With springtime right around the corner, one historic community event is certain to light up children’s faces with smiles as they brighten up the skies with their own handcrafted, high-flying creations. Each year, children at the Kiwanis Ocean Beach Kite Festival send hundreds of colorfully decorated kites fluttering into the Ocean Beach skies, just as their parents and grandparents did before them. The spectacle not only brings joy to children in the fun, carnival-style environment, but it is also reminiscent of times past for generations of Ocean Beach locals. “This free family event is the oldest children’s kite festival in the United States,” said Melanie Nickel, president of the Ocean Beach Kiwanis Foundation. “It’s such a long established tradition, now into the third generation. People who took part in the kite festival as children later brought their children and are now bringing their grandchildren.” The Ocean Beach Kite Festival, now in its 64th year, is set to take place March 3. The event began as a small affair at Ocean Beach Elementary School. “The Kiwanis Club started the kite festival in 1948 to celebrate their 20th anniversary,” said Nickel. “At that time, the Kiwanians — all men in those days — went into the schools and taught the kids how to make a kite during school time, then held a festival to show off all their kites.” Now, decades later, the festival is host to more than 1,000 attendees and has expanded into a full day of fun with carnival rides, games, live music, food and a craft fair. Lunch will also be provided free for children and for a small donation for adults. Youngsters at the event can make their own kites from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center. Whether it is a child’s first or hundredth time flying a kite, San Diego Kite Club will provide a special kite design that is guaranteed to fly regardless of the wind conditions. “Even the smallest child can make and fly one of our kites,” assured Nickel. Following the free kite-making and instruction, children can enter their kites in a contest at the Ocean Beach Elementary schoolyard at 1 p.m. “We give prizes in three categories: best decorated, most unusual and best theme. There are 10 age categories ranging from toddler to adult,” Nickel said, urging children and adults alike to have fun with their designs. The contest is not limited to kites made at the festival, said Nickel. Anyone can bring in a kite and enter it in the contest. Ice cream certificates from local favorite Lighthouse Ice Cream will be awarded for the winning kites in each category. This year, the Kiwanis will even hand out “alumni” ribbons for older generations who have taken part in the festival in previous years to highlight the historicity of this longstanding tradition. “It’s a lot of fun for the kids, and it’s something for families to do together,” said Nickel. The 64th annual Ocean Beach Kite Festival takes place March 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All kite-making materials will be provided, but bring cash for carnival rides, craft fair purchases and adult lunches. For more information, email [email protected].