This year’s Blossom Kite Festival celebrated America’s 250th birthday with a special theme.
On Saturday, a vibrant array of kites featuring designs from sea creatures to skeletons soared gracefully above the National Mall, near the iconic Washington Monument.
The annual Blossom Kite Festival, part of the larger National Cherry Blossom Festival, attracts kite enthusiasts from around the globe, showcasing the art of kite flying and design. This year’s festivities featured a special theme that celebrated America’s upcoming 250th birthday, dubbed “Red, White and Bloom.”
Attendees had the opportunity to witness both youth and adults participating in various kitemaking competitions, as well as enjoy the colorful kites decorated in a myriad of creative styles.
Danny Wyman
37, Gaithersburg, Maryland
“There’s something special about the bond between the person on the ground and the gust of wind above. Controlling that through a string feels therapeutic, natural — it’s something that grounds you.”
“In Nepal, flying kites is a key part of our culture.”
Zvonimir Stojanovski
29, Columbia, Maryland
“As a child, I frequently crafted kites from paper.”
Hueseung Park and his 5-year-old daughter, Minseo Park, along with Gyungmin Kim
35, Korea
“Seeing the kite makes me feel an incredible sense of freedom.”
Dennis Clark
76, Lake Mary, Florida
“I’m hesitant to fly my kite shaped like a snake because it might get tangled with others.”
Wadson Michel
58, Woburn, Massachusetts
“Kites unite people in ways that other activities cannot. Every nation has its unique kite history, and sharing that at a festival like this fills everyone with joy.”
Jay Vizcarra
49, Washington, D.C.
“We’ve made it a tradition to come here each year since our child was born.”
Olivia McLune
11, Glen Burnie, Maryland
“My kite is a rainbow butterfly, decorated with green and red streamers at its tail. I chose it because I think it looks adorable.”
Chris O’Rourke
34, Poconos, Pennsylvania
“Honestly, we’re not really ‘kite people.’”
Dennis Cunningham
66, Baltimore
“It’s a wonderful community experience. I’ve enjoyed flying kites since I was just five years old.”
