Coolum Kite Festival - Press release

Return to 'About the Coolum Kite Festival'
Photo library

Kite festival soars to international heights

IGA Coolum Kite Festival Chairman, Noel Mooney and World Sport Kite Pilot, Steve Donovan will put Sunshine Coast firmly on the international map, when they fly to China to represent Australia at the world's largest international kite festival from April 19-22.

The 25 th annual Weifang International Kite Festival, located in the highlands of China 's Shandong Province, is set to attract over 1,700 professional kite flyers and more than one million spectators to the region, providing a huge opportunity for local representatives to promote the upcoming IGA Coolum Kite Festival. 

Noel Mooney has been largely responsible for taking the IGA Coolum Kite Festival to new heights since its inception in 2000 and he says having a presence at Weifang, known as the home of kite flying, will help to establish the local festival within the international kite flying arena while creating a profile for the Sunshine Coast.

“By being apart of this high calibre international event and having the opportunity to promote the IGA Coolum Kite Festival abroad, we hope to attract more people to visit the Sunshine Coast and attend our event this October,” said Noel.

Steve Donovan's spectacular winning performance at the festival's World Kite Flying Championship last year impressed judges so much that he has been invited back as the festival's Chief Judge.

“I am extremely honoured to have been invited back to this prestigious event and excited to be involved in kite flying which will take centre stage as a demonstration sport at the this year's Olympic Games in Beijing.

The Australians have been given the honour of leading the opening ceremony, which will include a full rehearsal of the five-hour Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony and will set the scene for the four-day festival.

The IGA Coolum Kite Festival is to be held from October 11-12 at Stumers Creek, Coolum Beach. For more information, please visit www.coolumkitefestival.com.au.

Ends.