BY MATT KITE for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 7/31/2026
Occasional kitefliers and dedicated kite pilots alike agree on two things when it comes to flying a kite in South Puget Sound.
First, the best place in the area to launch a kite is Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place. And second, the best time to join others doing the same thing is at the annual Pierce County Kite Festival.
The festival is slated for this Saturday, August 1, at the park’s central meadow and will run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Last year’s event, which unfolded over two days, drew approximately 8,000 participants, according to Andriana Fletcher, a public information specialist at Pierce County Parks and Recreation. This year’s festival, although half as long, is expected to attract up to 6,500, with weather being the most influential factor.
Clear skies and a steady breeze churned up by Puget Sound and Chambers Bay make for perfect kite flying.
“The Kite Festival is a long-standing summer tradition at Chambers Creek Regional Park since 2012 and has grown into one of Pierce County Parks’ signature family events,” Fletcher said in an email. “However, it was canceled from 2019 to 2021, making this the twelfth iteration. It’s a collaboration between Pierce County Parks & Recreation and the Pierce County Kitefliers Association (PCKA). The festival celebrates outdoor recreation and community and takes advantage of the open waterfront setting that makes Chambers Creek Regional Park ideal for flying kites. Over the years, it has expanded to include professional kite demonstrations, hands-on activities, entertainment, and family kite-flying opportunities.”
Fletcher shared a handful of helpful tips for those attending for the first time. Be sure to wear your walking shoes and dress in layers. Even in the heart of summer, the beach can be hot one moment and cool the next, thanks to an onshore breeze. Also, bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, water, and a blanket if you plan to get comfortable.
You can bring your own kite, or you can pick one up at the festival.
“Attendees can expect a full day of colorful kites, professional demonstrations choreographed to music, family-friendly activities, entertainment, artisan vendors, and food trucks,” Fletcher said. “The Pierce County Kitefliers Association will bring handmade and specialty kites and will have three hundred kites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Kids and adults can also join the Running of the Bols, a race where participants pull a bol kite behind them to the finish line. Pierce County Parks and Recreation will sell five-dollar kite kits so children can decorate, build, and fly their own kite.”
A bol kite, for the uninitiated, is part toy, part kite, and part wind turbine. It spins, dances, and gyrates near the ground rather than in the sky and can be fashioned in any number of outlandish shapes. To pull one into the wind and race against others doing the same invites all kinds of fun and chaos.
The sky, being full of kites, has the potential to create a bit of its own mayhem, depending on the weather and flying conditions. The PCKA’s professional kite pilots will be performing aerial demonstrations and making them look easy. Attendees, too, will be flying kites of all shapes and sizes.
“The professional flyers are incredibly skilled at reading wind conditions and coordinating with each other,” Fletcher said. “Keeping lines from tangling in the air is still a real challenge, and wind has been the festival’s biggest wildcard over the years, with conditions varying from year to year. The flying teams communicate closely and use designated flying areas to reduce tangles. For those flying their own kites at the festival, we encourage everyone to be aware of their surroundings and keep a safe distance from others to avoid collisions and tangled lines.”
An impressive group of sponsors, ranging from Farmers Insurance and LeafGuard to Ocean Shores Kites and Smith Brothers Farms, is behind this year’s festival. And several food trucks will be open for business to make sure no one goes hungry. The long and appetizing list of vendors includes Dawg Eat Dogs, Thai’M to Roll, Morena’s Mexican Food, and Buddy’s Chicken & Waffles.
The festival is free, but parking costs $10 per vehicle. Participants can pay in advance online or on the day of the event with a credit or debit card. The park will be open to the general public, including those not participating in the festival, but the parking fee will apply to everyone.
All ages are welcome to attend, and if one or more members of your family happen to have four legs, that’s okay. Polite dogs that get along with others are also welcome at the festival, although it’s doubtful too many will be launching kites of their own.
Those hoping to learn more or pay for parking in advance are encouraged to visit the official website at www.piercecountywa.gov/1268/Kite-Festival.
If you can’t make it to the festival but are inspired to dust off your kite and take it to a park sometime this summer or fall, remember to use common sense.
“Spring through early fall generally offers the best wind,” Fletcher said, “while summer brings the best temperatures for a day outside. Avoid flying during thunderstorms, high winds, or near power lines, roads, airports, or heavily wooded areas. Check local park rules and regulations before flying, and be aware of other park users.”
Happy flying!
