Post by DaveM on May 16, 2018 18:17:57 GMT
Bristol Kite Festival says thank you and farewell 
The first Bristol Kite Festival was held in 1986 and was the brainchild of Martin Lester, John Peyton and Avril Baker.
The festival rapidly grew into an international event and a popular fixture on the kite calendar as well as attracting
many thousands of spectators and enthusiasts from far and wide.
Highlights include hosting the Sport Kite World Championship in 1991 and breaking the record for the biggest kite
in the world with a kite made by regular festival visitor Peter Lynn from New Zealand. The festival has appeared
regularly on national and international TV, from Wacaday and Blue Peter to Scrap Heap Challenge and The One Show
as well as news coverage around the world.
We live in challenging times with increasing costs and bureaucracy of running major event plus austerity measures
in the city and limited sponsorship opportunities. As the Festival organisers, who run the event voluntarily on top of
our day jobs and family commitments, we have reluctantly taken the decision to call it a day.
We do this with a great deal of sadness as we know that many people have enjoyed participating and watching the kites
and displays over the years.We would particularly Iike to thank all the many kite flyers, spectators, traders and supporters
who have made the festival such an incredible event and a real part of Bristol and its community.
Thanks for the memories.
Avril Baker and the Directors of Bristol Kite Festival CIC
The first Bristol Kite Festival was held in 1986 and was the brainchild of Martin Lester, John Peyton and Avril Baker.
The festival rapidly grew into an international event and a popular fixture on the kite calendar as well as attracting
many thousands of spectators and enthusiasts from far and wide.
Highlights include hosting the Sport Kite World Championship in 1991 and breaking the record for the biggest kite
in the world with a kite made by regular festival visitor Peter Lynn from New Zealand. The festival has appeared
regularly on national and international TV, from Wacaday and Blue Peter to Scrap Heap Challenge and The One Show
as well as news coverage around the world.
We live in challenging times with increasing costs and bureaucracy of running major event plus austerity measures
in the city and limited sponsorship opportunities. As the Festival organisers, who run the event voluntarily on top of
our day jobs and family commitments, we have reluctantly taken the decision to call it a day.
We do this with a great deal of sadness as we know that many people have enjoyed participating and watching the kites
and displays over the years.We would particularly Iike to thank all the many kite flyers, spectators, traders and supporters
who have made the festival such an incredible event and a real part of Bristol and its community.
Thanks for the memories.
Avril Baker and the Directors of Bristol Kite Festival CIC
