Kite Festival 2010: I’m by the kite
Posted under: Getting to the kite festival this year was more challenging than ever, though once there, still entirely worth it. There’s nothing I like more than watching a bunch of colorful Austinites flying colorful kites, or trying to. There was also great music, tons of strangely shaped and interesting kites in the sky against the backdrop of the buildings of downtown, moon bounces, rock climbing walls, hula-hooping and it was a gorgeous day. In case you don’t know about the annual kite flying festival, it is longest continuously running kite festival in the United States and began in 1929.
Though one of my favorite events all year (along with Eeyore’s Birthday), I have never seen the kite festival so crowded. I wonder if it has to do with the fact that it was postponed from last Sunday colliding right into the weekend SXSW starts.
Friends of mine waited in line for the free shuttle from Colorado and 16th for an hour and a half, only to be told they weren’t going to take anymore people. We took one look at the line wrapping around inside the parking garage and decided to brave parking closer to the event. Near the intersection of Barton Springs and Mopac we just happened to find an actual parking spot amidst many cars that just pulled into the grass lining the access road or even made very slim medians makeshift parking spaces.
Another issue was that almost every stand ran out of food around 5 p.m., and the last stand serving food was forced to shut down at 6 p.m. because the event was officially over. This was upsetting to people who had been waiting in 4+ lines only to be turned away from each without food and told they couldn’t use their non-refundable food tickets. I blame SXSW, but if there really is an influx of those desperate to be a part of this glorious event (which I completely understand) I hope those in charge plan for a bigger crowd next year!
For more information on the festival visit the website.
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Wish we could have made it over there! That parking garage line was just way too intimidating for me. Thanks for sharing your pics and your experience!
We thought about going to this but I saw the traffic on southbound Mopa and it was gridlocked. It looked like a parking nightmare. Your pictures turned out great.
Thanks dude! Sorry you couldn’t get there.
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