About
The Zilker Park Kite Festival is one of Austin's best-known
annual events. Held on the first Sunday of March, it is the kick-off to
the hundreds of springtime activities in Austin. The 'Kite Tournament' was
created by The Exchange Club of Austin in 1929 with a mission to encourage
creativity in children. Exchange Club President Ed St. John came up with
the idea to give kids a constructive activity the community could participate
in. The first Tournament was held in Lamar Park. Lamar Park is thought to
have been close to the intersection of Congress Avenue and 1st street. In
1936 The Exchange Club partnered with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation
Department to bring the event to Zilker Park. In 1956 the Kite Tournament
was opened to competitors of all ages and to this day contest events have
changed very little. It is the longest continuously running kite festival
in the United States and is sponsored by the Exchange Club every year. The
Zilker Park Kite Festival is an event anyone is welcome to attend (pets
too!). There is no admission to attend or to participate in the contest.
Most folks come out to see the spectacular sight of hundreds of kites in
the sky and to enjoy a spring day in the park.
