Summerdaze Kite Festival and Workshops

Professionally known as “The Kite Lady”, Julie Adam is coming to Wanaka on Friday 7 January, 2011 for the Summerdaze Kite Festival, 2 days dedicated to the art of making and flying kites.

The Festival will open on Friday with a series of kite making workshops while Saturday 8 January, 2011 will be given over to kite flying with the Grand Kite Display taking place at Pembroke Park.

Ms Adam said the workshops are mainly for children but adults are welcome as well and all participants will take home their own kite.

“It’s a 90 minute structured workshop,” she said. “We start with a pile of material and from there we construct and decorate a kite. The idea is to make a kite on Friday and come along on Saturday to fly it at the Grand Kite Display.”

Ms Adam said the internationally acclaimed Peter Lynn Kites team would be taking part in the display with their incredible maxi sized kites, some of which are 60 metres long.

“Some of these kites, when laid out, take up most of a football field,” she said, “There will be some spectacular kites in the air, with creatures ranging from stingrays and other sea animals through to teddy bears.”

She’s not worried about the possibility of a still day either.

“There will always be wind,” she said.” We never get completely still days in New Zealand over summer, particularly in Wanaka. It might be still in the morning but once the sun heats up the land, the breezes start.”

“It’s really just a matter of how much wind we have. If it’s too windy we might not get the big ones up and if it’s not windy enough, they may not stay up for long but rest assured there will be kites in the sky. Over 80, if conditions are right.”

Ms Adam said the 3 workshops are filling up fast and she’s looking forward to introducing Wanaka to the world of kites.

“It’s the joy that’s involved, “she said. “ Kite flying uses wind energy and my energy and offers the opportunity to get outside on a nice day. Everyone who sees a kite looks at it and smiles. We’re all looking forward to coming down and flying Wanaka.”

The Summerdaze Kite Making Workshops take place at 10am, 12.30pm and 3pm on Friday 7 January, 2010 at the Lake Wanaka Centre. Cost: $5 (materials provided). Bookings are recommended. Contact events@summerdaze.co.nz or phone 03 443 2700

The Summerdaze Grand Kite Display takes place from 12 noon on Saturday 8 January, 2011 at Pembroke Park, Wanaka. Cost: Free. Members of the public are encouraged to bring their own kites and take part.

ENDS

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