The Bali Kite Festival is always a highly anticipated event. Taking place every July to August and sometimes up to October, as these months are considered part of the windy season in Bali. The event takes place on the eastern coast of Padanggalak, just on the northern border of Sanur.

Participants from all over the island get together and compete, sometimes even with international teams, with modern kite designs ranging in shapes and sizes. The Bali kite festival started as an event for the agrarian festival held for the appreciation of the skies for the rich harvests.

The Kites Festival is now an annual competition usually consisting of groups of boys and men, with prize money as a reward. There are three categories to win including the best launch, best design, and longest flight.  There are also ‘new creation’ kites which include 3-dimensional figures of creative designs in the form of Hindu gods, mascots and even sponsors. Gamelan orchestras are played in each group to add even more excitement to the epic takeoffs.

You’ll get the chance to see some traditional Balinese giants, reaching over 4 meters wide and 10 meters long, some with long flowing ribbon tails which can reach over 100 meters long! The more common design that dominates the sky is the bebean type, in the form of a traditional fish. Also a common design, the Janggan is in the shape of a bird with short round wings and a long flowing kedeber tail which usually stands out more than the body of the kite itself once airborne. All built and crafted all over Bali for weeks before the event, by skilled youths supervised by more experienced elders in each of their Banjar village.

Ready to fly high with the kites? Or probably just join the crowd to watch these majestic creations from all over the island. Stay in Kembali Lagi Guesthouse for a comfortable stay in Sanur, with only a 10-minute drive to the location of the kites festival!