A slight increase in wind gives some flyers hope that they can get their kites up.

A kite flyer operating a quad line stunt kite. Low winds made it a bit more difficult to fly at the kite festival.

Stacked Quad Line Kite in the air (8 Stunt Kites together flown by one person)

Even these kites struggled to get good air.

Low winds blowing through the decorative flagging and kites.

Stacked Quad Line Kite in the air.

Bee Kite in the free fly zone

A trio of single line kites in the air.

Lincoln City Kite Festival June 23, 2024.

A volunteer helping a young kite flyer put a hand made kite together

Low to no winds provided challenges for kite flyers at the Lincoln City Kite Festival

A short spell in higher wind speeds allowed some kites to get air in the free flying zone.

While some of the smaller single line kites were finaly able to get air, the Shark Whale struggled to get full lift off.

Bubbles floating through the air at the Kite Festival

Another competitive Stunt Kite in the air (quad line)

Kite flyer trying to get his kite back up in the air.

A team of kite flyers with quad line stunt kites. Team competitions are common at kite festivals.

Low winds at the Kite Festival made it difficult to get the large creature kites up in the air. Here's the team attempt to get the Shark Whale up in the air.

The Shark Whale kite struggling to get air.

Low winds prevented this kite from being able to soar to good heights.

Kite flyers in the competition ring flew various styles of kites. Many were competitors who fly their kites in a ballet style or dance style like you'd see in figure skating.

Someone was able to get a box kite up in the free fly zone.

This quad line stunt kite keeping an eye on the crowds.

Helping get a kite back in the air after a lul in the wind.

Along with dancing kites, the kite operates often danced a bit as well.

A single quad line stunt kite in the air.

A flyer trying to get a box kite up in the air.

Traditional two line Stunt Kite in the air. Also known as a Sport Kite.

Stacked Quad Line Stunt Kites, eight in total. Stunt kites can fly in lower wind, with stronger winds making stacked kites more powerful and harder to control.

The annual Lincoln City Kite Festival returned for another year to the Oregon coast, but low winds made it a challenge for the usually ginormous kites to take flight during the festival. Previous years’ kites have measured 10,400 square feet when inflated.

Wind gusts hovered around 3 or 4 miles per hour during Saturday and Sunday festival hours. Ideal flying conditions are 8 to 15 miles per hour, according to the American Kite Fliers Association.

Visitors were still able to see multiple stunt or sport kites, flown in synchronization by skilled flyers, making swirly loops in the sky.

A giant whale kite caught a brief lift, about 20 feet off the sand.

If you missed the summer kite festival or expected more giant kites, there’s another chance for kite sightings at the Lincoln City Fall Kite Festival this September. There will be expert kite demonstrations, kite-making, and (if winds permit) giant kites floating above the beach.

If you go to the fall kite festival:

September 7-8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., located at the beach at the D River State Recreation Site.

-- Teresa Mahoney

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