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

Woke up late once again. Our plans were to come out before 10:00 am. We ended up leaving San Jose at 1:00 just in time to arrive for the candy drop. Traffic was pretty bad once we got into the Marina and they were hand choosing who was going to turn around and who could go through. Once we got into parking lot, there was plenty of spaces. The shuttle was a wonderful surprise, because i was expecting to do some walking. We ended up eating overpriced vendors food and staying only an hour and half because sitting on grass wasn't fun. We did get beautiful pictures. My husband insisted on walking the entire length of the Berkeley Municipal pier. I got half way and turned around. By the time we left it was 5:00 and traffic was not that bad leaving. Future year checklist 1. Pack a picnic lunch for the entire fam. 2. Bring a thick blanket to sit on 3. Bring a kite or two. 4. Leave around noon to get there at 1 or 2. 5. Bring plenty of ones to tip the shuttle drivers. 6. MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A SWEATER 7. Stay for one of the kite dancing shows. 8. Don't bring the big stroller. 9. Bring fishing poles for fishing afterwards or before 10. Make some time to visit Adventure Park. 11. BRING A KITE read more

Um.. a bit over due, but here it goes: A very close 5 stars, had it not been for the parking situation. Other than that, I thought the festival was wonderful. A line of stands for food and merchandise, where i purchased a ring for $14. There was a field for the octopi and other huge kites. Right next to it were the Japanese kites, and the field in front of the octopi was where the performances/shows took place. It was a little hard finding a nice spot to fly our kite without worry about taking out someone's kid since we arrived at about 2pm. We werent in the most comfortable spot to fly our kite, but we managed to get it up and flying with the others. It was fun, but I was still jealous of the people with the plane kites that I wanted so bad. The shows were cool. The grass is not exactly the greenest but it is suitable for you to enjoy the professionals. The best part of the whole festival was being able to fly one of those huge japanese kites. You really have to have a good stance so you dont get pulled away. Parking was the biggest pain in the ass here. The back up starts on University, before the over pass, before the gas station. I remember waiting in the traffic and saw people parked at the meters pulling out kites. I couldnt believe they parked so far! But I soon understood why as I approached the traffic cops. We spotted a lot on the left off the overpass and saw a shuttle pull up. Perfect! We make a left, only to be greeted by a "lot full" sign. So we were stuck on the road that ran between the water and the freeway. It took a good 10 minutes before I was able to get back TO the lot. Made a left to more traffic towards the marina. Another cop stood nonchalantly along the side of the road with a sign written with pen "lots are full beyond this point. turn here." Eff that I thought and kept going. pass the cops and past the right turn into the road that leads you to the festival, i noticed another lot that also had a "lot full sign." I pulled up to the person at the entrance and asked if it was full and the guy said in the nicest voice, "no! there are plenty of spaces, come in!" what. the. fu-k. paid my $10, pulled out the kites, and headed to the shuttle stop that was about 20 steps away. lesson of the day: DONT BELIEVE SIGNS, esp if they're written in pen. always ask. best $10 i've spent on parking. I also really liked that lot because I got out pretty quickly and it wasnt stuck with all the other traffic on road that was closest to the site of the festival. lesson learned, better luck next year! read more

This was my first time so it was kinda nice! Admission: FREEEEE. It's a park. You just come and enjoy the beautiful kites. Parking: We followed the directions from the site and it was no good. There was no way we could get in the Golden Gate Fields or what so ever...So we parked somewhere on Gilman St....and it was FREE too btw! No need to pay $10. We just walked along the beach and managed to get over to the park. It took us about 15 mins or so? TIME: Best time to get there would be after 12. Yes, it does start at 10AM but there's not much going on at that time. It seems like they put more kites up as it gets later in the day. And you don't have to follow the schedule on the event page. All the kites competition is so small that you won't even notice it. What to expect: buncha kites flying around the beautiful sky. I'm not sure what the theme is but they sure do have a lot of the octopus kites! It would be nice if they have other design and fly it higher! Food Vendors: I did see a lot of different BBQ/Festival food but I didn't get any because the price is outrageous!! $4 for 1 corn...no thanks! For Kids: They have a small area with buncha activities just for kids. You can ride ponies, paint your face, and I forgot what else. And if you check the time, they also drop the candies from the kite which sounds kinda neat. TIPS: - Bring a blanket to sit on and enjoy buncha nice kites - Bring a light sweater because you're near the ocean so it's always kinda chilly - Bring a kite to fly!!! Don't go there and buy one for $100 like my friend did, hahahaa - Don't forget your sunglasses on a sunny day out - Wear comfortable shoes to walk around - For girls, bring a cross body bag so you won't have to carry much unless you have to. read more

