By Allison Ha
BERKELEY, Calif. — Vivid bursts of color gliding through the air, the laughter of lively children racing down grassy hills and the aromatic smell of barbeque can all be found at the Berkeley Kite Festival, an event dating back more than 30 years. This year, the festival at the Berkeley Marina once again saw tens of thousands of people watching hundreds of kites of all different shapes and sizes soaring above.
“We don’t have the biggest kite and we aren’t the best at kite-flying, but we are one thread in the tapestry of this beautiful festival,” Matthew Sater said as he stood on a windy hill, using one hand to block the unforgiving rays of the glowing sun.
Many others also enjoyed the powerful gusts of cool wind traveling through the spacious park, including one of Sater’s friends, Daniel Alvarado, who soon chimed in: “Why can’t life always be this good?”
Across the park, more festival-goers were laying in the grass, watching a kite-flyer guide his four kites in a series of geometric formations.
“The Marina is a great place for this festival…it’s nice and windy,” Meghan Schofield said as she looked up at the vast, clear blue skies that extended infinitely, showcasing hundreds of eye-catching kites. Alongside the kites, an occasional hawk soared through the sky. Sitting next to her, Nathan Helm-Burger said that the couple had been attending the festival annually since they moved to Berkeley a few years ago from Washington, D.C.
“I’ve liked them ever since I was a kid…I enjoy seeing so many kites in the air at once,” he said, glancing down to admire the kite he was holding. He wasn’t the only one reminiscing about his childhood.
“I’ve been coming since I was a kid…my dad would bring me and my brother,” Carson Young said. This year, she brought along her friend Vaibhav Sawhney, who has been flying kites his whole life.
“Seeing so many kites flying in the air at the same time is very nostalgic for me…I competed in kite competitions when I was a kid in India,” he said. Sawhney then pointed out a man flying a triangular stunt kite decorated with blue and red stripes.
“That kite is very similar to some of the kites I used to fly as a kid,” he said.
The Berkeley Kite Festival not only reminds adults of simpler times but is also a place where children start making some of those same memories.
“It’s a great place to bring your kids,” Nathan Helm-Burger said.