This annual event is for sure a fun free event, I'd imagine a must-see if you are a kite fanatic. Bringing my son for the first time, it was fun for him to see the kites, although he was a little too young to truly appreciate them. :: He's 2.:: I'd say at anytime there were about 10-15 large balloons taking up the skies of Caesar Chavez park and loads of small, more amateur kites. :: Who knew the kite biz was so popular and thriving?:: The festival is in the main grassy area, which was crowded with booths, rides and people, but the main path along the water, no one. We were able to enjoy the walks and the views and then walk into the festival. We rode our bikes and there was ample free bike parking. They had free shuttles which had incredibly long lines. A lot of traffic and high priced parking, but I did see a ton of people walking over the bridge towards 4th St. Overall, a solid kid friendly event that lets you enjoy a beautiful park, the beautiful views, sunshine and some pretty epic kites! read more

Berkeley Kite Festival - Festivals Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Warm and a fair amount of wind for the kites to fly itself and no need to run to get it up and self-flying! Breezy day and admirable kites to be looking over the waters and hills here. There are food trucks and jumpy jumpy play area for kids. One can set up campground here for the day if wanted! Family fulfilling fun! read more

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We travel from Napa to go to Berkeley's annual kite festival. Our second year in attendance. This festival brings out the best nature in people. So many families are there and set up blankets, shade, and bring foods. Many people buy kites on sale. Start setting up their new kites. Testing the kites and then (hopefully!) get kites airborne and flying them! Kids laugh watching the kites flick & flitter in the sky. Kids try to follow their Kite and catch them ;-) So many colors, designs and sizes. Soapy water bubbles are also in the sky ;-) Many food trucks to choose from. It ran July 27 & 28. Come hungry: ice cream sandwiches, caramel corn, chicken and waffles, French fries, snow cones, etc. Plan waaaaay early arrival to find parking spot relatively close, at $20. Lots of kid activities; Petting Farm animals, choice of 3 blow up jumping air rooms, face painting, pony rides, too! Delightful way to spend a Sunday. Even if my "baby" is 26 years old and more than 2,000 miles away!m read more

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Plan this outing right and you will have an enjoyable experience. I did my research on the event site and on yelp. Read the reviews and tips! Here are a few that I thought were really useful: *Bring cash - there are ATMs in a couple of spots, but come prepared and avoid those ATM fees. You'll need cash for vendor purchases *Bring Cash/foldable chairs/tent- you'll want something to sit on. Otherwise you will be sitting on brown grass. Note: there are specific places where you can only lay down blankets. *Dress in layers- it can be cold, windy and cloudy when you arrive. Clouds will move and burn out then hello Sun! *If you dress in short sleeves or shorts, bring sun screen. *Bathroom situation- porta pottys. Bring some wipes and hand sanitizer. There are stations to wash your hands but for that extra clean feel. *Make it a day- bring your own kites, bring some snacks, make it a picnic- bring sandwiches, waters and buy the sweet stuff there. *Traveling with younger kids? Bring a wagon they can sit on or store snacks/ goodies. We arrived before 930 am (event start is 10). Was able to park at the Marina ($15) and totally walkable to the event. It's a dusty parking area. Do not wear your Sunday best. Wear comfy shoes. It's an all day event that requires walking. Be smart about it. If you arrive after 10- park at golden gate fields and take the free shuttle. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful large kites- the octopi were our favorites. But you can see several other kites in the air. They have shows and competition too. Also for kids, there is a free kite making section (starts at 11) and all it is, is a plain white sheet of paper, which they provide the string for you to fly it. Kids can decorate it, but on the tables, it is really hard to draw on it. You can also buy kites there if you want to spend the money. There are kid play areas and pony rides and a petting zoo- warning! There is a cost per child to do these things. Also, take the time to walk around. See the kites from different angles. My little fam and I enjoyed this really cool experience. read more

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This is one of the coolest things to do in Berkeley. The Berkeley Kite Festival in the summertime is a fun and free event at the park at Berkeley Marina. The highlight is definitely the GIANT OCTOPUS KITES. OCTOPI IN THE SKY!!! You can actually see them in the distance as you're walking closer to the park because they are so huge. They are many of them and in different colors. I was just in awe when I saw them for the first time. There are tons of other kites at the festival too - more of the regular kind that you would see at the beach or your local park. You are definitely encouraged to bring your own kite. People had set up blankets and chairs and tents and were either flying their own kites or watching other people fly their kites. It's such a lovely event and great to see people in the community - Cal students, families, everyone! - come out to have some summer fun. I usually just walk over to the Marina using the pedestrian overpass bridge that goes over 80. If you haven't been to the Kite Festival, go next summer - the octopi are totally worth it! read more