Went yesterday with the bf and had a very nice time. You will be surrounded with awesome kites and can watch some pretty cool tricks. There was a team of six guys who had 4 kites going at the same time. They had those kites making patterns, etc. while all in snyc! There was plenty of food, outdoor toilets that were clean and wash stations. I ate a hot dog - 5 bucks. Dale had a link dog - 7 bucks and the biggest we'd ever seen. There were a good amount of vendors too and I bought a VERY cool hand made tye-dyed t-shirt with a heart on it. So don't forget the vendors at the end of the vendor road for the best stuff and deals. You can also get Willy Wonka ice cream over on that side. As for the parking, you can park at GG fields and be shuttled or pay 10 bucks and get alot closer so you don't have to wait for the shuttle bus. Bring a chair if you can. I sat on my new t-shirt in the bag for a cushion. You will enjoy this festival, especially if you have kids - they were all happy little rugrats but please watch them. There were too many stray kids walking into people yet the dogs were in check! read more

I gave it one star because seeing people fly their kites with their families made them happy and I enjoyed seeing that. My afternoon was ruined by a group of volunteers and shuttle driver who were completely un empathetic to my situation. Around 4:00pm I came to the main entrance to the event, I attended it with my elderly mom who is on a wheelchair and my elderly father who used a cane. I saw a sign that said "ADA drop off/unloading only" and proceeded to stop my car and attempted to get down to get the wheelchair down. At that very moment this woman volunteer comes running towards me, wailing her hands and screaming that there is no stopping. I explained my parents were ADA visitors and I only stopped temporarily to unload them at the entrance. She continued screaming and right behind me the shuttle that was dropping people off starting honking loudly at us and frightened my parents. I kept pointing at the sign that was 3 feet away from her and she kept yelling at me to Move my car. One of the man at the line who was waiting for the shuttle for transport to the parking lot also got involved and told me to get the "f...moving". I left and tears rolled down my face at such behavior from these people. I had to park the car very far, push my mom's wheelchair and help my dad up a dusty, very uneven surface hill so we could get to the event. After I left them at a safe place, I came back down to take these pictures. If you or a loved one are handicap and plan to attend this event, beware. The volunteers and drivers are hostile, cold hearted and plainly rude. I hope the administration of this event is aware of this cruelty. The event needed at 6pm so by 4 pm it was not even that full anymore. All people deserve to be treated with dignity and fairness. read more

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LET'S GO FLY A KITE! Such a fun event....Probably the most fun when you are a first timer since seeing all the huge kites live the first time was soooo great. This is definitely a fun event if you are interested in being more exposed to kites. Or if you wanna sit back in the large lawn...chillax ad stare at kites and the clouds. I definitely left the festival wanting to buy one, but probably cheaper to buy one online. If you have a kite, bring it to fly....everyone and their mama is flying kites. I should have brought my lady bug kite =( ...Didn't see anyone with it which was cool. Parking was somewhat of a pain but we parked in a lot just right of I-80, and walked a good mile or so before getting to all the action (the exercise was not bad at all, $10 parking fee). Just like all other festivals...you can save $ and picnic by bringing your own food, or spend some $ on the food and drink booths. -We only stayed for about 2 hours, but it was well worth the drive from SJ for such a great first experience. Lots of great photo opps too! read more

This was a very passive activity after we sat in traffic, parked, walked a bit and then lounged on a hill with the water behind us and kites directly overhead. I wasn't amazed by any particular kite but it was entertaining seeing the bigger ones alongside the smaller ones that people were struggling to get/keep in the air. The synchronized kites were probably my favorite. The dogs did not care for the wind but luckily the humans were prepared with enough layers. Next year, I will bring: a kite, mats to sit on, blankets, refreshments and a tent for the high maintenance pups. read more

Ugh... Swarms of people. long lines for everything with overpiced kid's jumpy thingys, and the poor, poor ponies.. being led sadly in a small circle while a line of kids awaited their turns to ride them. :( made me sad. The main attraction, the kites, were sadly the background noise against the forefront of a mad, disorganized carnival gone wrong. I certainly didn't mind the 1/2 mile walk to get there though, that was the best part.. I think the kite fest, for me, is best enjoyed from afar.. read more

