On Gozo, every day can be the ‘right’ day for kite-flying as it is nearly impossible to find a day without a breeze or some wind. He reminisced about childhood kitemaking and explained that, in those days, children were keen on the ‘kite season’. Children used to model kites with genuine enthusiasm and passion, working hard to compete on who could build the best kite. Kites were made from paper, with a mix of flour and water for glue and using bamboo strips collected from the valleys as the backbone for the kite. Once the kite was ready, it was a matter of getting it airborne, which meant getting the kite to lift onto the breeze while slowly letting go of the line. Then, it was up to the kite to lilt and lift to the skies while tagging at the string as if wanting to escape. When he first came up with the idea of the Kite Festival, Mr. Apap Agius was seeking to rekindle the traditional hobby of kitemaking and boosting it to Gozo’s yearly calendar of events, and there is no doubt that this has been a successful activity.
Today, the kite festival takes place in October, a time when the pastoral scene at San Dimitri dons a new carpet of green after the first rain hits the island. The rural backdrop gets an effervescent uplift of colours as the kites take to the skies as diaphanous beings with graceful motions akin to ballet dancers. The festival attracts many people from around the Maltese islands and also kite enthusiasts from all over the world. Participants from places like Italy, Spain, China, Mexico, France, Australia, Taiwan, Germany, Japan, the UK, the USA, and Brazil turn the festival into an international one. Every year, the spectacle is different, and guests are encouraged to bring kites of different shapes and sizes. The largest number of kites flown during this festival was around 270 kites by guests and over 500 flow by children and local participants.
If you’ve never experimented with kite flying, the time is now. Kitemaking can be a creative endeavour. Visitors can bring their kites or buy one on the spot. Local enthusiasts can participate in a competition that will allow everyone to compete. The festival, which will be held over two days (Saturday & Sunday), starts at 9.30 am and continues until dark. During the day, children can participate in the workshops, and there will be other attractions for adults and children. Many families often turn this outing into a picnic day. During the day, there will be kite flying displays and acrobatic movements. A traditional fair is also planned for Sunday.
When asked how the Local Council picks the day, the mayor smiles and quips that they trust in the providence of God and Saint Dimitri. After all, Saint Dimitri’s feast day falls on the second weekend of October, and this is why the festival was initially pinned on this month.
The festival is a family-friendly and pet-friendly event and an excellent opportunity to create unique memories. Mr. Apap Agius ended the interview by thanking Minister Clint Camilleri for his full moral and financial support and all the volunteers and participants. Whilst appealing to everyone to cooperate with the helpers, Officers from Malta Transport and LESA, he highlighted that there will be organised parking to avoid any road blockage. He reminded parents to take care of their children and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere that the festival aims to create.
If you’re ready for some open countryside, fancy kites, bold displays and aerodynamics with a sprinkle of local legend, head to Saint Dimitri this October to savour the authentic joy of kite flying.
VisitGozo would like to thank Mr David Apap Agius for this interview.
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