Jamestown (Parks & Rec) – June 17, 2025 – The skies over Jamestown were once again filled with color and creativity as the 31st Annual Kite Festival took place May 29–June 1, bringing families, enthusiasts, and international fliers together for a weekend of soaring fun.

Despite a smoke-filled weekend, more than 100 kites danced through the skies at Meidinger Park, showcasing a variety of styles, sizes, and skill levels. This year’s festival marked a milestone as the first “International” Kite Festival in Jamestown’s history — thanks to special guests Dave and Claire Hardwick of England’s Octoposse Kite Team.

When asked what drew them to Jamestown, Dave shared:

“Looking at the posts about the event in the last couple of years we thought this looked like such a great place to come and fly our kites alongside people we knew from previous visits to the US plus many more fliers new to us. What we experienced surpassed our expectations… the field was amazing, the organization great and the public so interested and respectful of our hobby.

Jamestown has a lovely safe and friendly feel, wherever we went we ended up talking about our visit and how we were finding things. I think we have a whole new fan base in Jamestown for the Octoposse Kite Team. We also had real fun interacting with the children who were using the park – chatting and explaining to them about our kites. Just a nice relaxing place to be.

The Park and recreation service were obviously heavily involved with the event before during and no doubt after to make sure everything was in great condition and of course safe. We were very impressed with their work.

Of course, Mike and Cindy Gee, Chris and Rosi Dodson and all the Wings on Strings club plus many other fliers added the finishing touch by organizing meals, socials and generally making the whole visit a pleasure. It is a real bonus to Jamestown to have this event to look forward to every year and one we will certainly consider returning to in the future, perhaps with some more international fliers.

Finally, these things don’t happen without support from the sponsors and of course the local community, so much appreciation to all of them from us now back here in England. I hope the 32nd annual festival is as successful as this one and continues to bring pleasure to the Jamestown community for many years to come.”

Jamestown Parks and Recreation, alongside the Wings on Strings kite club and many dedicated volunteers, made the event a success — with meals, social gatherings, and excellent park conditions welcoming fliers and visitors alike. The 31st annual festival was a true testament to Jamestown’s community spirit, made possible by generous sponsors, hardworking volunteers, and enthusiastic community members who support outdoor fun, the arts, and recreation.

Plans for the 32nd Annual Kite Festival are already in motion — and with momentum like this, the sky’s the limit.

For future updates and events, visit jamestownparksandrec.com.