Let's goooo flyyy aa kiiiteeee!!! Up wheree the aiirrr is cleeaarrr! Let's allll gooo fllyyyy a kite!!!!! Kite flying always reminds me of Mary Poppins and fond childhood memories, so I'm glad my friends and I ventured out to this festival. It was amazing to see all of the different kites. Super ginormous kites, traditional kites, trick kites, baby kites, themed kites.... A lot of variety. We even got ot make our own kites, which abled us to really partake in allll of the fun. Getting to the park was fairly simple. If you didn't want to drive they had shuttles available to pick us up and take us to the festival from Bart. Very, very convenient. Getting back to Bart was a completely different story however. That was very unorganized. We were running up and down the street trying to catch the right bus. Maybe next year they will set up designated drop off and pick up areas. If families have cranky kids, they may not be patient or willing to run back and forth trying to catch a shuttle. Just saying. :) In the vendor category, I would say that they had a good amount of vendors present. My suggestion though would be to walk around the entire festival first and then decide where you want to get food. We went to the place closest to the drop off areas and got polish dogs. The polish dogs were really good, but in the middle of my bread I found mold!!! It was disgusting... By the time I found it though we were no were near the stand we got the food from. :( There was also a vendor there with imported candy from Italy. It was flavored licorice that was filled. I tried the peach one and it was really good, different, but good. Overall, the festival was a lot of fun for my first time. read more

If you want to avoid the LONG WALK get to the event by 930am. Last year we had to park on the other side of 80 and walk for what felt like 1 hour but more like 30mins. This year though we got there early and parked on the $10 parking and walked less then 10 mins....yay This event is so fun and the kids get to see and fly kites. This year we did potluck with the family. They do have food there and the food is good. We are going to make this a yearly event. read more

Such a great event. I spent a lovely afternoon in Cesar Chavez park just lying in the grass, looking at the beautiful kites in the sky, and getting snacks from the various food booths. Thanks to the Berkeley Rotary Club for arranging shuttle buses from the 4th street and Marina parking lots. read more

Few things excite me more that the prospect of flying, even if it's a kite doing it instead of myself, which made the Berkeley Kite Festival a must-see for me. We took the 51B to the Marina to get there (which ended up being very crowded, and a poor baby began bawling in the middle of the ride) then walked a relatively short distance to the park. We began spotting the multi-colored kites from four or five blocks before the freeway, which gives you an idea to the scale of the kites being flown. I brought my two-string kite with me intending to practice flying it in the open area seeing as I don't get much opportunity to do so otherwise, but before I took it out my friends and I explored around the area. The sheer scale of many of the kites was really amazing -- many of them needed other helper kites to get enough lift and get off the ground. There were a couple of food vendors, as well as booths that sold jewelry or other small trinkets. Near the far end of the park was a play area set up for kids, featuring a petting zoo, pony ride, and several inflatable bounce houses which costed money to enter. After we had our fill of walking around, we began searching for a relatively secluded spot to fly our kite (none of us had much experience with two-stringers and we didn't want to hurt anyone). We wandered around and were not-very-politely ousted out of a couple of fields because they were staff only. Hmph, that's fine, but you could have at least asked nicely. Once we did settle down, we ended up next the an area where a lot of competitive trick-kite fliers were practicing, and as a result got to watch a display of their skills firsthand. Overall a fun experience! Definitely geared towards families with young children, but I had fun nonetheless. read more

Came here yesterday. Event is pretty small, compared to other festivals. The kites are cool, and highline kites gave away paper kites for kids to draw on, but they can fly pretty high. I really liked the giant kites and seeing some of the fighter kites. Admission is free, but parking is $15. If you park near golden gate fields, definitely grab a shuttle. There's no way that it's walkable. I think this event would be more fun if there were more vendors, events, and things to do. I was ready to leave within and hour, but it's worth seeing once. Remember to bring a warm jacket, the marina is super windy! read more

