The Washington State International Kite Festival draws kite lovers and spectators from near and far to the Long Beach Peninsula each August. This summer, the festival is welcoming back one of the oldest kite-flying groups in the United States.

“It’s an opportunity to see kites in their many different forms,” said Breanna Muncrief, director of the World Kite Museum in Long Beach. “Whether it’s ones that we’re used to, like a diamond kite, to things that you’ve never seen before.”

The museum collaborates with the city of Long Beach to host the festival each year. According to its website, it is the largest and longest-running kite festival in North America, having started in 1981.

Starting Monday, the event is back for its 43rd year, with a weeklong celebration and display of hundreds of kites to run through Aug. 25.

Diamond kites are common, and the design people are used to flying and seeing, but fliers bring kites in all shapes and forms to the beach during the festival — some are over 400 feet long, according to Muncrief.

“There’s a little of something for everybody,” she said.

The Windjammers are returning this year as the festival’s featured fliers. They’re a group of eight fliers from the Detroit, Michigan, area and one of the oldest established kite-flying groups in the U.S.

Muncrief said The Windjammers haven’t been back to the West Coast in about 10 years for the festival, so she is excited for their return. The group will be at the festival field on Aug. 22 from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“They’re a well-oiled machine because, at 41 years, they’re always innovating,” she said.

Stacked kite choreography flights are one of their specialties, which is when multiple kites are flown on a single line, Muncrief said, adding it’s an amazing thing to see.

Long Beach gives fliers access to miles and miles of flat, sandy beach for kites. Muncreif said it’s hard to find places with an extended flat area — the peninsula also has great wind patterns.

In its 43rd year, the festival has built a loyal following. Some of its volunteers have been attending for about 40 of those years.

“People are die-hard for the event,” Muncrief said.

Unique events and beloved traditions are part of what keep people coming back, she said. The “Foster Grandparents Fun Fly” event is one of those. This is the 20th anniversary of it — experienced fliers “adopt” a kid for a day.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, they’ll show kids how to construct, care for and fly a kite, Later in the day, teams compete alongside other “grandparents” and kids.

Muncrief explained that some of the designers spend the whole year leading up to the event, preparing kites and getting ready to fly with the kids.

This year, 33 designers put together about 200 kites for kids.

“It’s amazing that these designers are so dedicated to this event and fostering that experience for kids,” she said.

Other events planned for the festival include a historic and vintage kite display between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Aug. 22, a lighted kite night fly from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 23, a parade of colors featuring The Windjammers at 11 a.m. Saturday and a Memorial Fly — leave the names of the kite fliers you wish to remember — at 10 a.m. Aug. 25.

Money raised at the festival will benefit the kite museum.

Muncrief said there’s a lineup of vendors at the festival, too. She estimated there would be somewhere around 35 or 40. Food options offered throughout the week range from fun beverages, Mediterranean food, barbecue and artisan beef jerky (and plenty of other options).

Rokkaku kite battles, fighter kite workshops and stunt kite stack demos are part of the festival as well. Each day is packed with events.

Washington State International Kite Festival

Washington State International Kite Festival

Returning Monday through Aug. 25, hosted by the World Kite Museum, 303 Sid Snyder Drive, Long Beach

For a full schedule of events, visit

www.kitefestival.com