Berkeley Kite Festival - octopi in the sky - Festivals Near Me - Berkeley, California

There's something gratifying about seeing a community getting together and celebrating something so juvenile as kite flying. From the high way you can see hundreds of kites dancing in the sky, all different shapes, sizes, colors - just from an outside perspective it's like seeing something in the movies that you'd never think you'd see in real life. Parking is atrocious! The prices may vary from $15 or so but there are shuttle buses from the marina to the fields. The delta winds made the day perfect for flying and if you're wanting to join the crowd, they have booths set up with different types of kites to buy. The food vendors were pretty sketchy and there were games for kids to play. I didn't stay as long as I wanted to but it's pretty limited to what you can do out there but if you do plan on going you may want to bring sunscreen, a blanket to sit on, and perhaps your own food since the vendors tasted like shit. I promised my dad that I'd take him next year and I'm pretty much looking forward to it. read more

Berkeley Kite Festival - Festivals Near Me - Berkeley, California

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FREE Admission to the Berkeley Kite Festival for the whole family. It's held at Cesar E. Chavez Park near the Berkeley Marina last weekend in July, both Sat & Sun. I went on the 26th Annual event Sat 7/30/11. Parking by the Marina is $10 w/ FREE shuttle pick-up, or you can park East of I-80 & walk/bike across the new bike/pedestrian bridge. Also there's FREE shuttles that pick up at North Berkeley Bart & Spenger's (West Berkeley). Got there early & there were some Octopi up. They are Giant size so very impressive. Near the end of the day they had about 17 up. Lots of people bring their own kites to fly. Get a Schedule of Events which has times & map. I didn't so just kinda wandered around. Missed out on lots of stuff - oh well. If I ever go back I'd like to see the Rokkaku Battle. They have 2 scheduled each day. The Candy Drop is for kids. They drop a bag of candy, then tell the kids to get it. Looks like fun. They had Pony Rides $6 ea & Jumpy House/Slide (cost I didn't look into). Lots of food booths - nothing cheap. Turkey leg $10 (didn't try, but looked good); Roasted corn $3 - just ok. Fried foods, Asian food, Ben&Jerry's $4 a scoop, etc. Got some Meyer's Dish Washing Soap. FREE coupon for Slurpee. Traffic is bad leaving the event. Tip: Bring your own food - make a day of it, chairs, dress in layers (cold in the morning/hot in afternoon), hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, water. Many pit toilets w/ hand washing stations outside next to them. read more

It's still a lot of fun, but it's gone from a sweet event to a commercial nightmare. I regret we ever walked over to the Kidzone and got trap spending a lot of money there for mediocre entertainment and activities. It's become very crowded and it's difficult to navigate the walkways, especially with strollers. The part we liked best was the bus ride from the parking lot. We got there early so the buses were ready to go when we were and we didn't wait at all for a ride back. The bus ride gave us great views of the city and surrounding area. It was worth taking our friends from Kentucky there, especially to see the views. It was very sad that one of our girls, four years old, let go of her string and her kite flew into the bay. It was from the free make your own kite activity, and she assured us there was no kite that would ever be as perfect, with such a perfect drawing, and there was no sense in doing another one because it was the best kite in the universe. It was very sad and also very funny. But of course to her we just agreed it was sad. read more

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PARKING IS A NIGHTMARE! Parking is $15 There are friendly shuttles provided by the city of Berkely. Took us about 45mins from the exit ramp to park due to the congestion. You could also park at Golden Gate Fields and take the shuttle -would probaly avoid that same traffic we were stuck in. Will definately make it an annual event if we can make it! We had such a great time (minus the parking). We packed a picnic basket of goodies however there are a good handful of vendors and food trucks available. No kite? No problem! There are booths where you can make your own kite, purchase a legitimate kite or heck there are a bajillion kites out you can enjoy the day without even having to fly your own! We didnt fly one this year, but next year when the little man is old enough maybe we'll fly one then. Make it a picnic, bring your family, or bring a date. Its definately fun for all. Who doesn't like flying a kite? When the heck did you last fly one? read more

Berkeley Kite Festival - Festivals Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great summer kite fest in Berkeley flying kite in afternoon with your firend and family . This is one of my event to do in the summer lots of sun great wind for fly kites awesome for kids great food over all a great afternoon Here come on down and join us :3 read more

