The Smithsonian Kite Festival

The first record of kites in Japan dates back to 981 A.D. and confirms that they originally came from China. From then on forward kites have taken on an important artistic and cultural role in Japan. Each region features its own unique shape for a total of over 130 different shapes and styles of kites throughout Japan. The Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. pays tribute to the significance of the kite in Japanese culture with an annual kite festival, Tako Age Taikai (Japanese for “kite festival”).

The Smithsonian Kite Festival was established in 1967 by an aviation pioneer Paul E. Garber (1899-1992) who was also the founder of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) and was its first historian Emeritus. Needless to say, this kite festival is sponsored and coordinated by the Smithsonian Associates in partnership with the National Air and Space Museum and because it receives no Federal funding it relies exclusively on private donations. The Smithsonian Kite Festival has become one the world’s best known kite events held during the breathtakingly beautiful cherry blossom time featuring kite fliers from across the United States and the world.

The Smithsonian Kite Festival is held on the Washington Monument grounds where hundreds of multi-colored and multi-shaped kites soar up above while demonstrations are given by Japanese kite makers down below. The festival also features several competitions, the traditional Rokkaku kite battle, and a dazzling display of trick kite moves.
Rules of the annual Smithsonian Kite Festival are as follows:

1. Definition: A kite is a tied heavier-than-air craft that depends solely on the wind for lift.
2. By order of the Federal Aviation Administration, a kite must not weigh over five pounds and the altitude of flight must not go over 500 feet. Note: the Washington Monument is 555 feet tall.
3. When an announcement is made that a Presidential helicopter is approaching, all kites must be pulled down immediately and not released until an all-clear announcement is heard.
4. Only kites made and flown by the kite maker will be eligible for competition and any individual may participate with only one kite.
5. A kite that has won an award at previous Smithsonian Kite Festivals cannot be entered into another competition.
6. There are two levels of competition: a) Kite Maker which is open to all contestants who have not previously won two adult awards at the Smithsonian Kite Festival or who are not professionally engaged in designing or manufacturing kites. b) Master Kite Maker is open to all adults.
7. Only kites that fly steadily at a minimum of 100 feet for one minute in normal wind conditions may qualify for awards. Special circumstances such as very small kites or adverse wind conditions will be taken into consideration.
8. Participants will be asked to use a long line launch or to tow their kites in case of poor weather or extremely low and erratic winds.
9. With the judges’ permission a damaged kite may be repaired and resubmitted before judging time closes.
10. Friends may help in launching and repair but the flying must be handled by the kite maker.
11. After being judged, all contestants must leave the judging corner and they may continue to fly their kites only in the demonstration area.
12. The Field Commander is in charge of the flight competition area and has the authority to ban any contestant behaving in an unsafe or discourteous fashion.
13.  The Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service and the Recreation Department of D.C. are the festival’s officials and have the right to bar any activity or person whose behavior is considered offensive in any way.
14. Participants are responsible for cleaning up any debris that they may have created.
15. Any questions regarding the above rules are to be submitted to the Chief Judge for final ruling.