer season
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I f you see giant mermaids and pirate ships flying overhead, it must be time for the enormous Wildwoods International Kite Festival. The ocean water might be a tad chilly for swimming yet, but spring's ocean breezes are perfect for keeping thousands of colorful kites afloat during this 24th annual festival, which traditionally kicks off the beach-going season in high-flying style.
Serious kiting enthusiasts and casual flyers flock to the beach at Rio Grande Avenue and in the Wildwoods Convention Center, 4501 Boardwalk. The festival is the largest of its kind on the East Coast and features kite makers from around the world showing off their incredible creations.
If you're interested in getting into kiting, want to introduce your kids to the sport, are thinking of collecting some of the dozens of different types of kites, or are just looking to take some neat photographs, the Wildwoods beach is the place to be this weekend. Kite hobbyists and professionals are notoriously friendly and happy to share knowledge with anyone who asks.
"It's a good day outside, a good day for every member of the family and, for most people, it something they've never seen before," says Phil Broder, a Middle Township resident and member of South Jersey Kite Flyers.
New to the festival this year, Broder says, is a kite-making competition in memory of Scott Spencer, a kite maker who died last fall. The competition is open to experts and novices alike, Broder says. Registration is Saturday morning.
"They'll be judged on beauty, flight and craftsmanship for cash prizes," Broder says.
Kites of all shapes and sizes soar overhead, some visible from miles away. Giant kite experts Jack Rogers, Gary Engvall, Dennis Hawley and Tom Zach will loft giant sea creatures hundreds of feet above the sand of Wildwood's extra-wide beach.
Guest kite makers include Ron Gibian of Visalia, Calif.; Dean Jordan of Gainesville, Fla.; Cliff Quinn of Coopersburg, Pa.; Christine McGee and Daniel Remillard of Quebec, Canada; and Normand Girard and Dominic Guimond of Montreal, Canada, to name just a few.
The festival opens at 9 p.m. Friday with the awe-inspiring Nite Kite Fly, featuring illuminated kites of all kinds at Rio Grande and Andrews avenues. On Saturday and Sunday, kites duke it out for bragging rights in the East Coast Stunt Kite Championships, featuring the best sport kite pilots. Individuals, pairs and teams compete for titles in a variety of competitions.
Don't miss challenges between Rokkaku kites - ancient six-sided Japanese fighters - on the beach on Sunday afternoon.
The World Indoor Kite Competition brings the festival to a close on Monday afternoon in the convention center.
Hundreds of kite flyers from around the region attend the festival each year. Members of the South Jersey Kite Flyers, Liberty High Spirits of New Jersey, Kites Over New England, Wings Over Washington, Richmond Air Force, Connectikiters and Keystone Kiters are among those who will fill the sky over the Wildwoods with their colorful creations.
For a complete schedule of events, go to www.wildwoodsnj.com.
The festival's schedule also includes:
n Poolside Friday night social, beginning at 6 p.m. with $5 all-you-can-eat buffet, at Oceanic Motel, 4600 Ocean Ave., hosted by South Jersey Kite Flyers
n Friday Nite Kite Fly featuring illuminated kites, 9 p.m. on the beach between Rio Grande and Andrews avenues
n Boardwalk on the Beach, vendors selling kites, arts and crafts, novelties, food and drinks on the beach between Leaming and Andrews avenues
n Free kite lessons and a "Learn to Fly" field on the beach in front of Leaming Avenue Saturday and Sunday
n Free "Learn to Fly Indoor" lessons in the Wildwoods Convention Center
n Free kite-making workshops Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the convention center
n Raffles for free Indian Fighter Kite flying lessons Saturday and Sunday
n Extravagant kite exhibits in the convention center
n Demonstrations and workshops by world-class stunt kite flyers in the convention center and on the beach near Rio Grande Avenue
n Kite makers compete Saturday on the beach
n Indian Fighter kite battles Sunday on the beach
n Japanese Rokkaku challenges Sunday afternoon on the beach
n Kite club ground displays
n Four-line stunt kite mega fly and skill games Saturday and Sunday
n Many unique kites and collectibles will be auctioned off during the Great Kite Auction open to the public at 7 p.m. Saturday in the convention center
n Kite games and competitions, including Running of the Bols for kids and adults with prizes (bols are basket- or parachute-like devices that sometimes rotate)
n Kodiak Band at the Oceanic bar Sunday evening
Wildwoods International
Kite Festival
WHEN: Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25
WHERE: Beach at Rio Grande Avenue and in the Wildwoods Convention Center, 4501 Boardwalk, Wildwood
HOW MUCH: Free
MORE INFO: Call the Wildwoods Tourism Authority at 800-992-9732, or go to www.WildwoodsNJ.com.
Antique appraisals for EHT
Dig out that jewelry, dust off the old furniture and find out what it's worth as Egg Harbor Township's 300th Anniversary Committee presents the Antique Appraisal Show at the EHT Community Center, 5045 English Creek Ave., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 23. Tickets are $10 and entitle ticketholders to two appraisals. Six appraisers will be on hand. Proceeds benefit EHT's 2010 Tercentennial Celebration, which begins on Jan. 21. A full calendar of events is planned throughout 2010. Contact EHT300TH@aol.com or call 609-645-2219 or 609-927-9096 for information or to buy tickets in advance.
Cape May fest salutes USA
What better way to celebrate Memorial Day than with the 35-piece Atlantic Brass Band as it salutes the USA with a performance of patriotic tunes at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 24, at the Schmidtchen Theater, Lower Cape May Regional High School, 687 Route 9 in Lower Township. The concert is part of the 20th annual Cape May Music Festival, which runs through Thursday, June 11. Tickets are $25, $20 for seniors and $10 for students. The festival continues with the New York Chamber Ensemble at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, Washington and Franklin streets, Cape May. Admission is $20, $15 seniors and $5 students. Remaining performances:
n The Bay-Atlantic Symphony, 8 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes Street, Cape May. $25, $20 for seniors and $10 for students.
n The Fabulous Shpielkehs make their festival debut 8 p.m. Sunday, May 31, at the Schmidtchen Theatre in LCMR High School. Admission is $25, $20 for seniors and $10 for students.
n Premier chamber players from the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra return to the festival with a program of classics at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, at Episcopal Church of the Advent. Admission is $20, $15 for seniors and $5 for students.
n Violinist Christina Castelli performs as a soloist at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at First Presbyterian Church. Admission is $25, $20 seniors and $10 students. George Mesterhazy and Friends, Cape May's favorite jazz pianist and Grammy nominee, take the stage at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at the Schmidtchen Theatre in LCMR High School. Admission is $25, $20 for seniors and $10 students.
n New York Chamber Ensemble presents "Songs America Loves to Play" at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, at the Episcopal Church of the Advent. Admission is $20, $15 seniors and $5 students.
n Violin soloist and New Jersey native Sharon Roffman joins Bay-Atlantic Symphony to finish out the festival at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 11, at First Presbyterian Church. Admission is $25, $20 seniors and $10 students.
Posted in Events on Thursday, May 21, 2009 3:15 am
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