Blossom Kite Festival Explained

Smithsonian Kite Festival / Blossom Kite Festival
Years Active:1967–2019, 2022–
Genre:kites
Website:http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

The Blossom Kite Festival, formerly the Smithsonian Kite Festival, is an annual kite event usually held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in late March during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The event's organizers cancelled all kite festivals since 2020 because of concerns related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.[1]

Organization

The festival was founded in 1967 by aviation pioneer Paul E. Garber, the first curator of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM).[2] [3] Until 2010, the Smithsonian Associates, the cultural, educational, and membership division of the Smithsonian Institution organized and sponsored the festival. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. began producing the festival in 2011 and renamed the event to the "Blossom Kite Festival".[4]

Past Festivals

Sponsored by the Smithsonian National Associate Program (see S. Dillon Ripley Center) and the NASM, the first annual Smithsonian Kite Carnival (later referred to as the Kite Festival) took place on the National Mall on March 25, 1967. Individuals could compete in contests with homemade kites as well as ready-made ones. The festival also included kite-making workshops led by Paul Garber, a lecture series, and a special display of kites made by Garber and his wife.[2]

However, an 1892 law that was still in effect barred the flying of kites, balloons and parachutes within the city limits of Washington, D.C. In 1970, the Smithsonian Institution was therefore denied a permit to hold its annual kite flying carnival on the National Mall. On April 18, 1970, police arrested 11 people who were protesting the law by flying kites near the Washington Monument. As kite enthusiasts were not allowed to have the kite carnival that year in D.C., they moved the event to Fort Washington in Prince George's County, Maryland. The law was subsequently changed, permitting the kite carnival/festival to again be held on the National Mall.[5]

The 2008 Smithsonian Kite Festival was held on Saturday, March 29 on the National Mall. The festival, which was tied to the 2008 Summer Olympics to be held in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008, highlighted the art and history of Chinese kites. The Smithsonian stated that the Chinese introduced the first kites more than 2,000 years ago. According to the Smithsonian, the Chinese first used kites in military affairs for estimating distances and carrying propaganda leaflets, but the kites' influence gradually spread to Western countries to become what the Smithsonian called a “familiar artistic and cultural icon.” The Smithsonian stated that kites continue to play an important role in China.[6]

The 2009 Smithsonian Kite Festival was held on Saturday, March 28, on the Washington Monument grounds. The theme of the festival was "Going Green". Participants were encouraged to create environmentally and thematically “green” kites from renewable resources such as bamboo and recyclable goods such as paper and cloth. Organizers expected to distribute 1,000 free kites to children on a first come, first served basis.[7]

The 2010 Smithsonian Kite Festival, which the Smithsonian Associates and the NASM presented, took place on Saturday, March 27. The theme was "CRAFTed for Flight". Events included the competitive Rokkaku Battle, Hot Tricks Showdown and Ground Display. The festival also featured a kitemaking competition that was open to any hand-made kite. Adult competitors and a team of judges ranging from kitemaking experts to local celebrities to museum staff chose the winners of awards in each category. Kitemakers were grouped according to experience and age: kitemaker, master kitemaker, age 11 and under, age 12–15. The event also encouraged non-competitors to make and fly kites on the Washington Monument grounds.[8]

The first Blossom Kite Festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Sunday, April 10, 2011, following a postponent from March 27 because of forecasted inclement weather.[9]

The 2012 Blossom Kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 31.[10] [11]

The 2013 Blossom Kite Festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 30.[12]

The 2014 Blossom Kite Festival was originally scheduled to take place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 29.[13] However, the event's organizers first postponed the event to Sunday, March 30, because of rain and then cancelled the Sunday event because inclement weather had saturated the Monument grounds.[14]

The 2015 Blossom Kite Festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 28.[15]

The 2016 kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, April 2. The organizer's announcement for the festival stated: "Please note: drones are prohibited at this event."[16]

The 2017 kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, April 1.[17]

The 2018 kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, March 31.[18]

The 2019 kite festival took place on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday, 30 March.[19]