Found out about it on Yelp and what better way to share my experience than back onto Yelp. Came with a friend. Convenient shuttle picked up and dropped off at the North Berkeley Bart (there were several other stops too that I didn't see advertised on the Kite Festival Site). Tons of people there flying there kites. Also there were SUPER large ones anchored to the ground, and loong ones, too. Saw parts of the show that had a kite teach that used kites that had from competing at the International Kite Competition (or something of that nature). Very skilled. Ability to control the kites to the music and make them go up, down, and rest on the ground. We also partook in the free kite-making amongst the kids...(okay, I'm like a big kid) Then my friend caught the little girl next to me copying my kite coloring. Kinda funny. We then played around and flew the kites, and they worked, though we weren't super good. Then we found out another friend wouldn't be able to join us so we colored and made another kite for her, and of course, we had to help her kite lose its flying virginity. We did that and then we were off. Going back to Berkeley to show off our coloring skills to our friend. And told her about how we popped her kite's cherry. ;) read more

This is a really neat idea... ruined by logistical nightmares. The kites _are_ great to watch -- the giant Octopi kites are certainly amazing, and it's great to look up into the sky and see hundreds of kites being flown, but in order to get there, we parked in their recommended parking lot "just a half mile away from the field, with convenient shuttle access." As it turns out, the half mile away measurement is only valid if you're swimming. And the shuttle access is convenient, only if your definition of "convenient" includes "standing in line in a parking lot for 45 minutes because there aren't enough shuttles." (Not to mention the nearly-as-long wait for the shuttle back, where they decided to put the shuttle line right next to the stinky port-a-potties. Thanks organizers!) I know I sound grumpy, and I could see where this festival would be fun. For example, if you're local and can enjoy a nice bike ride there, or you (like many families there) bring a tent and turn it into an all day event. And I do love the idea that a kite festival even exists here in the Bay Area. But I went there with my sister planning on having a good 2 1/2 hours to check out neat kites, and only about an hour of that time was actually spent near the darned things. Sigh. read more

I am so excited for next weekend... we've been going to the festival for 4 years this will be our 5th... The shuttle used to allow doggos as long as they were on your lap and not loud and barking... well last year we went and unbeknownst to us no more puppers... but we had already paid the $15 parking... they should've had a sign before you paid that no dogs were allowed on the shuttle... so tf are we gonna do can't drive home might as well stay if we do that... can't leave her in the car, she'll die... we asked for our money back for parking and they wouldn't fucken give it back... we already parked... we were there 5 minutes... anyway... so we won't be going back to the shuttle instead we're gonna leave hella early and try and find parking at the marina or near by... but I love this place so it'll be with the extra effort... read more

There's something enchanting and Victorian about the Berkeley Kite Festival. Once every year, you will find the normally empty fields of the Berkeley Marina entirely filled with kite flyers and watchers ambling about, faces pointed up in awe at the skies and sunshiny grins plastered across their faces. Thousands of Bay Area families, couples, organizations, and kite enthusiasts gather for what is essentially a gimongous community picnic. The great thing, is that the adults are often as giddy as the kids as they trot about the grassy hills of the marina, tangling their diamond kites with neighbors, chasing after doggies, and blissfully enjoying the sun and the wind. The armada of colorful kites whipping in the breeze above your head is a spectacle that is guaranteed to touch your heart. The Kite Festival is open to flyers of all levels, from first timers to pros, and you'll see all manner of kites in the air, from simple to complexly artistic. There are kite exhibitions, stunt flyers, kite teams, kite makers... really, anything having to do with kites is out at the Marina that day. The food fair offers rows of tents churning out international goodies from local vendors, and you can grab a treat and head over and to the exhibition field and take in the music and kite shows. If you ever TRULY want to feel like a kid again, you have to check out the kite festival at least once. read more

This is one of the true 'hidden' family gems. Take my advice. If the weather is nice, just pack a lunch, bring a kite, and drink some wine as you and 4000 other people try to fly their paper products into the air. lol Here's a warning! Be prepared to walk at least a good mile if you don't get to the festival by 11am. BPD shuts the marina down forcing people to park on the opposite side of the I-80. Which isn't a problem for us natives that know where to park and how far of a walk it is. But for you nonnatives that seem to think that "flip flops" are a permanent fashion accessorry-you WILL be hating life after walking over rocks and dirt and uneven pavement for about 25 minutes. lol Kids will LOVE this event. I was a little disappointed in the MEGA kites they kept promising to fly, but never showed up. What was interesting this year was there were a fair number of private citizens who actually had bigger kites (i mean the size of a small house) compared to the so-called mega kites advertised by the organizers. Notwithstanding, you will not feel as if you wasted your time if you do decide to come. Fly fly fly me aaaaaaway..... read more

