Many years ago, I took my nephews to a kite festival and they were just as enchanted as I to see all the various kites flying above them. Today there were much more elaborate kites available and on show in abundance this past weekend. Kite flying apparently originated in ancient China over 2,000 years ago. (some say South Pacific)
A quaint little Ontario town by the name of Hopeville located just west of Dundalk held the largest kite festival in the province Saturday, Aug 29 through Sunday, Aug 30th., which turned out to be “a magical weekend of flight, music, food and more.”
Although it is a free event, organizers welcome donations to help put on the festival year after year. The festival address is 125849 Southgate Rd. 12 in Dundalk, Ontario and if you missed it this year, you will likely be able to catch it next August as it is an annual event. The Hopeville Kite Festival is proudly funded by the Government of Ontario. The Family Fun Zone is made possible by a grant from Community Foundation Grey Bruce.
Attendees could bring their own kites or purchase one at the venue — the festival welcomes flyers of every skill level. There was a designated fly zone for the public and many people brought their own lawn chairs just to sit and marvel at all the kites soaring above and around them. Where else would you be able to see an ice cream cone flying about. Not to mention an astronaut, a sea horse, a tall ship, octopi, fish, and dragons. You could get dizzy just from having to swivel your head around to catch them all.
Tip: The ultimate trick to flying a kite is maintaining tension on the string. Always stand with your back to the wind, let the kite catch the breeze, and pull gently on the line when it dips or feed it line when it climbs. Never let the line go completely slack.
Some interesting facts regarding kites:
The smallest kite in the world which actually flies is 5mm high.
The largest number of kites flown on a single line is 11,284. This record is held by a Japanese kite maker.
The longest kite in the world is 7,700 metres in length.
The largest kite in the world is the Megabite 55 x 22 metres (630sq metres).
The fastest recorded speed of a kite is over 120 mph. (193 km/h).
The record for the highest single kite flown is 3801 metres (12,471ft).
Some Japanese kites weigh over 2 tons. And some of the longest Chinese Dragon kites are over 600 metres long.
You do not need wind to fly a kite.
Kite flying is one of the fastest growing sports in the world.
More adults in the world fly kites than children.
People were flying kites 1,000 years before paper was invented.
The first powered aircraft were large box kites with motors fitted to them.
Kites have been used for fishing, bird scaring, delivering mail and papers, forecasting the weather and frightening evil spirits away.
Benjamin Franklin used a kite to prove that lightning was electricity.
What began as a community kite festival has grown into an event that attracts professional kite flyers from across North America and visitors from Ontario and beyond. Now in its fourth year, the Hopeville Kite Festival continues to combine the excitement of a major kite display with the welcoming atmosphere of a rural Ontario community.
If you have never had the opportunity to experience a kite flying festival, let your inner child emerge and attend one.
Upcoming 2026 Kite Festivals in Ontario
New Park Unveiling (Newmarket): September 19–20, 2026
Kites in the Field (Lucknow): September 26–27, 2026
Eau To Joy on the Beach (Erieau): October 17–18, 2026
REFLECTIONS OF A SWAMPER 