Coolum Kite Festival - Press release

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Flying high

One of Australia 's largest kite festivals will see the skies over Coolum Beach on Queensland 's Sunshine Coast transform into a kaleidoscope of colour. The 7 th annual IGA Coolum Kite Festival, which is expected to attract over 40,000 people to its spectacular beach setting, will be held from September 22-23.

The vibrant event, which has grown in popularity over the years, will attract some of the best national and international kite flyers who will showcase their impressive skills over the two days. Kites of all shapes and sizes will be on display including some massive character and theme-based kites and spectators will also have the opportunity to participate in a series of windsock, kite and lantern making workshops.

The weekend festival is not just about kites, there will be plenty of fireworks, demonstrations by the RAAF Roulettes, roving performers, food and market stalls, night-time skydiving, kite surfing, lantern parades, sculptures, a huge cultural arts component and a popular music festival that simmers in the moonlight over Stumers Creek.

Dutch sculptor, Robert Valkenburgh, is coming to Coolum to build a four-metre high sound sculpture especially for the festival and renowned New Zealand kite maker, Craig Hanson will be attending to fly some of the world's biggest kites which have been displayed across the globe.

IGA Coolum Kite Festival Chairman, Noel Mooney says that the festival will celebrate all that's great about the coastal lifestyle – sun, surf and beach, with the most extensive program to date.

“We are really excited about the high calibre of entertainment at this year's event and are confident that the festival will continue to attract the rave reviews it has received in the past from the thousands of visitors who make the pilgrimage down the beach to the creek,” said Noel.

“The skies will be alive with the spectacular array of kites during the day and the evening program will provide a diverse range of entertainment by moonlight, including fantastic live bands.”

This year's festival theme is ‘Wings of Desire' which will see flying lantern images, shadow puppets, fire, pyrotechnics, skydiving and more in a visual and musical display encompassing the ocean, the sky and the creek.

The 2007 festival will also feature 60 top kite surfers battling the waves in one of Australia 's biggest downwind events, the ‘Off the Lip' kite surfing challenge.

Don't miss out on one of the Sunshine Coast 's most popular events. For more information on the IGA Coolum Kite Festival, please visit www.coolumkitefestival.com .