2014 Christchurch Kite Day at New Brighton

“Mum, you see, there is a horse flying high up in the sky!” so exclaimed a 5-year-old boy who was at New Brighton beach, the scene of the Annual Kite Day organized by the City Council of Christchurch. This year, the Kite Day fell on 25 Jan 2014. On this day, people from all over the City thronged the beach of New Brighton to watch the countless kites, in all colors and shapes, flying all over the sky.

Summer is the time for outdoor activities. To encourage the people to go outdoor and to foster closer relationship among family members, the Christchurch City Council organizes yearly, in the month of January, the Annual Kite Day. On this day, lovers of kite flying from around the World would congregate on New Brighton to take part in this event. They would bring with them kites of all colors and designs to dot the sky.

For the Christchurch Kite Day, the publics were invited to bring along their own favorite kites to share with others. One particular person brought his home made kites in the forms of fishes, octopus and other sea creatures, tied them to his car and drove the car so as to fly the kites, thus instantly turning the sky into a sea. Other kites in the shape of calve, puppy, seahorse, turtle and Robot Asimo punctuated the skyline. These unique and beautiful kites not only excited the kids, but also drew admiration and praises from the adults. Meanwhile, the photographers had a busy day capturing the many beautiful scenes.

To further enhance the event, performing artists were invited by Christchurch City Council to put up shows. The public reciprocated each performance with thunderous applause. The objectives of the organiser in organising this Kite Day were to bring joy to the kids, to get people away from their indulgence in electronic gadgets and computers, to go near nature, to cultivate healthy life-style and to allow the body to rest and the mind to be peaceful. From this aspect, it could be said that the event was a success.