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I absolutely adore the Berkeley Kite Festival! Wow, where do I start! I've always been in awe by the sheer size and rhythmic movements of the giant squids. With some gargantuan new additions this year, the festival has become even better than the last, and will probably only get bigger in the coming years! This festival is for anyone and everyone! Anyone can fly a kite and everyone can enjoy the beautiful scenery of, at any given time, hundreds of kites flying simultaneously. Whether you bring your own kite or just come for the entertainment factor of watching others fly, it's pure amusement nonetheless. Cesar Chavez Park serves as the perfect venue for the must needed passing sea breeze and open space to house the multitude of kites. With the showcase of kites, comes the kite competitions and aerial shows from kite professionals! Bring some foldable chairs or a blanket and watch the kites compete in the sky! It's not a festival without food and activities right? There's a huge selection of food stands, inflatable obstacle courses and even a petting zoo! There's so much to see and do here at the Berkeley Kite Festival. The festival is a 2 day weekend long event and something I look forward to attending every year. Come see a fantastic showcase of flying squids and awe amazing scenery! read more

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Usually anything at the Berkeley Marina makes me think twice, but the day was nice so we took a chance. Fortunately, the festival was well run with lots of shuttles running to get you from one of the many parking lots to the activities. We no longer have little kids, but there would have been a ton to do with them. There was a zip-line, animals, bouncy houses, and those balls you climb inside. As adults, it was nice to just walk around, check out the kites from giant sized to mini, and enjoy some food truck grub. read more

A fun event for all ages! If you do not get there early, forget about finding parking in the marina. There is a free shuttle that picks people up near Gilman fields but parking is not free. *MY RECOMMENDATION* I arrived kind of late (around 2pm). I-80 westbound at University off ramp AND Gilman off ramp was a complete $h*t show. I parked for free on the street on 2nd Street / Addison Street (PLENTY OF PARKING). Walk on 2nd toward Addison before making a right in Addison. Once there , you'll find the bottom of the walking / biking bridge that crosses over I-80. After a nice 20 minute walk over the bride and down the dirt path from the frontage road, you are at the event (bicycle friendly)!! Totally bypassed the hassle of trying to find parking, sit in traffic and pay for parking! The event is free. Tons of cool kites, food vendors, ATM's and places to sit on the grass. Bring a light jacket as it gets a little windy. read more

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Wow. I remember when I was a little kid, my dad and I used to go to the nearby park to fly a kite on a windy day. Back when life was simple, carefree, worry-free. Pretty much like a Country Time Lemonade commercial. Fast forward, give or take, 20 years, and here I am. At the Berkeley Kite Festival with my dad, flying a kite. Like the good ol' days. This time, my mom and Wyatt (my dog) also accompanied us. Parking: Got there about an hour early to avoid any parking craziness, and we were able to enjoy the park and marina minus all the hustle and bustle that emerged later on in the day. 10 bucks for parking. Food: Lots and lots of food vendors! I had the tofu veggie ball sandwich with arugula salad and a chocolate chip cookie from Tofu Yu (http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=pmOArmwfK51Bjot4FMDX5g). The sandwich was delightful -- they tasted like real meatballs instead of veggie knockoffs. A generous portion of food for 8 bucks. I saw people walking around with big plastic bags of kettle corn, and I knew I had to get one! It was so yummy...6 bucks for a bag. Drinks are way overpriced, so bring your own. Activities: Very kid friendly -- had a section where kids can make their own kites. Other fun activities like banana tag (?). There were kite shows in the sky nonstop. From SOLO the world's largest octopus kite to kite ballet competitions. Weather: If you get there early, it's super cold and foggy. Bring a sweatshirt. Even later on during the day when the fog rolls away, it's still fairly brisk. It's windy aka kite weather after all! Overall, lots of fun things to see and do. An awesome way to spend a Saturday or Sunday morning/afternoon. Not to mention, it was all free! Will be back again next year. read more

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Very cool event. BUT with a few caveats... Make sure there are no clouds covering the precious sun over the marina before you go. It's a few days away from August, and coming from the depths of heat hell in the inland East Bay, we froze our arses off here. It was cloudy, and hella windy. We waited in line for the shuttles (more on that later). Did I mention the wind? There were people there unprepared. I saw a female wearing a thin summer dress who conveniently forgot to wear a bra. Imagine that. With the windchill, it felt like the lower 50s. My poor kids. Parking. Up close parking, the traffic was a nightmare. But there was extra parking at GG Fields. They charge $15! And you have to wait 30 minutes for the school buses to come get you. I feel like they should have had way more shuttles so it was an endless loop of buses. While waiting, there were periods of 5-7 minutes with zero shuttles. The actual shuttle ride was kinda nice, and only then did I realize that walking from that parking lot would have made me look like a baffoon to my family. Strollers ok as they go in the luggage compartment below. The actual event was nice though, notwithstanding the weather. Kites everywhere. Huge ones too! Great food vendors, and places to play for the kids. Here's a tip...bring a beach towel so you can picnic. Oh, and bring cash too. It still amazes me that vendors still don't come to grips that a lot of people choose to pay by plastic. Why not get a free Square account? Especially here in the Bay Area. I saw a bunch of people being turned away because they didnt have cash. Although there were a couple of ATMs scattered around. Check it out! But bring some patience and some weather protection! read more