If you don't mind a hike to your destination (or $10 parking, if there is room in the Seabreeze lot), hoards of people, 5 port-o-potties for those hoards of people (who all have to pee), and garbage nazis posted at the garbage cans for the sole purpose of telling you what is compostable and what goes in the landfill (you poor excuse for a human being), the kite festival is your place. Otherwise, go to the website, scroll down to the picture of the octopi kites, and imagine the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. Pretty much the same experience without the hassle. I would recommend going at least once. But once was enough for me. read more

Every summer, the skies above the Berkeley Marina fill with billowing and swooping kites of all colors and shapes. Professional kite-makers and fliers take over part of the hilly park, swooping six or seven kites in tandem, or staking down huge romping cats, colorful octopi and galloping elephants. Amateurs take over the other hills, flying everything from elaborate peacocks to tiny paper diamond shapes. Perfect for kids of all ages (and there's food, too!)...Euphoria abounds. read more

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This was our first kite festival. My husband's cousin told us about it. The first thing that comes to mind when I hear kite, is the book KITE RUNNER - read the book / watch the movie... it's excellent! Today was chilly with no sun in the sky, but it didn't stop us or many others from enjoying all of the colorful kites. They had giant ones, traditional Japanese kites, professional kite teams and everyone else out there trying their hand at flying a kite. My favorite event was the kite competitions where competitors try to take down kites until there is only one. I thought the kites had blades, but it's actually friction that takes them down. Our goddaughter especially loved the giant kitty and dog. It was a miracle that she didn't go off and run towards it! Good girl - it must have been because I bought her a giant lollipop that she had her eye on. For those that didn't bring a picnic basket, there were typical amusement park food: hot dogs, ben & jerry's, pretzels, churros, bbq chicken, corn on the cob, etc. Overall it was a great time - perfect for all ages. Next year, i'll be sure to bring my personal kite. Anyone want to start a kite team? Hahaha... My only complaint is the parking. Don't even bother trying to park up close. We waited in the line only to make a u-turn back to Univ. Ave. It's best to park on the other side of the freeway close to the pedestrian walkway. It's a nice walk - get that heart pumping - live fit! read more

Bring you picnic blankets, food and drinks if you prefer, and a kite to join in on the fun! It's a great event if you enjoy relaxing to a sky field with kites (I recommend laying on your picnic blanket and just soaking up the scenery of the sky). Here's a few things to keep in I you decide to go. 1. There may be free side street parking on the side street (near golden gate fields) but its limited. There is a park parking lot near that area for $4 parking if you want to avoid the $15 lot (proceed to #3 if u park there). 2. There is a walking/biking trail near golden gate if you prefer instead of walking the far length to get to the shuttle buses and waiting to get on (20-30min). 3. Bring your sunglasses even if it looks foggy as the weather is unpredictable. 4. The sky is crowded with kites in the air; so watch your step and avoid the strings. Look for an area spaced out to fly your kite if you don't want it tangled w/ other kites. 5. Be patient and forgiving. Kids and adults are all excited to fly their kite, but not everyone has the professional skill not to hit others or they forget to pay attention to where all of the kite strings are floating. For those that plan to go, hope you all have lots of fun! :) read more

SO MUCH FUN! This has to become an annual thing. It happens during the last weekend of July. On the way to the festival you can see the large octopus kites from the freeway, which created instant excitement. The anticipation thickened though, when you exit... TRAFFIC. It took about 5-10 minutes to get from the exit to the parking lot. The parking fee was 10 bucks but that was the only kind of entrance fee. I didn't realize the magnitude of this event until I actually saw all the kites in the sky... There were hundreds, maybe thousands of people flying kites and if you want to join in the fun, they have kite vendors selling some cool ones. My boyfriend and I took 30 minutes to decide which one to buy because we wanted them all, but we didn't put it up into the air in fear we'd get tangled up with someone else's kite. The selection of food and drinks is pretty big. I ate a lamb and beef gyro and my boyfriend got a hot dog.The price was right at 5 bucks each because we were stuffed. Bring a blanket or towel because the only place to sit is in the grass. And if you pick the right spot, you can have a mini tanning session. Chairs would have been nice too but we did more walking around than sitting. The octopus kites were the main attraction. I think this year they broke the world record of the number of octopi in the sky and there were 22 flying. When you get up close, they're huge. They also have stunt teams performing their stunt shows and its really cool to see. The also had kite-fights... "The Kite Runner" style. Those were fun to watch too. They even had "flight schools" where you could stand in line an learn to fly one of those professional stunt kites... We had to walk away from the vendor, because it was so fun, we almost spent the 200 bucks on one of those things. This was something new to me and I'd been wanting to go for a long time. We were there for about 4 hours, staring at kites and it really is more fun than it sounds. Its a ton of fun for kids and adults, just dress warm cuz that sea breeze will get you and bring cash. I'm excited for next year. read more

