Emily Ibarra (left) and Javier Vega (right) of Inglewood work together to launch their kite at the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
The skies south of the Redondo Beach Pier were dotted with color last weekend as the Festival of the Kite celebrated five decades of flying dragons, mermaids and traditional diamond-shaped regalia.
This year, the popular Sunday family outing featured a DJ and live music, a dance and Taekwondo performance, a Craig’s Hot Dog on a Stick eating contest, face painting and prizes for kite flying categories.
Sunshine Kite Company owner Randy Joe hosted the first kite festival in 1974.
Tom and Ani Fine took over the tradition in 1999 after purchasing the business from Joe, according to Ani Fine.
After Tom Fine’s death in 2019, Ani Fine closed Sunshine Kite Company, but the Redondo Beach Pier and International Boardwalk businesses, through the Redondo Pier Association, took over the festival.
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Local band the 1969 performs at the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Families gather around to pick out a new kite to fly at the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Local band the 1969 performs at the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Emily Ibarra (left) and Javier Vega (right) of Inglewood work together to launch their kite at the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
People gather from all over Los Angeles to enjoy the annual Festival of the Kite in Redondo Beach, CA on March 10th, 2024. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
The Festival of the Kite celebrated its 50th year on March 10. A mermaid-themed kite was one of many that filled the sky above Redondo Beach during the 49th annual Festival of the Kite, on Sunday, March 12, 2023. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