A lot of parking lots but very full parking. The good news is they had a shuttle. They had some vendors there. Kids make their own kites pretty cool and free. They have some food vendors price is kind of high but that's any festival. Some activities to do for kids. I wish they had benches to sit at. Some bouncing houses for kids and the hamster balls for kids. Overall ok but pretty good pictures. read more

Berkeley Kite Festival - Festivals Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Location, location, location. Larger than life kites with the fricking OCEAN and clear blue sky as a backdrop. Simply breathtaking... not to mention there were some beautifully vibrant kites of all shapes and sizes floating amongst them and being flown by enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels (the set up for a true family friendly event :D ). Looooved that they had different segments going on throughout the day and that it wasn't just a bunch of random people flying kites. That wouldn't have been bad either since I'm fairly easy to please when it comes to my mini Vi-adventures, but it was nice. For the kiddies, they dropped candy from one of the large kites -- kind of a pinata/egg hunt type of situation. This was separated by age group, of course, so as not to get the smaller children trampled on. They also did this kite showdown where professional handlers would attempt to take down the kites of others in a last-man-standing competition. Exciting stuff for a dork like me. In terms of the venders, it seemed like your generic county fair fare, but I have to say, I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff either way. Grabbed myself a turkey leg for $10 that everyone kept stopping me to ask about. Of course, there was the shaved ice, hot dogs, garlic fries, and even dry ice drinks as well as booths selling jewelry and/or other nick nacks. Certainly enough things to eat and peruse through to keep ya busy. BUT this festival falls just short of five stars and here's why: the parking is pretty ridiculous. Although I was personally lucky enough to find a spot near the entrance almost immediately, I can't say most people experienced what I did. Lines for the shuttles were insaaaaane. Still, I think I'll be back next year... and with my own kite! I just hope I don't take anyone's eye out :p read more

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This was such a beautiful event. Vibrant and colorful kites in a variety of shapes and styles nicely decorated the sky. I was a first timer to the kite festival and I was not disappointed. The octopus kites were just so lovable. The kite ballet and battles were fun to watch. Couple of tips for other first timers - 1. Arrive early if you could. Try to get here before 12 or you might be stuck in traffic and shuttle line for a really long time. 2. Dress warm and in layers. It is extremely windy but could also get quite hot around noon. 3. Bring your blanket, fold-able chairs or something to sit on. It is a laid-back event. If you are not flying a kite you will most likely be sitting on the grass staring at the sky. 4. Apply plenty of sunscreen and bring your sunglasses. 5. Bring some cash for food if you plan to eat there. There is an ATM machine but it is far from the food vendors. 6. Bring your kite and have fun! read more

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The Berkeley Kite Festival is fun for all ages. If the wind is good, you can really get a kite to fly high. Watch out for others flying their kites too. This is one of the most unique festivals in the area. Parking is $10 so bring a bunch of friends with you. It was gorgeous out when we went. Some crazy dude nearly killed me with his kite. There was no apology whatsoever. Yeah, next time you nearly get strangled see how you feel. I'm inspired to get a kite of my own, or even make one and go flying on a windy day. It's relaxing and you have to pay attention. read more

PRETTY rainbow in the sky! Ah, it brings me back to my childhood, where we would fly kites in the streets, and witness our $1 kite get stuck in a tree, multiple times=X Thanks to all the yelpers and their tips; the trip to Berkeley Kite festival was VERY successful. In return, I would like to provide a few pointers, instead of reviewing the event, since you can see the event for yourself next year! Tips: 1) Arrive early around 9:45am, and park near Addison and 4th Street. It will take you about 25 minutes to walk to the festival. This is also a PLUS because you avoid traffic heading out. If you plan on arriving after 11:30am, i would suggest, stay home and avoid the headache of sitting in traffic! 2) Bring picnic blankets to sit on, picnic food (there are vendors, but this is a good way to snack on food and then head into Berkeley for some REALLY, delicious food), a cap/hat to avoid sunburn, sunblock, a kite you purchased at Target or at the festival, and camera! 3) Dress in layers. When I arrived to the site, it was really gloomy at 10:20am, but then 1 hour later, it was hot!!! If you park far, you will have a hike; so avoid hauling too much stuff and wear comfy shoes! read more

