The Kite Festival at Washington’s Evergreen Coast

The Kite Festival in Long Beach, WA: What to Expect and How to Plan Your Visit

Every August, the skies above Long Beach, WA, on Washington’s Evergreen Coast turn into something worth watching. Hundreds of kites fill the air — some the size of small cars, some shaped like animals, some designed by world-class builders who travel from across the country and around the world just for this event. The kite festival in Long Beach, WA, is the Washington State International Kite Festival, one of the largest and longest-running kite events in the world. You can find full event details on the kite festival page on Washington’s Evergreen Coast. It’s been happening on this beach since 1981, and it’s still one of the most genuinely fun things you can do on Washington’s Evergreen Coast.

Here’s what to expect and how to make the most of it.

A Little History Behind the Kite Festival

The Washington State International Kite Festival on Washington’s Evergreen Coast began as a small local event and grew into a world-recognized celebration over the decades. Long Beach, WA on Washington’s Evergreen Coast is considered the kite capital of the world — a title backed up by the World Kite Museum on Washington’s Evergreen Coast, located right in town. The kite festival draws professional builders, competitive flyers, hobbyists, and families from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. If you’ve never seen a kite the size of a school bus flying 300 feet in the air, Long Beach, WA on Washington’s Evergreen Coast is the place to fix that.

What Happens at the Kite Festival

The festival runs for several days in late August, with events spread across the main beach access area at Long Beach, WA on Washington’s Evergreen Coast. A typical day includes:

Open Flying

Throughout the day, anyone from professional flyers to kids with a beginner kite can take to the beach at Long Beach, WA on Washington’s Evergreen Coast. The open fields fill up and the sky fills with color. There’s no separation between audience and participants — the beach becomes a shared space where everyone’s welcome to join in.

Demonstrations

Master builders and sponsored flyers show off large-scale kites, precision flying, and specialty designs that take years to build and require teams to launch. Even for visitors with no background in kiting, these demonstrations are genuinely impressive — a real highlight of the kite festival on Washington’s Evergreen Coast.

Competitions

Competitive events include ballet (choreographed kite routines set to music), precision flying, and novelty kite design categories. Even casual observers find these entertaining — the skill involved is more impressive than it looks, and watching experienced flyers work together is a consistent highlight of the kite festival on Washington’s Evergreen Coast.

Vendor and Exhibitor Area

Beyond the beach, the kite festival on Washington’s Evergreen Coast includes a vendor and exhibitor area with kite builders, local artisans, food vendors, and organizations from across the Pacific Northwest. It’s a good spot to browse, grab something to eat, and talk to people who’ve been coming to Long Beach, WA on Washington’s Evergreen Coast for twenty years.

Bringing Kids to the Kite Festival

The kite festival on Washington’s Evergreen Coast is one of the most family-friendly events of the year. There’s no pressure, plenty of open space, and the beach at Long
Beach, WA gives kids room to run. Bring your own kite or pick one up at a local shop in Long Beach, WA on Washington’s Evergreen Coast before the festival. Several stores carry everything from beginner kites to competition-grade equipment. Younger kids are often most captivated by the large novelty kites, which tend to fly low enough to get a good look at.

Practical Tips for Visiting the Kite Festival

• Get there early: Parking near the beach in Long Beach, WA on Washington’s Evergreen Coast fills up fast. Arriving in the morning gives you time to settle in before the afternoon crowds peak.
• Dress for the coast: Even in August, Long Beach, WA on Washington’s Evergreen Coast can be windy and cool on the beach. Layers are always a good idea.
• Bring sunscreen: On sunny days, the beach is fully exposed. The wind makes it easy to underestimate how much sun you’re getting.
• Book accommodations early: Browse where to stay on Washington’s Evergreen Coast well in advance — the kite festival is one of the most popular weekends of the year and hotels book out months ahead.
• Check the full schedule: See the complete events calendar on Washington’s Evergreen Coast for what’s happening beyond the kite festival during your visit.

Beyond the Kite Festival

If you’re visiting Long Beach, WA on Washington’s Evergreen Coast for the kite festival and want to make a full weekend of it, the peninsula has plenty to fill the time. Cape Disappointment State Park on Washington’s Evergreen Coast is a short drive south and worth at least a half-day. The World Kite Museum on Washington’s Evergreen Coast is open during festival week. And the beach itself — all 28 miles of it — is worth exploring beyond the festival grounds. The kite festival is a highlight of the calendar on Washington’s Evergreen Coast, but it’s also a great reason to discover everything else Long Beach, WA has to offer. Come for the kites. Stay for the coast.