LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
The skies at Parksville’s Community Park will be a kaleidoscope of colour this weekend as Kitefest returns.
The event, happening July 20 and 21, is presented by the Parksville Lion’s Club and the British Columbia Kitefliers Association (BCKA) and includes entertainment from master kite-fliers as well as musicians.
The Island Quad Team will return for their popular show, where they fly four kites in unison to music.
“I don’t understand how they don’t get all of that stuff tangled up,” said Chairman of Kitefest for the Lions this year, Tom Roy.
A local jug band will perform both Saturday and Sunday and there will also be kite-building for children.
For $3 kids can put together their own kites, from a wood frame and plastic material, and then decorate them.
The popular Teddy Bear Drop will also take place from noon to 1 p.m. both days, with 40 Teddy Bears donated by Shaw. Kids whose names have been drawn get to catch a parachuting Teddy bear after it has been hoisted up and dropped from 90 feet by the Parksville Fire department.
Kite fliers come from all over to attend the event, with past attendees from Washington State, Oregon, Alberta, the Mainland and Vancouver Island.
There will be food as well as local arts and craft vendors surrounding the kite field throughout the event.
At around 2:15 p.m. on Sunday Parksville’s mayor will hand out some of the awards for best kites, youngest flier, oldest flier and others.
Kitefest goes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 20 and 21.