THE WILDWOODS – The Wildwoods will officially kick off the 2018 summer season at the Unlocking of the Ocean Ceremony on Friday, May 25 at noon on the Andrews Avenue beach next to the Wildwoods Convention Center.
Tourism and city officials, guest speakers and more than 300 elementary school children will participate in the ceremony to officially ‘unlock’ the ocean with a large, ornate ‘W’ key and open the summer season. There will be plenty of colorful kites in the air and after the ‘unlocking,’ as the children fly kites that they made earlier that morning in kite-making workshops inside the Convention Center, officially kicking off the International Kite Festival. This event is FREE to attend and everyone is welcome.
The 33rd Annual Wildwoods International Kite Festival, the largest kite festival in North America, also begins that day and takes place through Memorial Day Monday, May 28. The event features kite makers from around the world flying their most incredible colorful creations during exhibitions and competitions. Kite festivities follow the Unlocking of the Ocean Ceremony with the opening of the Kite Sales tent, Friday night kite social and the 9 p.m. illuminated kite fly.
The Kite Festival continues on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27 with the East Coast Stunt Kite Championships featuring the best sport kite pilots in the United States. The championships are comprised of a variety of competitions for individuals, pairs and teams. Also during the weekend will be kite workshops and family games.
The Kite Festival concludes with the World Indoor Kite Competition in the Oceanfront Arena at the Wildwoods Convention Center on Monday, May 28. Skilled kite fliers will showcase their impressive abilities to fly kites without wind, with performances intricately choreographed to music.
For additional information about the 33rd Annual Wildwoods International Kite Festival, please call (732) 822-4884 or visit www.SkyFestivals.com.