Later this month, the skies over Morro Strand Beach with the majestic Morro Rock as a backdrop, will be filled with color and wonder, for the 2025 Morro Bay Kite Festival.
Set for Friday-Sunday, April 25-27, the Kite Festival brings high-flying enthusiasts to Morro Bay, which professional kite wranglers say has some of the best kite flying weather anywhere.
“The Morro Bay Kite Festival,” reads the Festival’s mission statement, “is an annual community event focused on family and the art of kite flying.
“Our goal is to bring all individuals, families, and all generations together in a safe, relaxing, and fun environment to learn and participate in the art of kite flying, Morro Bay style. Our breathtaking surroundings and windy location make for the perfect kite-flying gathering on the central coast.
“We hope that while enjoying this high-flying event, kids of all ages can live in the moment with no distractions from technology, taking the opportunity to enjoy the fresh ocean breeze, the gentle lapping of waves, and the sight of dozens of beautiful kites taking to the sky. Perhaps even Grandma and Grandpa can take a turn to fly a kite and enjoy some good old-fashioned fun over the weekend!”
According to the Festival website (see: www.morrobaykitefestival.com), the weekend starts on Friday night with flying at dark and continues all day Saturday and Sunday on the beach. There will be food and kite vendors with a chance for kids to make a simple kite that they decorate themselves. Professional kite wranglers will demonstrate the most advanced stunt kites — two and four string models — doing amazing tricks and even making the kites dance to music.
Sadly, this will be the first year without Morro Bay’s own kite store participating, as Farmer’s Kites & Surreys closed up shop last year.
Also, many kite enthusiasts will have their giant flying windsocks — from octopi to whales — flying high overhead.
As always, weather will play a large part in the festival’s success, as without wind, kites don’t fly, and too much wind is no good either. Perfect kite-flying weather would see a steady wind at about 10-12 mph.
Of course the professional kite wranglers don’t even need that much wind to make the kites dance.
All events are free and family friendly. But be ready for what could be a chilly day at the beach. And if readers are into photography, the Kite Festival is a colorful opportunity to ply your craft.
