When Tom McAlister founded the Berkeley Kite Festival more than 30 years ago, it drew about 500 people to a 12-acre portion of the marina. The next time the Berkeley Kite Festival is in town, be sure to stop by with all your gear in tow! Throughout the night people of course used the ice machine and stood and talked in that area. Beds seemed clean but the carpet had stains and 2 sticky spots near the windows. Carol and Cass Pittman of San Diego have elevated their competitive kiting to a performance art, elegantly choreographing the swoops and drops of their steerable multi-line sports kites to the stirring strains of Feeling Good, the song made classic by singer Nina Simone. The beloved Octopi in the sky flew this weekend. The festival is family friendly with jumpy houses, kite-making stations, and a kite "ballet" performance in the sky. I am so fortunate to have a hospitable and caring group of team members in all areas. Weve always heard about it but have never made the trip out here.. I believe his name was Bob/Bill (Im sorry) he was great and very nice.Bilmar Beach Cafe and Bar was THE BEST! July 29-30, 2017 / 10-6 Both Days / The Berkeley Kite Festival is Always on the Last Weekend of Ju The festival attracted scores of people with intricate kites. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Berkeley held the 34th annual Kite Festival at Cesar Chavez Park on Saturday and Sunday. Victoria Colliver has been writing about health for the San Francisco Chronicle since 2001, focusing on the health care industry, health policy and cancer. We had room 203 king suite and it was worth every penny! Check out the festivals site for details! We checked in and Christopher was amazing and full of knowledge and so helpful! 510Families.com is the best website for parents in Alameda, Berkeley, and Oakland to find kid-friendly activities every day. Some can cost up to $4,000. This Incredible Kite Festival In Northern California Is A Must-See Go Fly a Kite in Berkeley This Weekend A graduate of UC Davis, Colliver received a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. Great place to walk or jog. We will have live music to enjoy throughout the day.This event will take place around the Cricket Field on Belle Isle. Neil, thank you for choosing the Bilmar and for taking the time to share your experience. You are invited to be a part of the annual Berkeley Kite Festival where the earth, wind, and sky combine to create an unequaled festival experience. Berkeley's 34th Kite Festival fills the sky with a swirl of colors Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Closed bathroom door and stuffed towels around the hall door as best we could. The festival attracted scores of people with intricate kites. I stayed multiple times in downtown St Petersburg for >>200$ night and the views just don't compare. Berkeley Marina | University Ave. and Marina Blvd., Berkeley, CA. This festival welcomes newbies and pros alike. We believe the best memories are created when families do fun things together. With a huge variety of kites flying through the air, the festival creates quite the spectacle, and it's truly magnificent. The retired couple starting competing about four years ago, enjoying the physicality of the sport as well as the art of crafting and performing routines to music. 2019 Berkeley Kite Festival Sat-Sun, July 27-28, 2019 | 10 am to 5 pm Berkeley Marina FREE, but parking is $20. If your plans bring you to the Bay Area this weekend, consider stopping by the Berkeley Kite Festival, a fascinating and family-friendly event that will the skies with vibrant colors from 10am to 6pm on July 28-29. The festival attracted scores of people with intricate kites. Come be amazed by talented kite flyers from all over the U.S. doing their thing on beautiful Treasure Island Beach. That says a million words about your hotel in just a few words!When an employee speaks as you walk by, when you walk in the lobby, when you ask for a towel, go to the cafe or the bar, when you literally pass them in the halls it just speaks highly of everyone!We have been together 6 years this year after meeting at a country night club 22 years ago and as of this weekend we are considering getting married at the Bilmar with your amazing staff!!! Let's Go Fly a Kite: The Berkeley Kite Festival The festival attracted scores of people with intricate kites. He even gave us a discount to help our accommodations since the prior week was a disaster as we couldnt come! Special compliment for the young man who checked us in. The room was great! You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Experience the artistry of modern kite flying at the 34th Annual Berkeley Kite Festival & West Coast Kite Championships. The festival attracted scores of people with intricate kites. Kites decorated the skies over Treasure Island Beach on Sunday during the Veterans Day Fall Fly on TI. OK, it aint your 4-5 star resort. Left to right, Tako Age members Sridhr Ramakrishnan, Yuji Goto, Kazuya Gojo and Ken Takeda build a traditional Japanese kite during the annual Kite Festival in Berkeley, Calif. on Sunday, July 31, 2016. Bilmar Beach Cafe and Bar was THE BEST! Email: vcolliver@sfchronicle.com Twitter; @vcolliver. The largest kites, about the size of a full-sized school bus, can be seen from the top of the Berkeley Hills. Will is a terrific team member and we are fortunate to have him. My son is Autistic and we caught public transportation which I dont recommend especially if your child has a hard time waiting as mine does. John D./Yelp The Berkeley Kite Festival returns in 2018. Daily articles and a weekend planner help you find whats fun and free when you need it. While we should have caught this upon arrival I do wish we had had the opportunity to move you to a location you would have preferred. Nice hotel. Please see our partners for more details. more. When we went to bed that night the room was so brightly lit it was crazy. Watch kite-flying demonstrations set to music and learn to fly stunt kites for free, then stick around for night flying. It was chilly the day we were there, so the beach was pretty much deserted. Thank you! The Kite Festival held every year over MLK weekend and again over Veteran's Day weekend in November is a great way to appreciate Treasure Island's beautiful beach. 