Possibly one of the most awesome festivals because you don't even have to go to the park to enjoy it - you can see the kites from the freeway, from West Berkeley from University Ave ... it's amazing - you just look west and, "O! a lotta kites!" I think that this festival should happen monthly - it brings so much color and fun to the skies. You never heard of people getting too drunk and having fights at a kite festival. You don't hear about kites killing people. It's mellow. It's family oriented but not in the "just wait while I tie my baby's booty and block the whole sidewalk" sort of way. Oh - and did you know it is free? Next to the color blue, FREE is my favorite color! Maybe one day I'll get a kite but for now it would just be too dangerous as walking around to admire all the other kites while flying a kite will piss off other kite flyers by tangling things. read more

Let's Go Fly a Kite! Fields of kites blanket the beautiful blue yet appropriately windy skies of Berkeley. Having gone to the Berkeley Kite Festival twice in two years, I am obviously an avid fan. Although most attendees are families with small children, young adults typically enjoy this event. ALERT ALERT: Great date idea! Whether you fly a kite or simply watch the kites majestically fly through the sky, you will have a blast. Remember to pack a lunch. Don't bother taking the shuttles from the Berkeley Marina parking lot to Kite Hill; it's only a 15-20 minute walk. There are also food and drink vendors, a petting zoo, and a kid's bouncy activity area. Must see if you live in Berkeley! read more

I had such a fun time at this festival! We arrived at one of the parking lots ($15 with free shuttle service to the festival. I believe you can walk to the festival location, but I don't recommend it) at around 10:45am and were able to get onto the shuttle bus immediately. We were dropped off within 10 minutes. The return shuttle had a longer line but the wait was really fine. We had to stand but the ride was short and during a hot day with things to carry, I think walking would have been too much. The festival also has different vendors, food stands, and fun activities for young kids. We only walked around to check them out because we brought stuff to eat and a kite to fly. We had a Sport Brella and were able to find a nice spot to set things up even though the place was already filled with a lot of people. The porta potties were pleasantly clean and the line was pretty short for an event such as this. The kites were amazing and they just make you happy. The only thing I didn't like was the place has no good grass. It's all covered with rough hays. So definitely bring a picnic blanket! Also, it's very windy so even if it's a sunny day, it would be best to bring a jacket! I'm totally looking forward to this next year! read more

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Last year I was driving on I-80 looking from a distance at all the large kites in the Berkeley Marina. Oh the envy I had. I wanted to go so bad! This year I planned it out and made sure I could go to the Kite Festival- And I'm glad I did! It was a lot of fun seeing all the kite fliers and walking around the area. My friends and I spent about 3 hours at the festival, part of the time we flew our own kites that we bought (little baby kites for $7 that read "Berkeley Kite Festival"). Every one was happy and enjoying the windy day. As for parking, we parked East of I-80 on Addison St. where the pedestrian bridge starts. Not only was the parking FREE but it was an easy walk to our destination. I'll go back for sure! read more

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Really fun event. It's not hard to look up in the sky at waving octopi, jelly fish, salamanders and hello kitteh's hovering over all the rolling hills and not break out into a big smile. We hurried in to get the free kite making in the late morning/early afternoon and managed to make a kite and get it up there, and there was a good wind going that day. Maybe its like that every day over there by the Marina. Along with the kite watching, making and flying, there were taiko drummers, some good food (the garlic noodles and chicken skewer was a good deal as it alone was more than enough food for the three of us!), a big children's area with petting zoo, pony rides and bouncy structures, and kite booths and other crafts. Bring along a blanket or better yet a little open tent as we saw a bunch of people have to help shelter the wind a bit, and enjoy a nice mellow breezy day. We sure did! Parking can be tough as we saw lots of cars...but we parked on the other side and walked across the pedestrian bridge over I-80. Depending on where you park over there, it's a good mile and a half one way to the event, but you get to see a lot along the way and lots of people do it that way. read more

Um, where was the world's biggest octopus kite? How about the kite that is supposedly bigger than a house? I saw five octopus kites but they were all medium size and none of them was the biggest octopus kite in the world or were they? The duck kite really entertained my partner. I liked the clown fish kite that never went off the ground. There were many kites but they were scattered about and nothing was particularly "big." I didn't see any kite making booths or Taiko drummers. I did like the music and at one point, they were playing the song to the Godfather movie. I have to admit that it was an interesting experience, listening to the the soundtrack of the Godfather on a very cloudy day while kites fly overhead. It was sort of like going to a very strange funeral. I didn't try the food and I didn't want to pay 7 dollars for a glass of lemonade though I did later spend 60 dollars on a Korean lunch. The shuttle service was very efficient and not bad for a 10 dollar parking fee. The music was pretty good. I forgot though why I was there... Oh yeah, the kites. I think the kites need a little help with their presentation. For sure, the marketing (their website) for the Kite festival outshone the actual event. read more

