BRISTOL's famous Kite Festival is back for 2015 but this year finds itself on a new site on the Downs.
Over the weekend of 22 and 23 August visitors to this free event can enjoy chilling out and watching the experts performing in the arenas, or
bring along their own kite to fly nearby.
Families will particularly enjoy the large special-shaped animals and 3D creatures which can be up to
30m in length, with Peter Lynn's awesome giant flying tigers, bears, dogs, manta rays and octopuses
featuring in themed arena displays throughout the weekend.
Also jostling for space in the sky will be Marco Casadio's large voluptuous mermaids and Neptune and his series of cute angels and
cherubs. Also look out for Jan van Leeuwen, from Holland, who flies trains of comic creations one above
the other, including his eye-catching school bus, the Love Bug and motorbike & side car as well as a
series of animal faces and even a pair of flying trainers.
Children can also join in the fun by making their own simple kites in free kite-making workshops as well
as wildlife inspired mask making with the Downs and Avon Gorge Wildlife Project. Also on hand will be
more traditional children s entertainment with large bouncy castles, giant slides, a flight simulator,
zorbing, bungy trampolines and face painting.
Team AWITA from France have giant colourful rings which rotate in the sky which will feature in the
special charity slot supporting the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity whose life saving helicopter
will be visiting the Festival during the afternoon on both days.
Those with a creative flair will be drawn to some of the beautiful artistic masterpieces on show and
appreciate the skill and craftsmanship involved in creating these intricate designs. George Peters from
America creates striking designs including vividly coloured birds, bugs, bees and banners whilst architect
Heinrich Hohmann, from Germany makes stunning graphic designs involving visual effects across more
than one kite and Rene Maier from Switzerland has beautiful heart-shaped kites.
Melanie Walker from USA and Italian artists Caterina & Claudio Capelli, use kites as an aerial canvas
creating dramatic portraits which come to life in the air. Janneke Groen from Holland and Kelvin Woods
from the UK use appliqué, stitching a myriad of different coloured fabric pieces together to create a
patchwork quilt which creates a stained glass effect in the sky. UK designers Nick James from Bristol
and Martin Lester from Cornwall fill the sky with heavenly kites featuring hosts of angels and spirits.
For action packed entertainment look out for team sport kite routines with intricate moves choreographed
and flown to music including The Decorators quad-line display team, and UK champions Team Flame or
cheer for your favourite team in mock aerial combat with large Japanese fighting kites vying to be the
last one in the sky. Extreme sports fans will appreciate the awesome power of the traction kites with
kite surf wings and the thrills and spills of kite-propelled buggies and land boards.
To complement the flying displays there will also be plenty to look at closer to the ground, with various
eye catching installations to suit even the lightest winds. Visitors will also be able to walk through forests
of bird-themed and striking colourful banners from Roy Broadley, Karl Longbottom and George Peters
There will also be a wind orchestra with various instruments such as Aeolian harps, pipes and hummers
played by the wind. Also on site there will be a range of specialist kite stalls, a licensed bar and festive
food and drink.
The Festival is supported by Everyone Active and the nominated charity is the Great Western Air Ambulance.
The Festival programme runs on from 11am to 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. For more details visit www.kite-festival.org.uk
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