Been going to the Berkeley kite festival for about 18 years I think. Love it! Always a good show. Lots to see and do. read more

very nice and fun for kids...parking is an problem but were able to find one near marina and use the free shuttle.. Nice environment and lots of other activities also for kids like pony riding..kite building..kids park etc.. read more

Low key family fun. Food booths, kids activities, and lots of fresh air. Word the wise bring bikes, parking looked to be a nightmare.

Wow there was so many kites to see. I like the kite formation ballet and the cool ENORMOUS octopus kite. Oh and the vendor of food was delicious and so many to choose from. Although the potty was disgusting and that was in the morning ( I don't think they clean up from Saturday). read more

Once you are there, it is very cool. Getting there is the hard part. I work right on University Avenue (Berkeley Pier side), so I went into work (still paid for parking, but since it is for a good cause I wasn't annoyed). I did work until 11:00 am and then was going to just jump on a shuttle. Well, I had to wait 20 minutes for a shuttle and people were definitely getting antsy. It is pretty cool I've been to the balloon fiesta in New Meixco, and this is a little bit of the same drill. It was funny taking photos, and it really is a kids' event. I left right after the first candy drop, and I suggest you do the same unless the kite ballet is your thing then stay by all means. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kicksaveandabeauty/sets/72157606408742267/ read more

Great way to spend an afternoon! Perfect kite-flying conditions too! Bring your dogs, bring your kids, have fun! We got there at 3pm, and by then a lot of the big kites were coming down and all the shows and booths were beginning to close shop.. but it was still fun to get out of the house and have some classic fun trying to get your kite up high in the air. There's food vendors and kites on sale on-site. Kites are kinda pricey, starting at $7.50 for a tiny BKF kite and going up to $300 for the fancy stuff... so bring your own kite if you can! Also, remember to bring a camera and be sure to dress warm because its freezing out by the Marina! P.S. There was free parking lot right next to Cesar Chavez Park.. so be patient and you can save $10! read more

Key to this event - COME EARLY!!! The event technically starts at 10 so my friend and I made sure to get there before 11 (which is when the kite-making starts). We drove and parked around Spengers Restaurant and then took the shuttle We also figured that it will probably get crowded later on. Boy were we right! We left around 12-ish and by the time we got back to Spengers there was a huge snake that extended through most of the parking lot behind the shuttle station!!! Another point is that you really should realize the shuttles don't come very often. Be prepared to WAIT. The early bird gets the worm... and that was quite true with this event. Ok, so you don't get there with massive crowds already in the midst of partying and when we got there most of the huge Octopus balloons weren't even up yet. But watching them put these balloons up was sort of entertaining as well! I'm a HUGE fan of Spain (2010 World Cup reference please ignore) so when I saw that there were so many adorable Octopuses flying around I went nuts taking pictures. The Japanese kite-flying team they had this year was awesome too! Their kites were really distinct and we had the joy of watching them send one of them fan-like ones into the air. It was like watching a paper airplane set flight! Lots of families were picnicking with beach towels and huge umbrellas, and there was music, food, and lots of little activities. GREAT for the family... but if you were like my friend and I and are just there to see what it's all about, it's good to get there and out early before you get trampled by people. All in all it was a lot of fun (except waiting for the shuttle) and we would definitely go back again next year, especially if they have all the octopuses again! read more

Free sport kite flying lessons.and powerkite demos from HQ Kites, read more

Berkeley Kite Festival - Festivals Near Me - Berkeley, California

We have come here straight three years now and love this. The weather is always nice, but you need to protect yourself by a warm jacket (in case in cold windy condition), a hat, sunglasses, and a sun screen (usually sunny), and walking shoes. Bring in your chair, picnic blanket, or a small camp tent is a good idea. Dogs love there, too. There are many choices of food, vendors, a variety of kites. I support Japanese kite association who flies huge hand-made, traditional kites. Their creative BBQ is so gorgeous! Stop by their booth, donate $5, and enjoy your food! read more