Four words: Octopi in the sky. Reminded me of the video in American Beauty. You know that part of the video of the paper bag being tossed around by the wind. The video that made him feel good about being alive. I wish I could have spent all day here, lying in the grass, just watching those octopi. read more

Go fly a kite? Believe me, I've tried and failed, Charlie Brown! All of which makes Kite Day all the more fun! Perched on the balcony of my home, using my spyglass, the sight of a zillion colorful kites filling the blue sky was marvelous! My dog, Walter, and I spent the afternoon enjoying the festival from afar. Why not go to the festival? It is gets too crowed, there is no parking, the shuttle service sucks, and I know people mean well, but they can't keep their hands off Walter. Three stars. Plus, I enjoyed my libations in the privacy of my own home. read more

The Berkeley Kite Festival should be on everyone's Summer Bucket List it is something i look forward to every year (even though i haven't gone every year). i've been fortunate enough to have my fair share of visits to the festival. i remember my first time being wide-eyed and fascinated by the Thanksgiving Parade sized kites that can be seen as i drove up to the marina. i came unprepared not having a kite of my own envious of everyone else with theirs soaring in the sky. the second time i went was for work and play. i was working one of the booths advertising for a summer camp. remembering the last time however i remembered to buy a kite in advance. a beautiful 16" kite (from costco) but like i said it was work and play. the last time i went was most recently and i was able to enjoy it all like it was the first time. i went with a group of friends who are also festival fans. it was sharing of best practices. they were big fans of the kite battles and stunt kites, which i never stopped by to see. however they have never brought a kite of their own to fly, and so in return i brought mine. hopefully before the next one i'll have a stunt kite to fly. watching them fly was amazing! not sure if i'm ready for the investment but a boy can dream... a free event, except for the $10 parking fee and it's fun for all ages from tiny tykes and grandparents alike. until next time cheers read more

Berkeley Kite Festival - John 2012 - Festivals Near Me - Berkeley, California

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It is a once in a lifetime experience. The kites are big and color. They are beautiful to see. The problems will cause you not to return. There is lots and lots of people here. There are many people trying to drive in and park, so much the parking lot is inching along like the freeway off ramp. The public transportation is even more packed. And even walking around has a few thousand already there. The prices aren't cheap. The food, drinks and everything. It is windy for the kites to fly but too windy for a person to take. The cold wind does give a person the chills. So it just blows and blows. read more

This is my second consecutive year attending BFK. Last year, I paid $15 and parked in the lot across from the event. This year, I parked in the parking lot behind the soccer field. I ended up walking 10 minutes on some back road in order to get to the festival. I was happy to see that they changed some of the big kites. I really enjoyed seeing Toothless from How To Train a Dragon. I feel as though this festival is really geared towards children and families. I loved that there was a booth where children and any adults who are children at heart could decorate and make their own pinwheels and kites. Unfortunately, they ran out of kites by the time I got there, but it was fun to see many people proudly flying the kites they made. My only gripe is that I wish they could figure out another way to organize the parking situation. In order for the shuttle to be of any use to people, you have to park in the Golden Gate Fields parking lot, which costs $15. I think I remember reading somewhere that the proceeds go to charity, but still, I think it's a bit pricey. TIP: Bring some food and drinks for a picnic! TIP: Bring sunglasses and wear layers! It's typically windy, but it's hard to predict if it'll be warm or cold so be prepared. CON: Lots of traffic and limited parking. Expect to be around lots of people who don't really know what they're doing. read more

