Kids gear up for holiday kite fest

If you’re planning to spend the holiday weekend in Belize City, then maybe the best way to start is at the Penta Kite Fest. The annual event originated in 1975 as a promotion for 7-Up, and encouraged children to make their own kites. On March ninth, the competition will once again soar high above the Yarborough Green in an assortment of colors, shapes and sizes. David Habet, one of the organisers, says that it’s a fun filled family oriented event.

David Habet, co-organizer, Penta Kite Fest

“We’re having several categories as usual, that’s the best Penta, best moonie, best singer, best box, best star kite and the most original, there are three cash prizes per category and a fourth prize for primary school kids who make their own kites. They’ll get a bag of goods, exercise books, pencils, couple chips and sweets.”

“The first prize is two hundred dollars, second is one hundred dollars, third fifty dollars and then the bag of goodies for the fourth place, which has to be a primary school student and it has to be made by that student. Then we also will be having refreshments out there, the Belize Amateur Bodybuilding Association, barbecue. So it’s a whole fun day event. But you have to come out in the morning cause that’s when the real action takes place.”

Habet says that judging for the different categories starts at eleven, and in addition to the kite contest there will also be a 5K run to start off the day’s activities.