This year sees the 17th Southampton Kite Festival organised and run by Solent Kite Flyers in conjunction with Charles Cole Funfair.

It is to be held over the weekend of 15th. & 16th June 2013 from 10.00am to 5.30pm each day. The venue is Lordshill Sports Ground, 5 Acre Field, Lordshill, Southampton, Hampshire. Access is via Junction 2, M271 off Junction 3 M27. All major access routes will be signposted for the event.

This year’s Festival will be a great show of many different types of kites, flying displays and kite related events, as well as varied and interesting activities happening around the Festival Site.

Each day will see Kite Flying Displays as well as general entertainment and display flying to music.

There will also be a few very special arena displays from local groups, including displays of Power Kiting with buggies and boards. There will be plenty of open space available for public flying, so please bring your kites!

There will be a Kite Making Workshop, where everyone will be able to make their own simple kite.

There will be a number of Kite Traders selling a range of Kites and Accessories to all levels of experience and price. Craft stalls, general interest and activity traders, hot and cold refreshments, local based live music and face painting will be there to keep all ages entertained throughout the day. C.Coles Fun Fair will also be at the event for those seeking other types of thrills during each day.

On the Sunday the ‘Southampton Open Trophy’ is just that – anyone can enter with any type of kite. The competition is judged by a panel drawn from the audience and so this is really where the first time flyers can beat the experienced guys, as it is decided purely on entertainmentvalue. You will need to supply a short piece of music to fly to (approx. 2-3 minutes max.)

There will also be ‘Parachuting Teddy Bears’! so don’t forget to bring along your own ‘Cuddly Toys’ so they can join in the fun; each one receiving a certificate for their bravery (Weather permitting).

Again with the weather and wind permitting, there will be an informal ‘Night Fly’ on Saturday evening once it gets dark! (Probably after 9.30pm) This is open to all fliers to join in, with the kites having lights attached or using reflective tapes etc.

Even if you don’t feel like flying over the two days, why not just come and watch one of the most colourful and exciting events to happen in Southampton this year. Entry is free and the sky is free for all to use and enjoy. There will be a small on-site car parking charge for this event.

There is limited on-site camping available over Friday and Saturday nights, for those flying and displaying kites at the festival for the full weekend. There will be a charge for this of £5.00 per night and space(s) will need to be booked prior to the event as available space is very limited.

For more information on any of the above, please contact Mike Lowe of Solent Kite Flyers on 02380 770788 or email secretary@solentkiteflyers.org.uk