*Blossom Kite Festival presented by the National Cherry Blossom FestivalNEW

The first annual Blossom Kite Festival presented by the National Cherry Blossom Festival showcases the creativity of kite makers and skill of kite fliers from across the US and other countries through a variety of competitions and demonstrations including the popular Hot Tricks Showdown and the Rokkaku Battle. Bring your own hand-made kites, children can make a kite at an activity station (while supplies last), or buy the official kite of the Blossom Kite Festival to fly on the Public Field.

Located on the grounds of the Washington Monument, the Blossom Kite Festival includes 5 areas to explore: the Competition Field, Demonstration Field, Kite Display Area, Activity Tents, and Public Field.

Blossom Kite Festival Schedule*
10:00 AM Opening remarks; Registration begins

Demonstration Field
10:15 AM – 12:00 PM Kite Ballets & Demonstrations
12:00 – 1:00 PM Youth Kite Makers Competition
1:00 – 2:00 PM Kite Ballets & Demonstrations

Competition Field
10:15 AM – 1:00 PM Kite Makers Showcase (Hand-made kites only)
1:00 – 2:00 PM Kite Makers Competition
2:00 – 3:00 PM Hot Tricks Showdown
3:00 – 4:00 PM Rokkaku Battle

* Depending on wind and weather, schedule is subject to change

The Hot Tricks Showdown
The Hot Tricks Showdown is a competition in which multi-line kite fliers engage in a series of one-on-one competitions and maneuver their sport kites in amazing flight patterns during 30 seconds of music. The winners are selected by audience applause – spectators are encouraged to show enthusiasm!

Rokkaku Battle
The Rokkaku Battle features Rokkaku kites, hexagonal shaped fighter kites commonly flown in Japan and now in many other parts of the world. In the Battle, teams of kite fliers compete to "cut" or "ground" opposing kites.

Attention All Kite Makers: The Festival will feature three categories of competition for those making hand-made kites. To mark the transition from the Smithsonian Kite Festival to the Blossom Kite Festival, this year's suggested theme is spring and blossom-inspired kites. Competitors must make and fly their own kites.

The Kite Maker Competition is divided into youth (ages 11 and under) and (ages 12-15) and adults (ages 16 and above). For both youth categories, there will be a first, second and third place award. For the adult category, there will be a Theme Award, People's Choice Award, and a Grand Prize.

Registration
To fly a kite in the Kite Maker Competition, the Rokkaku Battle or the Hot Tricks Showdown, kite makers, kite fliers and kite clubs must register at the Registration Tent on the day of the event. Registration for each competition will remain open until the competition begins.

All festival attendees are welcome to fly kites on the Blossom Kite Festival's Public Field, which requires no registration.

The Blossom Kite Festival presented by the National Cherry Blossom Festival is produced in partnership with the Blossom Kite Festival Advisory Committee: Harold Ames, Bevan Brown, Jon Burkhardt, Rick Kinnaird, Paul LaMasters, Ruth Oyen, Drake Smith, and Mike VanMeers .