Best Festival: Washington State International Kite Festival

Published 12:33 am Thursday, February 14, 2019

Runner-up: Astoria Pride

Honorable mention: Astoria-Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival

The Washington State International Kite Festival was given the title of Best Festival by this year’s readers. The festival, now in its 39th year, is a weeklong kite celebration and competition held annually in Long Beach, Wash., in August.

Jane Holeman, the event committee’s chairperson, is “thrilled and surprised” by the honor. “That’s really a feather in our cap,” she said.

Like many events in the area, the kite festival is entirely volunteer-run. It feels good to have everyone’s hard work recognized, she said.

Holeman attributes the festival’s success to the fact it is generally free, family-friendly fun.

“It’s very relaxing. It’s really hard to put enough emphasis on the family draw,” she said. “We’re seven days long, so you don’t have use up your whole weekend. You can just pick a day that works for you.”

This year’s festival will be held Aug. 19 through 25.