The skies over Devil’s Bridge will be transformed into a colorful spectacle this Easter Monday as the International Kite Festival celebrates its 20-year journey from a small community gathering to an international event, attracting professional kite flyers, elaborate homemade creations, and a special inaugural nighttime display.
Organizer Calvin Pilgrim announced that 12 professional kite flyers from the United States will participate in this year’s milestone celebration, travelling to Antigua at their own expense.
“This year we have 12 persons coming from the US, all professional kite flyers. We are planning an excellent display at Devil’s Bridge on Easter Monday, and you’re just going to be wowed.”
The festival scheduled for 9am to 7pm on April 21, will conclude with a unique LED kite display at sundown.
“As the sun sets, we’re going to put up the LED-lit kites. So we’ll have maybe about an hour, 45 minutes of lighted kites,” explained Pilgrim.
From its humble beginnings as a Girl Guides activity to becoming a highlight on the calendar of Antigua’s Easter celebrations, the festival’s two-decades journey represents quite an achievement for its organizers. Co-organizer Mitzi Allen, who has been involved since the early days, marveled at the festival’s growth and longevity.
“I cannot believe it’s been 20 years. It’s just amazing how time flies,” Allen said. “I remember when it started. It was just a very small event that the Antigua Girl Guides participated in and helped to expand. That is where we came in as being a part of the kite festival because Howard’s sister, who passed … 10 years ago now, she was a member of the Girl Guides and one of the founding members with Calvin. In her memory, we just kept it going.”
The festival also serves as a memorial for loved ones who have passed away. For the past decade, organizers have flown a special dove kite carrying the names of deceased family members and friends.
“In the last 10 years, we have been putting up the dove kite, which is the kite in memory of those who have passed in the last year,” Allen explained. “When you come up to Devil’s Bridge, bring the names of your loved ones who have passed, and we put it on the tail of the dove kite and send it up to the sky.”
The event will feature several competitions for homemade kites, including categories for the biggest and smallest kites, and most unique design. Corporate entities are also encouraged to participate.
“We’re inviting business persons to enter a corporate kite competition. Registration for that is a hundred dollars,” Pilgrim said. “It’s an opportunity to build team spirit in your workplace and to advertise your brand. You’re going to have at least 5,000 eyes on that day.”
For any kites broken or torn during the festivities, Howard Allen will operate a “kite hospital” to repair the damages.
In addition, the festival will feature a number of food vendors, face painting, and activities for children.
Organizers recommend arriving early to secure parking and to witness the professional kite demonstrations. A kite-building workshop will be held on the Saturday before the festival, following a beach clean-up at Runaway Beach sponsored by Dutch Lady and Andrew Wholesale.
The 20th-anniversary celebration holds special significance for organizer Calvin Pilgrim, who has persevered through numerous challenges to grow the event year after year.
“I’m really proud of Calvin and what he has been able to accomplish over these last 20 years,” Mitzi noted. “With all his perseverance and limited resources, he has made this grow into something that people from all over the world come to participate in, whether it’s officially or unofficially.
“To all these pro kiters who are coming here on their own, paying their way, and staying out at Jolly Beach just to support the 20th anniversary of kite—that’s a testament to Calvin and the kind of reception they have gotten over the years. Antigua has become one of their favorite places to fly kites.”
Admission to the event is $20 for adults, while children under 12 enter free.
For more information or to become a sponsor, contact the organizers at 774-4879.
