Portsmouth International Kite Festival 2012

Portsmouth International Kite Festival will take place on Southsea Common for the 20th time this year and promises to be bigger and better than ever. This year the free event has a huge range of guests, both old favourites and new discoveries.

Kite flyers from as far as Singapore, India, New Zealand and America 14 and a good selection of European flyers - will be coming together from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, 27 August and Sunday, 28 August to put on this annual spectacular. On Monday, 29 August (bank holiday) there is free-flying and a free dog show.

The festival, which is held on Southsea Common, has been recognised as one of the biggest of its kind in the world, and is even playing host to a UK record attempt this year.

The attempt is to get the most revolution kites flying in a synchronised formation, and to break the record, 50 must be doing the choreographed routine at the same time. Apart from going for the UK record, it promises to be a spectacular sight!

All flyers will put on colourful demonstrations of kites including swarms of snakes, frogs, lizards, whales, jesters, fish, salamanders and much more.

There will also be beautiful single line kites (intricately appliquéd or painted with magnificent designs), amazing cellular kites (flying miracles of structural engineering), awe-inspiring 3D soft kites in a magical range of shapes and sizes, and skilfully-flown kites performing excellent tricks and routines to music.

There will be scheduled arena events between 10am and 5pm, and free flying throughout the event.

Alongside the amazing displays will be lots of other activities. These include a craft tent, free children’s kite workshop and fun fair with local amusements.

There will also be kite selling a wide range of kites, from colourful branded kites for children or the young-at-heart, to immense power kites for the more adventurous. Refreshment outlets will also be on site.

The event is organised and run by Portsmouth City Council and The Kite Society of Great Britain and is completely free.