In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the Ocean Beach Kiwanis Kite Festival and its accompanying parade will add a few new touches to this year’s event, set to take place Saturday, March 1.
“We’re the longest continuously running kite festival in the U.S.,” said festival chair Marion Miller.
A community service event sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach and the Ocean Beach Recreation Center at 4726 Santa Monica Ave., the kite festival will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Miller said. “I hope we’ll have at least 500 to 600 children making kites.”
The event begins at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center, where children will construct their kites, said Miller.
“As they make their kites, they go across the street to Ocean Beach Elementary School, where they can fly their kites,” she said.
As added entertainment, Miller said guests will have the opportunity to buy tickets for carnival rides, which will be stationed on Santa Monica Avenue between the recreation center and Ocean Beach Elementary.
Festival participants will also enjoy hot dogs, punch and popcorn between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., according to Miller.
“Last year, we served over 1,000 hot dogs,” Miller said.
Miller said that at 1 p.m., judges will choose a winner from each age category. “The winner gets a certificate in the category and a $5 gift certificate for ice cream at the Lighthouse Ice Cream [and Yogurt on Newport Avenue] in Ocean Beach,” said Miller.
To commemorate the festival’s 60th anniversary, Miller said organizers plan to include a few special touches.
“This year, since it’s our 60th anniversary, we’re having alumni ribbons,” she said.
Miller said the ribbons will be awarded to former participants who now are bringing their children to compete in the kite festival.
“In fact, there’s a member of our club who was in the first Kite Festival [in 1948],” Miller said.
As a finale, children will take part in a parade to exhibit their creations. However, in a departure from years past, Miller explained that there’ll be a change in location.
“This year, instead of going down Newport, we’re going down Santa Monica Avenue,” she said.
Miller said the change arose in cooperation with the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association in a collective effort to keep parking spaces open for customers on Newport during a busy Saturday.
Miller said this year will be the 15th year that the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach’s craft show will coincide with the festival, drawing booths down Santa Monica Avenue between Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and Ebers Street.
“There’s so many people who come through and buy things at the craft show,” Miller said. “It’s been very successful.”
Miller, who has been involved with the festival for nearly 18 years, said she’s looking forward to seeing all the creativity from the children.
“I like anything to do with children,” Miller said. “I think children are our future, and that’s why I think we can’t do enough for children.”
For more information or to rent booth space for the craft show, call (858) 274-2016.