Hundreds of colourful kites take to the skies over Bridlington as part of FREE Festival

On Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May, kites of all shapes and sizes, including some of the world’s largest inflatable kites, will participate in a two-day aerial spectacular above Sewerby Fields (YO15 1ER) as part of Bridlington Kite Festival.

As well as professional demonstrations, there will be opportunities for visitors to have a go with kites themselves during supervised sessions. Admission to the Kite Festival is free of charge and this year’s fun, family-friendly event will also offer inflatables for younger visitors to play on, including a Free Fall slide and Bootcamp Challenge Assault Course.

There will be four sessions (two each day) of the ever-popular ‘parachuting teddy bears’ activity and younger visitors are welcome to take their own soft toys along for this.

Other attractions include fairground rides; face-painting; family games, including tennis, football and slacklines (which you can walk or run along, similar to slack rope walking or tightrope walking), with the Active Communities Team; charity stalls, including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Bridlington Sea Cadets; and stands selling kites. There will also be a great choice of food and drink stalls, including several new options for this year.

Councillor Barbara Jefferson, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Heritage and Coastal, said: “From flying frogs and sky-high snakes to leaping lizards and daredevil dragons, scores of exotic inflatables will add a splash of colour to the clifftops above Bridlington.

“Year-on-year, the Kite Festival attracts a number of internationally-renowned experts, who create spectacular displays for both visitors and local residents to enjoy over the course of the weekend.”

Bridlington Kite Festival is one of several major events organised by Visit East Yorkshire’s Events Team and is held in partnership with The Northern Kite Group.

It will be open from 10am to 5pm both days, and is free to attend. Visitors are advised to plan their visit carefully and can opt to arrive aboard the hugely popular land train, which runs from Sewerby Hall & Gardens and East Riding Leisure Bridlington every half an hour. The nearest car parks are next to Sewerby Methodist Church and Lime Kiln Lane Park & Ride, where you can use the MiPermit app.

For more information about the event, visit www.bridlingtonkitefestival.co.uk or follow the Facebook page: @BridlingtonKiteFestival.