Kite festival all set for lift-off (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Kite festival all set for lift-off

10:00am Wednesday 4th June 2008 in

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LET'S go fly a kite is the phrase that will be sung out this weekend as Basingstoke hosts an international kite festival.

The annual Basingstoke Kite Festival - backed by Gazette Newspapers - is expected to attract between 10,000 and 14,000 people, including two kite-flying teams from France and one each from Switzerland, Germany and Holland.

Last year's festival attracted a wide-range of kites of all shapes and sizes - including a huge yellow duck.

Festival co-ordinator Alan Cosgrove, from organiser Loddon Valley Kite Flyers, predicted there would be some similarly interesting sights this year.

He said: "It's a nice family day out and a chance to see spectacular kites. Hopefully, there will be some really large stuff up in the air."

Now in its 16th year, the festival will feature flying displays, kite fights, kite-powered buggies and a workshop for children.

Organisers have got clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority for kites to be flown up to 2,000 feet, so the regular altitude competition can continue this year.

The design-a-kite competition returns and this year the theme is "jungle".

Flyers entering the Rokkaku fighter competition, featuring kites from the event's several sponsors, will attempt to knock each other's kites out of the air.

And another competition features flyers making their kites move in time to a piece of music that they have not heard before.

"Some of the top flyers in the country will be down to compete in that," said Mr Cosgrove.

Entry to the event at Down Grange Sports Complex, between 10am and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, is free, although donations towards the cost of running the event would be gratefully received, said Mr Cosgrove.

The children's kite workshop costs £2.