Cape Fear Kite Festival takes flight for its 19th year on Pleasure Island

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The skies over Pleasure Island will come alive this weekend as the Cape Fear Kite Festival returns for its 19th year, filling the coast with color, creativity, and community.

The festival, presented by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce, takes place Saturday and Sunday at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, with a special preview and kickoff events starting Friday.

“It’s so much fun,” said Jackie Wikander with the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce. “Fun for families, fun for friends, just an annual event that delights.”

What began as a small gathering of kite enthusiasts has grown into one of the area’s most cherished coastal traditions, with more than 100 professional kite flyers from across the country showcasing their creations.

“You can expect the unexpected,” Wikander said. “These kites are quite beautiful, the larger ones you just can’t get a sense of until you see them in person. The kids absolutely love it. They dart underneath them and get to play, and it fills up the air.”

The weekend begins Friday at noon at the Kure Beach Pier with a “sneak peek” kite display. That evening, the celebration moves to the Carolina Beach Boardwalk for the “CB Aglow” beach party starting at 7 p.m.

“We have a neon disco glow party on the beach,” Wikander said. “The kids love it, there are tremendous bubbles that they can walk through, and the sand is all lit up.”

New this year is the festival’s first-ever drone show, which begins at 8 p.m. Friday night. “That will really cap off the Centennial celebration for the town,” Wikander said.

The main kite displays happen Saturday and Sunday at Fort Fisher, where visitors can see kites as large as a school bus soaring over the dunes. The festival also features music, food trucks, a boutique-style vendor area, and activities for children, including face painting and kite-making workshops.

“When you go over the dunes and you look at that beach filled with kites, you’re just a kid again,” Wikander said.

Parking is available at the Blakeslee Air Force Base Recreation Area, with continuous shuttle service to the beach throughout the weekend. On-site parking is available for visitors with disabilities, and beach wheelchairs will be provided with assistance from Ocean Cure to make the event accessible for all.

The festival is free to attend, with free parking and a full schedule of events from Friday through Sunday.

Wikander says it’s a perfect way to celebrate the season and support the local community.
“This is the end of the professional kite flying season,” she said. “They all come and celebrate with us, and it’s just beautiful to see.”