Annual festival keeps kites flying

DESPITE COVID-19 restrictions halting usual festivities of the annual Surf Coast Kite Festival, children and their parents braved the wild wind to fly kites.

The kite festival has become a calendar staple with crowds turning out to previous events at Cosy Corner to enjoy face painting, music, glitter, kids and colourful kites.

Festival organiser Emily Torney adapted to restrictions to keep the event running this year, opting for a community-wide kite flying day instead.

“There wasn’t a set location” Ms Torney said.

“It was a kite flying day, we just encouraged everyone to get outside and fly their kites where they were.”

From Torquay to Jan Juc, kites were expertly hoisted in the air by enthusiastic pilots.

Ms Torney said the conditions on the public kite flying day were less than ideal with winds of 30 km/h recorded by midday.

“The wind was extraordinary,” she said.

The festival is a community initiative set up by Jan Juc Pre School and its supporters to raise awareness for the education centre, which is serenely set amongst the trees in Bob Petitt Reserve.

In turn, the festival acts as a fundraiser. Ms Torney said Torquay Toys found a new way to help too.

“They sold kites in the lead up and they opened up on the Sunday of the event – they range from $20 through to expert ones.

“At the end of the day, the main thing is that we are keeping momentum going and awareness for next year.”