There’s no set schedule or events during the two-day gathering, warns Dave Shenkman, owner of Kite Connection on the Huntington Beach Pier and founder of the Kite Party event. Just some of the world’s best kite fliers, who come from around the world, hanging out for a party on the sand, kites in hand.
“It’s just hang out, fly kites,” said Shenkman.
Five-year-old Hannie Phan chases her unicorn skite as her dad tries to launch it during the Kite Party in Huntington Beach on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
John Barresi from Wasshington State, manuevers his DJuice kite during the Kite Party in Huntington Beach on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Barresi, who designed the kite, has been into the sport for 35 years, he said. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kites of all styles and sizes drift above the sand during the 21st Kite Party in Huntington Beach on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kite’s cruising through the sky are reflected in Don Fox’s sunglasses as he flies a Revolution during the Kite Party in Huntington Beach on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Owen Hertrick, 7, greets Don Fox’s Revolution kite as Fox uses it to interact with the public — the best kind of kite flying, he says — during the Kite Party in Huntington Beach on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Hyper kite is just within 8-year-old Brera Wild’s reach during the Kite Party in Huntington Beach on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kites of all styles and sizes drift above the sand during the 21st Kite Party in Huntington Beach on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ray Miller’s Hyper kite sails past pedestrians on the Huntington Beach Pier during the 21st Kite Party on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Miller, who has been into kiting for 40 years, says he likes to surprise people by letting the kite’s 25-feet tails brush over them. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kites mingle in the sky above the Huntington Beach Pier during the 21st Kite Party in Huntington Beach on =Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A kite soars in the sky during the 21st Kite Party in Huntington Beach on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Colorful Revolution kites soar during the 21st Kite Party in Huntington Beach on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mike Sterling of Oregon, has has been into kite-flying since 1988. He has a collection of Cyborg-style kites, or kites designed with an “X’ through the frame, pictured on the ground at right near his butterfly flag, during the Kite Party in Huntington Beach on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Don Fox of San Diego commanders his Revolution kite above the Huntington Beach Pier where pedestrians react during the 21st Kite Party on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Five-year-old Hannie Phan chases her unicorn skite as her dad tries to launch it during the Kite Party in Huntington Beach on Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Shenkman started the “gathering” 21 years ago when he asked on an online forum if people would show up if he could get a section of sand blocked off.
Now, more than two decades later, it has become the go-to spot for the best kite flyers in the world to showcase their skills, some traveling from around the country and as far as the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and beyond.
Shenkman caps the number of participants at 100, and each year the registration fills up, though casual kite flyers and spectators are welcome to partake in the fun outside of the sectioned areas.
Beaches are some of the best places in the world, and most popular for kite festivals.
“But there is only one kite party in the world, and this is it,” Shenkman said. “It has become world famous.”
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