The Bali Kite Festival is a competition for local males to showcase their village’s skills in the sky. These are not normal kites. They are huge. Some have tails over 100 meters long.
These huge kites are so large that they cannot be anchored to the ground by string. Thick ropes are manipulated by multiple team members to make the kites dance and dive in the sky.
Other ‘new creation’ kites, look like things in life that have taken to the sky in 3d form. One example of this is the massive 700 kilo dragon. We missed its performance at this festival, but its maiden voyage is in the video below.
The teams compete for best launch, best design and longest flight to win money provided by sponsors.
The festival is free with local vendors providing food and drinks.
The schedule for 2016 is below with locations.
1. Bali Kite Festival: 22-24 July, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur
2. Belega Kite Festival: 30-31 July, Masceti Beach, Gianyar
3. Pelangi Denpasar Kite Festival: 5-7 August, Mertasari Beach, Sanur
4. Dangin Peken Dhananjaya Cup Kite Festival: 13-14 August, Mertasari Beach, Sanur
5. Banjar Banjaran Kite Festival: 17 August, Abiansemal, Badung
6. Tanjung Kite Festival: 19-21 August, Mertasari Beach, Sanur
7. Sanur Kite Festival (Sanur Village Festival): 26-28 August, Mertasari Beach, Sanur
8. Pelangi Badung Kite Festival: 2-4 September, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur
9. Ungasan Kite Festival: 10-11 September, Ungasan
10. Pelangi Gianyar Kite Festival: 23-25 September, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur
11. Tabanan Kite Festival: 1-2 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur
12. Bekul Kite Festival: 1-2 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur
13. Namaste Kite Festival: 8-9 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur
14. Biaung Kite Festival: 15-16 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur
15. Rockiller Kite Festival: 21-23 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur
16. Bali Kite Festival 2016 (closing ceremony): 29-30 October, Padanggalak Beach, Sanur
Escape From the American Dream 