All festivals have been on hiatus since 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fritz. Hahn . https://web.archive.org/web/20200313190830/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/03/05/dc-coronavirus-tourism/. March 13, 2020. Coronavirus closes Smithsonian museums, cancels National Cherry Blossom Festival events. Going Out Guide. The Washington Post. 2020-03-14.
  2. (1) Web site: https://www.webcitation.org/6emoFHXpd?url=http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!sichronology&uri=full=3100001~!1196~!0#focus. 2016-01-24. First Kite Festival Held. Chronology of Smithsonian History. Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives. Washington, D.C.. 2016-01-24. dead.
    (2) Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150521102715/http://mallhistory.org/items/show/468. 2015-05-21. First Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival. Histories of the National Mall. Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, George Mason University. 2016-01-24.
  3. (1) Web site: Smithsonian Kite Festival. DCpages. DCpages.com. 2011-03-01. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718212105/http://www.dcpages.com/gallery/Smithsonian-Kite-Festival. 2011-07-18.
    (2) News: Paul E. Garber, 93, First Curator Of National Air and Space Exhibit. Bruce. Lambert. New York Times. 1992-09-24. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170215023833/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/24/us/paul-e-garber-93-first-curator-of-national-air-and-space-exhibit.html. 2017-02-15.
  4. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120225092931/http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/2011/01/22/blossom-kite-festival-moves-to-sunday-of-opening-weekend/. 2012-02-25. Blossom Kite Festival Moves to Sunday of Opening Weekend. National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc.. 2011-03-31.
  5. (1) News: https://web.archive.org/web/20160125032205/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1061&dat=19381027&id=vd8kAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BhEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2202%2C174045&hl=en . 2016-01-25 . Old Law Bans the Flying of Kites in Washington; Dueling Also Prohibited . Madison Lake Times . 1938-10-27 . . 2016-01-24 . dead .
    (2) Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150715052357/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C943781%2C00.html . July 15, 2015 . The Great Kite Bust . Nation . . 1970-05-04 . 2016-01-24 . dead .
    (3) News: https://web.archive.org/web/20140329100039/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/27/kite-festival-swoops-soars-into-dc/?page=all . 2014-03-29 . UPDATE: Kite festival swoops, soars into D.C. on Sunday: Pros, amateurs, kids take to the skies Sunday . Emily . Hoosier . . 2014-03-27 . 2016-01-24 . “At one point it was illegal to fly a kite on the National Mall. It scared the horses or something,” said Jon Burkhardt, treasurer of the Maryland Kite Society. An 1892 law barred the flying of kites, balloons and parachutes within the city limits. Violators incurred a $10 fine. But on April 18, 1970, police arrested 11 people who were protesting the law by flying kites near the Washington Monument. When kite enthusiasts were not allowed to have the kite carnival that year in the District, they moved the event to Fort Washington in Prince George’s County. Thanks to their efforts in changing the law, amateurs, masters and spectators now peacefully flock to the Mall with their kites. .
  6. Web site: Green. Eric. https://web.archive.org/web/20110228204856/http://www.america.gov/st/peopleplace-english/2008/April/200804171436431xeneerg0.2525598.html. 2011-02-28. Kite-Flying Contest Part of U.S.-China Friendship Series:Smithsonian Institution program tied to 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. America.gov. United States Department of State. 2008-04-17. 2016-01-24.
  7. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20151111011221/http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/43rd-annual-smithsonian-kite-festival-celebrates-environment-going-green. 2015-11-11 . The 43rd Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival Celebrates the Environment by Going Green. News Releases. Newsdesk: Newsroom of the Smithsonian Institution. 2009-02-16. 2016-01-24.
  8. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20070611141007/http://kitefestival.org/awards.htm. 2007-06-11. Awards. 44th Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival. The Smithsonian Associates. 2016-01-24.
  9. (1) Web site: Johnson . Rebecca . https://web.archive.org/web/20140330171217/http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/25/cherry-blossom-kite-festival-postponed/ . 2014-03-30 . Cherry Blossom Kite Festival Postponed . We Love DC: Your Life Beyond The Capitol . 2011-03-25 . 2014-03-30 .
    (2) Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20110809225340/http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/2011/03/26/blossom-kite-festival-postponed-forecasted-inclement-weather/ . 2011-08-09 . 2011-03-26 . New Date For Blossom Kite Festival - Sunday, April 10 . National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. . 2013-01-27 . dead .
    (3) Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20110601233753/http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/2011/01/20/blossom-kite-festival-presented-by-the-national-cherry-blossom-festival/ . 2011-06-01 . Blossom Kite Festival presented by the National Cherry Blossom Festival: April 10, 2011 . . 2013-01-27 . dead .
  10. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120428012716/http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/2011/07/15/blossom-kite-festival. 2012-04-28. Blossom Kite Festival: March 31, 2012. National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc.. 2013-01-27.
  11. Web site: Kites of many colors. PostLocal. The Washington Post. 2012-03-31. 2012-04-02. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120402024918/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/kites-of-many-colors/2012/03/31/gIQA6bexnS_gallery.html. 2012-04-02.
  12. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20130117041000/http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/2011/07/15/blossom-kite-festival/ . 2013-01-17 . Blossom Kite Festival: March 30, 2013 . . 2013-01-27 . dead .
  13. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20140227082146/http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/2013/07/19/blossom-kite-festival-2/ . 2014-02-27 . Blossom Kite Festival: March 29, 2014 . . 2014-02-23 . dead .
  14. (1) News: https://web.archive.org/web/20140329100039/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/27/kite-festival-swoops-soars-into-dc/?page=all . 2014-03-29 . UPDATE: Kite festival swoops, soars into D.C. on Sunday: Pros, amateurs, kids take to the skies Sunday . Emily . Hoosier . . 2014-03-27 . 2016-01-24 . This celebrated tradition, which has been rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday due to rain, .... .
    (2) Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160125012840/http://wtop.com/news/2014/03/blossom-kite-festival-canceled/ . 2016-01-25 . Blossom Kite Festival canceled . 2016-01-26 . wtopstaff . 2014-03-29 . . The Blossom Kite Festival, part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival events, was supposed to take place rain or shine on Sunday. But the windy and rainy conditions completely saturated the National Mall grounds where the event was to be held. Mayhew says damaging the grounds was a concern. .
    (3) Web site: https://www.webcitation.org/6OSje4xbb?url=http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/2013/07/19/blossom-kite-festival-2/ . 2014-03-30 . Blossom Kite Festival: March 30, 2014 . . 2014-03-30 . As of March 30, 2014, the Blossom Kite Festival is canceled due to inclement weather. . dead .
  15. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150315091526/http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/blossom-kite-festival-3/ . 2015-03-15 . Blossom Kite Festival: March 28, 2015 . . 2015-03-16 . dead .
  16. (1) Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160115055604/http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/blossom-kite-festival/. 2016-01-15. Blossom Kite Festival: April 2, 2016. National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc.. 2016-01-24.
    (2) Web site: Campbell. Paul. https://web.archive.org/web/20160606173814/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl7BftMcA9g. RealUnitedStatesVlog. 2016-06-06. Blossom Kite Festival - Washington DC. 2016-04-04. video. 2016-06-06.
  17. (1) Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20170111161909/http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/blossom-kite-festival/. 2017-01-11. Blossom Kite Festival: April 1, 2017. National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc.. 2017-02-13.
    (2) Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20170321142117/http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/SmithKiteFest.htm. 2017-03-21. Blossom Kite Festival 2017 on the National Mall in Washington, DC: Annual Kite Festival presented by the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Rachel. Cooper. 2016-11-04. About.com

