Darwin’s annual kite festival scheduled to continue with an extended calendar

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The skies above Darwin have been filled with colour this weekend for a yearly kite festival. After last year's unexpected success, the event has taken off once again along the city's coastline.

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00:00The young, and the young at heart, unfurled their kites to the wind.

00:06I think it's for everybody, really, at any age I guess.

00:09It brings out the child in everybody.

00:11We love kites!

00:13A community event on Darwin's coastline, families delighted at the scale of this weekend's kite display.

00:20I love the big whale, I think he looks fantastic.

00:23There's a shark, there's some that we haven't seen yet that I'm told are going to look amazing as well.

00:28So it is hard to choose a favourite, they're just all so big and spectacular.

00:32After thousands attended the one day event last year, organisers decided to add a second day this time.

00:38It was fantastic, we were really surprised at how much people embraced it.

00:42We had over 12,000 people come down last year, so we've expanded it over two days this year.

00:47On a windy day like today, the weight that some of these kites can generate can get up to a tonne.

00:52And it takes a whole crew of dedicated volunteers to be able to keep them from flying away entirely.

00:58And strong winds almost had this sea creature stranded in the trees.

01:02But with the aid of onlookers, the giant beast was tethered.

01:06This weekend's display, a labour of love from a group of passionate interstate kite enthusiasts.

01:12Basically we're a non-for-profit organisation, so we rely heavily on support.

01:18Further up the beach, flyers of a smaller variety also had their hands full.

01:23Don't let go, don't let go, hold it.

01:26The beginning of a permanent calendar fixture taking flight.

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