Kites Fill D.C. Skies: Meet the Enthusiasts Behind the Spectacle

On Saturday, March 29, 2026, kites filled D.C. skies above the National Mall near the Washington Monument. The Blossom Kite Festival drew a wide crowd during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Festival theme and contests

Organizers set the competitions to honor America’s 250th birthday. The theme for kitemaking and flying was “Red, White and Bloom.”

Colors, shapes and standout designs

Kites ranged from sea creatures to skeletons. One collector brought a snake-shaped kite with a 100-foot tail but hesitated to fly it, citing tangling risks.

A young participant flew a rainbow butterfly kite with green and red streamers. The child chose the design because she found it very cute.

Participants and perspectives

Selected attendees

• Danny Wyman, 37, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, described flying as grounding and therapeutic.
• Zvonimir Stojanovski, 29, of Columbia, Maryland, recalled making paper kites as a child.
• Hueseung Park attended with his 5-year-old daughter, Minseo Park. Gyungmin Kim, 35, traveled from Korea to join the event.
• Dennis Clark, 76, of Lake Mary, Florida, owns elaborate kites and worried about tangles with long tails.
• Wadson Michel, 58, of Woburn, Massachusetts, praised how kites bring global cultures together.
• Jay Vizcarra, 49, of Washington, D.C., said the family tries to attend the festival every year.
• Olivia McLune, 11, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, enjoyed her rainbow butterfly kite and its streamers.
• Chris O’Rourke, 34, from the Poconos, admitted his group were not regular kite people.
• Dennis Cunningham, 66, of Baltimore, said he has flown kites since age five and values the community.

The event drew enthusiasts of all skill levels from across the world. The spectacle brought families and collectors together on the Mall.

Filmogaz.com covered the festival and its many moments under clear spring skies. Photographs and firsthand accounts highlighted why kites fill D.C. skies each year.