2019 Berkeley Kite Festival & Championships | July 27-28. AWESOME PLACE TO STAY! Kite designers, kite fliers, parents with kids, seniorsthe crowd that this festival draws is truly diverse. Freddie and Tania rocked that bar and cafe and always had a smile of their faces!!! Not to mention beautiful sunsets. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. When: Annually in July. Hands-on Activities: Free Kite Making; Thank you for doing that for us! Berkeley Kite Festival - A Free Event for the whole family AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. This year I will drive because the wait for the bus to get there was over an hour. The festival attracted scores of people with intricate kites. The festival attracted scores of people with intricate kites. Rachel and Chad from Indiana will be back again!More, Dear Rachel & Chad, we are so glad you discovered the Bilmar Beach Resort - and what a weekend to find us. I found the Bilmar and was surprised at how nice it is!! Nothing fancy. Berkeley Kite Festival (2019) - 510 Families My daughters highlight is the pony rides. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Reccomend for couples, family and even business. Berkeleyside relies on reader support to remain free for everyone in our community. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. *Free admission, but all day parking is $20 at the Golden Gate Fields w/ a free shuttle to the festival. I am so fortunate to have a wonderful and caring staff and we are all thankful for our valued returning guests. 2023 Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. This event will take place around the Cricket Field on Belle Isle. Our prices for everything went through the roof! Read our, Piers & Boardwalks, Points of Interest & Landmarks. Love Northern Cal? The room is clean. More by Berkeleyside staff. You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. July 31, 2022 / 7:16 PM / CBS San Francisco BERKELEY (KPIX) -- For more than 30 years, the last weekend of July was reserved for the Berkeley Kite Festival -- a free, annual event that drew. ), Everything You Need to Know About Bay Area Amusement Parks. Want to see hundreds of kites flying through the air at once? You dont see under the gown what theyre doing with the pedals.. He even gave us a discount to help our accommodations since the prior week was a disaster as we couldnt come! Even arriving in the rain the staff were sunshine. This event listing provided for the Detroit . Poulet to close after 44 years | Berkeley staffing crisis|Citys 2nd refill shop opens |Affordable Housing Guide. 4 talking about this. Regardless we failed to meet your expectations and did issue your full money back. Your comments will be shared with the staff and we look forward to your next visit. When I see that, my job is done., Victoria Colliver is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. We had room 203 king suite and it was worth every penny! Kite flying soared high as a solo or team sport, as a ballet, as an artistic pursuit, and also as a family activity at the Berkeley Kite Festival on Sunday, which drew more than 35,000 to the Berkeley Marina over the weekend. Photo: Av Goldstein. Please check the official website or contact the event organizer before attending. We had room 203 king suite and it was worth every penny! Still, not sure they are worth the hustle. Amazing beach very quiet this time of year. Our AC unit stopped working and they had maintenance there in 10 minutes and it was fixed 15 minutes later! So, for a short week get-away, if you are OK sinking the reasonable 3K/week, including airfare, and basic restaurant fare the Bilmar is your destination. FREE, but parking is $20. Great fishing. Windworks, a kite store in John's Pass Village in Madeira Beach, hosted the kite festival. At 5-6K/week, there are more upscale options. Fun for the entire family, the Detroit Kite Festival gathers kite enthusiasts of all ages to share in the joy of kite flying. Free Rokkaku Battle, 1:30 & 4:15 (sign up required). Clyde Smith - General Manager. Stargaze at The Lawrence Few things are as romantic as looking up at the stars and being reminded that you are but a speck in the universe. 2 Inselruhe Avenue. Add Comment Berkeley Kite Festival & West Coast Kite Championships Photo by: www.highlinekites.com Kite Festival & West Coast Kite Championships are held for more than thirty years in Berkeley, CA. No one should ever be put in that room, let alone customers that booked for a week. BERKELEY KITE FESTIVAL - 300 Photos & 113 Reviews The Northern California Town That Transforms Into A Watermelon Wonderland Each Year, The Water Lantern Festival In Northern California Thats A Night Of Pure Magic, Theres A Great Big Cheese Festival Coming To Northern California And It Looks As Delicious At It Sounds, Theres A Bigfoot Festival Happening In Northern California And Youll Absolutely Want To Go, The One Of A Kind Festival You Wont Find Anywhere But Northern California, 11 Festivals In Northern California That Food Lovers Should Not Miss, 10 Unique Fall Festivals In Northern California You Wont Find Anywhere Else, 12 Festivals In Northern California That Food Lovers Should NOT Miss. Very clean and very nice! 2019 Berkeley Kite Festival Where can I find the best art attractions. The free, family-friendly event runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. January 14 and 15 behind the . It also helps your family, friends and Berkeley neighbors have access to reliable, independent reporting. Very clean and very nice! Rates right up there with any other beach in FL. Learn more about the Berkeleyside team. Clyde Smith - General Manager. Great for long walks and shelling. Water is calm and beautiful. She apologized and offered us the penthouse and a number of incentives to stay. McAlister said highlights of the festival include the more than 3,000 free kites donated to kids by festival sponsor Hills Physicians and the candy drop, in which more than 500 pounds of candy are dropped from kites over the two days. Glenn Mitchell, 67, of Coalinga (Fresno County), discovered indoor kite flying as a supplement to weight training after he retired from teaching high school biology after 36 years. Subscription to the award-winning AARP The Magazine, An ally on the issues that matter most to you in Detroit, Free membership for your spouse or partner. Thousands of shells to pick through. 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