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What: - Festival to see all kinds of flamboyant and artistic kites - Free kite flying and kite making lessons - Entertainment for kids - Jumpers, Trains, Pony Rides, Farm Animals More Info: - Free admission - $10/day parking with free shuttles from the parking lot to the festival - Festival booths selling kites, candies, food, etc This was our first time visiting the Annual Kite Festival in Berkeley. Although I knew about the Kite Festival long ago, I was not motivated to attend the event until I saw pictures of the magnificent kites that are flown here. I am so glad that we made it this time because we had a blast. As we were on the freeway and driving close to the Cesar Chavez Park, we saw numerous, vibrant kites flying high against the clear blue sky. That was enough to get us excited! There are two parking lots, one at Marina and another at Golden Gate Fields. We parked the car at Marina and took the free shuttle to the festival grounds. The good thing is that the $10 parking fee goes to buying dictionaries for Berkeley school kids. We saw all kinds of assorted shaped kites, such as fish, octopus, prism, roto-box, lizard, dragon and many more that my memory does not recollect. Some of the highlights were the humongous puppy shaped kite, giant octopus kite, Nemo fish kite and Panda shaped kite. It was fun watching little kids trying to fly their cute little kites. There is a ton of entertainment for the kids, in addition to flying kites. There were jumpers, pony rides and a kids train to take them around the park. There was also a small space for farm animals such as goat, chicken, duck, rabbits and kids were inside this little space petting the farm animals. I took the opportunity to pet a tiny rabbit, which has been and still is my personal favorite since I was a kid. There were kite flying shows among novice kite flyers and it was amazing to see how they flew their kites in a procession. In addition, there are several festival booths, where one can amble and spend time. Some of the vendors were even giving away free ice-cream samples to all and sundry. We spent a good two hours here before taking the shuttle back to the parking lot. When we attend the kite festival next year, we are sure to best utilize the free kite flying and kite making classes offered at the festival. Several folks had even brought their tents to camp there the entire day. I fancy that idea! Tips: - Check out the timings for free kite flying and kite making classes if you are interested - Bring your tents if you plan to stay here for the entire day because there is no shade at all - Bring towels to spread on the grounds read more

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We had been coming to the kite festival for many years it was a peaceful and calming. Them the power's that be decided to turn it into a loud commercialized kids circus. I guess Kites are too boring, too quiet too beautiful, let's crank up some loud generators and bounce houses. It's kinda ugly now and sad, we don't go anymore. Maybe we are just to old for the new and improved Kite Festival. read more

The Berkeley kite festival was the perfect venue to bring some visiting friends and family for the day. Held at Cesar Chavez park, it was difficult to find parking near by and we had to walk for quite a bit but it was worth it. The large kite displays were breathtaking and the smaller kites being flown by individuals were very fun. We brought a picnic blanket and some drinks, it was very enjoyable to hang out around children, families and friends! It would be a great spot to come to with a date! There was a child games section with inflatable slides and a bouncy castle as well as a large variety of food and other booths! All in all I would say this event was a success. read more

Berkeley Kite Festival - Festivals Near Me - Berkeley, California

Not great. First off, you have to park in one of two locations waaaaaay far from the actual festival and either walk or take a shuttle. We walked, it was awful, and then took the shuttle back - stood in line for 30m to get on shuttle back. Second, the location is blah - dusty, and covered in hay that was everywhere in the air. Hope you don't have allergies! Third, a TON of weird vendors. I mean, what are they doing selling timeshares here? Sketchy. The big kits were cool but how long can you watch a kite? And also, some guy was droning over a loudspeaker unceasingly but I have no idea what he was talking about. Would not come back. read more

Our family had a great time at the Berkeley Kite Festival 07/28/2018. Kids enjoyed watching kites and the free candy drop. We parked at the Bancroft and Sixth St and walked to this place. read more

Berkeley Kite Festival - Festivals Near Me - Berkeley, California

This festival is a great time. If you want to go to a very kid friendly festival that is laid back with plenty to see and do, then this is for you. The kites are fantastic and the photo opportunities abound. If you like this kite fest, there is another one in San Francisco on September 19 and 20. I have included a link the the festival web site as well as the kite company that put up the 250 foot octopus. Check it out! www.familydaykitefestival.org www.gombergkites.com read more

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If you're looking for a fun way to spend a couple of hours, then I definitely recommend this event. I was a first timer at this year's festival, and it did not disappoint. Being a good yelper I read a few reviews to prepare myself for the experience. The first hurdle was definitely the parking. The Kite Fest seems to be a very popular event, and there aren't a lot of ways to get to Cesar Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina. The parking lots within reasonable proximity to the event cost $10 with shuttle pickup and drop off to the event. The alternative is parking on the other side of I-80 off 6th Street, and then trekking across the pedestrian bridge and through the Marina. I'm practical at heart, and knowing that I needed to conserve my precious energy for sitting on a picnic blanket and holding a string, I decided to opt for the $10 parking. When we arrived to the park I was amazed at the number of kites in the air. What immediately caught my eye were the large octopuses. I had no idea these creatures were so graceful in flight. We set up camp on top of a grassy hill, and unpacked our $3 Target Justice League Kite. It gets quite windy at the park (BRING A JACKET, I didn't and froze until I was loaned a comically small jacket) , so getting your kite airborne requires minimal effort, however keeping it there is a different story. With so many kites in the air and fickle winds, avoiding tangles with other festival goers can be treacherous. After about 30 minutes of kite flying our string had more twists and turns in it than a Mexican telenovela, ¡Díos mío! When you've had your fill of flying you can check out the food and souvenir booths. We packed some snacks, but couldn't say no to the chicken tenders and onion rings. If you're on a budget or dislike waiting in longish lines, you'll probably want to bring a picnic lunch. The food was slightly on the pricier side, but you kind of expect that going to a "free" festival. There were also t-shirts, hoodies, and of course kites available for sale as well. Finally, the most breathtaking part of the whole event is the professional competitions. My favorite competition was the air ballet, you simply can't beat watching kites tumbling, dancing, and diving through the air to the sounds of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing." My second favorite part of the afternoon was the kite battles. The object of the competition is to sever the lines of the enemy kites with your own line that has been dipped in a glass like resin (think Bloodsport, but with kites). Having recently finished reading The Kite Runner, I was expecting a heart pounding battle with elements of communism, religious fundamentalism, cowardice, and eventual redemption, but all we really got were six to eight small kites floating in the air trying to avoid each other. All in all this was a fun time, and I'd do it again next year. Be sure to check out their website for the itinerary so that you can pick and choose the best times to check out the action. read more