    About Travel: Washington, DC: Sports and Recreation

    . About, Inc.. 2017-04-03.
    (3) Web site: Michelle. Goldchain. https://web.archive.org/web/20170403220328/http://dc.curbed.com/2017/4/3/15161438/kite-festival-cherry-blossom-photos. 2017-04-03. D.C.'s Blossom Kite Festival, in photos. Curbed: Washington DC. 2017-04-03. Vox Media. 2017-04-03.
  18. (1) Web site: Blossom Kite Festival: March 31, 2018. National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc.. 2018-03-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20180319195950/https://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/blossom-kite-festival/. 2018-03-19.
    (2) Web site: Blossom Kite Festival 2018 in Washington, D.C.. Rachel. Cooper. 2018-02-14. tripsavvy. 2018-03-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20171019060317/https://www.tripsavvy.com/blossom-kite-festival-1040177. 2017-10-19.
    (3) Web site: Martin. Weil. 2018-03-31. Washington skies fill with color. Local. The Washington Post. 2018-06-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20180620041617/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-fine-day-to-fly-a-kite-washington-skies-fill-with-color/2018/03/31/1f2a88e0-353d-11e8-94fa-32d48460b955_story.html. 2018-06-20. dead.
  19. (1) Web site: Blossom Kite Festival: March 30, 2019. National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc.. 2019-04-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20190425135012/https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/event/blossom-kite-festival/. 2019-04-25.
    (2) Web site: Blossom Kite Festival 2019 in Washington, D.C.. Rachel. Cooper. 2019-02-01. tripsavvy. 2019-04-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20190425135540/https://www.tripsavvy.com/blossom-kite-festival-1040177. 2019-04-25.
    (3) Web site: Steve. Hendrix. 2019-03-30. Kites and spirits soar on the Mall as D.C. revels in its first nice weekend of spring. Local. The Washington Post. 2019-04-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20190425140344/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/kites-and-spirits-soar-on-the-mall-as-dc-revels-in-its-first-nice-weekend-of-spring/2019/03/30/1cd3acce-5324-11e9-8d28-f5149e5a2fda_story.html. 2019-04-25.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Blossom Kite Festival".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.