It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Austin! Nope, we are not talking about those winter holidays, full of sweaters and scarves, we’re talking about March in Austin! It’s time to (for the most part) put away those winter garments and break out the shorts, flip flops, and sun dresses (well, maybe keep out a few hoodies and sweatshirts for those inevitable cold snaps and rainy days, but you get the picture). Of course one of the biggest annual events in Austin helps to kick off this March with beautiful, fluttery art flying across the skyline — it’s the ABC Kite Fest!
This is the 89th year of the festival happening in Austin, and it continues to be (and always will be) a free event that welcomes everyone from kids to adults and dogs. This year at the festival you’ll find classics including the Exchange Club Kite Showcase & Contest, as well as MossFest, a children’s concert held in honor of John “Moss” Pieratt, Jr. Additional experiences include the Anteater Fun Run, the High Flyer Club, the Kids Club, and more. Find out more about these experiences, as well as ticketing details for them, at the festival website.
All proceeds from the event benefit Communities in Schools of Central Texas and the Moss Pieratt Foundation.
Some of our favorite places to shop for kites in Austin include Terra Toys and Toy Joy, but if you’re feeling extra crafty before the festival, we created a special Pinterest board with a few Austin-inspired ideas that may take your kite up a notch or two. You can see three of them below, but we’ve got more over on the Pinterest board so don’t forget to check it out!
[fts_pinterest type=single_board_pins pinterest_name=FreeFuninAustin board_id=abc-kite-festival-ideas pins_count=3]
There you’ll find some basic how-tos that can help you make the Texas State Capitol or even a taco. There are two different kinds of bats, one for little hands to make and one for older kids. A simple bird kite can be Austin-inspired by turning it into a grackle or one of the famous Wild Monk Parakeets that roam around East Austin. And if you’re really rushed for time, a simple newspaper kite made with a recycled Austin Chronicle or Austin American Statesman, along with some paint or a few stickers from local businesses, will do just fine.
And if that’s not enough inspiration for you, the festival’s organizers also put together a helpful kite-making guide that you can download right here! (It’s a .PDF file, if that’s important to you.)
Once you’re all done and ready to fly, ask an adult to post a pic of your kite on Instagram and to be sure to tag @austindotcom and @abckitefest so we can see your beautiful work!
Want to take that special kite to the festival in style? We’re giving away one VIP festival package to one lucky family! This family 4-pack includes parking inside of Zilker Park, early access to the grounds, catered breakfast and lunch, and air conditioned relaxation areas.