Came here with my family last weekend for the first time since we heard so many great things about the festival from previous years. Unfortunately, the great things that we heard might have oversold the event for us - it was still a nice event, but it actually wasn't as accessible as we had hoped. Details: THE GOOD: - Hundreds of colorful kites EVERYWHERE. The giant octopus kites were especially impressive and looked almost like a colorful army of aliens looming over the Bay Area. However, I was most impressed with the variety of kites there - everything from the traditional Japanese box kites to the double feature of a giant shark and a diver kite. My personal favorite? The orange horseshoe crab with bright green legs - I know who woulda thunk of THAT pothead idea for a kite? Well then again, we WERE in Berkeley... - GREAT weather. Warm, sunny, clear skies, and just windy enough to keep most of the kites adrift. - GREAT opportunity for anyone practicing photography! Tons of kites to shoot, optimal weather conditions, and minimal movement from the kites once they hovered in the air made this a cinch for me to photograph. - Organizers who are nice enough to help you if your kite won't fly (unfortunately we never got our Chinese dragon kite to fly for longer than 10 seconds) - FREE ADMISSION. And you get to show off your kite. THE BAD: - $10 for parking. Which normally wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't still a mile and a half away from the actual festival venue. Which actually still wouldn't be that big of a deal if there was an actual paved road to the festival from our parking lot instead of just a gravelly road that was hard to walk on. - Minimal signage. I mean you can find the festival pretty easily by looking for the giant octopus kites. Finding your way back to the parking lot, however, was difficult because none of the available lots had visible signs. - To the festival organizer's credit, they did offer a shuttle between parking lots. But since none of the lots were clearly labeled, half the time you didn't know where to tell the driver to go. And surprisingly, they didn't really seem to know the difference between the parking lots either. Definitely a lapse of communication/organization here... - RESULT: out of all this confusion, we ended up walking 2 miles, on both concrete and dusty gravel road, through the three other parking lots, until we finally got back to the car. THE UGLY: - The ensuing traffic getting out of the event. It's not the fact that there were a lot of cars. It's the fact that there were police officers who didn't seem to know how to spread the workload. We would see 5-6 police officers patrolling one parking lot and then not a single one at the other. Result? It took us, as well as other patrons of the fest, 30 minutes to drive 1/2 mile from the festival to the freeway entrance. THE OVERALL: I commend the organizers of this festival for upholding a wonderful Japanese tradition and for sharing it with the Bay Area community. I definitely had fun. However, I'm not sure if it's fun that would be worth $6 in bridge toll and several wasted minutes in traffic if they don't improve the parking and transportation situation next year. read more

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5 Stars for the concept of a free kite festival, a sky full of colorful kites and fun for all ages. Zero stars for the logistical execution of parking, traffic directing, shuttles and signage. If you go tomorrow (or next year...I understand its always in late July) either plan to go over the pedestrian/bike bridge from the other side of the freeway (enter from Addison Street, just a couple of blocks off University on the opposite side as Spengers) or go well before the 11:00am official opening. I recommed you take a picnic too...the food is pricey and not very good. All in all it was a beautiful day and we had a nice time, but the long walk from across the freeway was tough on the very young and eldest members of our big group. When we left, traffic was still backed up onto the freeway, down the frontage roads, up University and everywhere else. Drivers were getting out of their cars yelling at people who were now directing traffic, bikers were bitching at pedestrians for spilling over into the bike lane, oh...and the shuttle driver opened his door and said, "kids only" to a bunch of people with small children. WHAT?! It was quite the scene. read more