Kites were something that entertained me as a child but were put away with childish things as I grew older. How amazed I was to attend this event and see them flying in full glory. As soon as I saw them them I was captivated and enjoyed them with childlike glee once again. A great event for kids of all ages. Good food, lots of space and people from all over. Everyone was extremely friendly and happy to share their passion for kites. I recommend going early to beat the traffic and grabbing a place on the hill to stretch out your blanket.Traffic can be bad but what popular event has good traffic? read more

Whether you're a kite enthusiast or a casual observer, the Berkeley Kite Festival is the place to be. The festival, that has taken place on the last weekend in July for the past 27 years, has something for everyone; from giant octopus kites to precision kite ballets. There is kite making where children of all ages can make and fly their own creations. If you've never flown a multi-line kite or trying to decide which multi-line kite to purchase no worries. The people at Prism, Revolution, and HQ will be more than happy to give you some pointers and let you "test drive" their kites. In addition, the knowledgable people in the sales tent will help you find the perfect kite for both yourself and your children alike. Furthermore, there are non-kite activities such as the bounce tents, slides, and pony rides for your kite wary child. As for the food, there is a variety of choices rivaling the best movable feast. The Berkeley Kite festival will awaken your desire for flight. As the movie Mary Poppins said, "Let's go fly a kite." read more

Love this festival; it's a yearly tradition for us. So many wonderful kites all in one beautiful waterfront location. The huge kites are a treat and lots of activities for the kiddos, like bounce houses, pony rides, and face painting. It's getting to be more & more crowded each year, though, but there are convenient shuttles from various parking lots. read more

Yummy food, great location and of course, beautiful kites. A great event for young and old (we took our 16 mon. old daughter). For the most part the event was well managed - there was plenty of space to spread out on a blanket or walk around. One star off for the rotten parking and the poor selection of kites for sale. read more

Never saw anything cool or fun about flying a kite. I mean, people tell annoying people to go "fly a kite" so they can leave them the F alone, right? Nothing positive about that. So WTF am I writing this review? Because WGAF. If you like flying kites, I guess this is a cool place to go. Lots of kite flying dweebs here. Looks like everyone here was single, so if you're desperate for a mate, there's plenty of eligible singles here. Everyone here looks happy, but they may be dying inside. read more

Everyone should go at least once! If the day is sunny and slightly windy, then it's perfect for a trip to the Kite Festival at Berkeley Marina. Unfortunately all the kites shown on the website are all the cool ones that are actually there! My favorites were the squids and koi fishes, just because they were the biggest and brightest. You should definitely pick up a time schedule so that you can stay for certain events. I got to watch one of the Rokkaku Kite Battles where people try to cut other kites by rubbing their strings against each other's. There was also a Candy Drop where they drop a big bag of candy from a big kite in the air. It was delayed a bit because their original kite wasn't working well so they had to switch it out for another one. My favorite event was the Team Kite Ballet (specifically Air Zone). I seriously never knew people could do such complicated airborne tricks; it's like watching a miniature version of the Blue Angels. If you're watching this, also watch the guys in charge of these kites (there's usually about 4) because they are getting such a workout. It's hilarious (and a bit nerdy) what movements it takes on the ground to perform the ones in the air. If you're up for a walk under the blistering sun, I recommend parking somewhere in the residential areas of University & 6th. It's about a mile walk one way so WEAR SUNSCREEN. I am burned to the core as I'm typing this. Also, I didn't know there would be so many food booths there!! If I knew, I wouldn't have eaten lunch beforehand. Get some food, lay on the grass (which is gopher hole ridden) and soak up the sun (bring an umbrella for cancer sake). read more

Free admission, free shuttles, great activity for kids. I'm an optometrist and was seeing patients in Berkeley the day of the kite festival, and one 10 year old told me he's been going every year for 5 years already and always loves it (and participates sometimes too). So cute. :) As for adults, it's nice just to relax on the windy little hills of the Berkeley Marina and pick out your favorite kites and maybe munch on some expensive and/or unhealthy festival foods. read more