Every August, the coastal town of Long Beach, Washington — about 3 hours from Seattle — is home to one of North America’s largest kite festivals. Free to attend, the Washington State International Kite Festival (WSIKF) returns August 17 to 23, 2026, marking its 45th year.
The week is packed with the festival’s beloved traditions: choreographed kite ballets, kite workshops, and hands-on activities for kids and beginners.
This year, organizers are adding a new event: a two-day sport kite competition. It will kick off on Sunday, August 16, with a preview round to give spectators a first look at team, pairs, and individual flyers from multiple countries. Scoring will be split evenly between two categories: technical skill and choreography.
According to the World Kite Museum newsletter, Long Beach’s wide, flat beach is part of what makes it work. Low tides are expected through late morning and early afternoon, exposing broad stretches of firm sand, and the tide isn’t expected to peak again until evening, keeping the beach open during the festival’s busiest hours.
Admission is free, and each day generally runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival is put on by the World Kite Museum, which has run the event since 2015.
With the event, it would be worth pairing a visit with a stop at the museum itself, a few blocks from the beach, to see the history behind the sport before watching it play out in the skies.
45th Annual Washington State International Kite Festival (WSIKF)
📍 Where: Long Beach, Washington
📅 When: August 17 to 23, 2026
💸 Free admission
🕘 Daily, roughly 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
For more details on this Washington tradition, you can visit the official WSIKF website.
