Ending the sunniest week Santa Barbara has seen in a while, hundreds gathered on the
Great Meadow at Santa Barbara City College on Sunday for the 39th annual Kite
Festival.

Kites of all colors and shapes soared above the scenic bluff, as families — some returning
for decades, others for the first time — celebrated the spring tradition.

“Seeing families each year that I’ve seen grow up, and then to have their children come
back and bring their children—that’s always very rewarding,” said David Hefferman,
who has organized the event for 27 years.

This year’s theme, “Helping One Another,” was reflected in moments both small and
large, from parents helping their children fly a kite for the first time to Hefferman’s
efforts to ensure the festival’s future.

“I’ve been shouldering a lot of that organizational burden,” he said. “It’s our vision to
form a nonprofit and create a two-year endowment — a budget cycle — so that we don’t
have to scramble each year.”

Hefferman launched a GoFundMe campaign Saturday night to support that vision.

Sabrina Mulac, attending for her second year, was joined by August John Monahan, who
took home a win in the 3-to-4-year-old age group for the Kite Tail Chase.

“As soon as I realized it was today, we made it the plan,” Mulac said.

UCSB student Troy Heye volunteered at the event for the first time and said one of the
most enjoyable moments was cheering on kids during the tail chase.

“I picked out one of the kids that I was rooting for, and he ended up winning,” Heye
said. “It’s a nice sunny day, and there are lots of families, different kites, food stands,
tattoos — you can buy a bubble gun. There’s a lot going on.”

With contests, games, and community spirit flying high, the long-running festival once
again brought together Santa Barbara locals to celebrate fun, family, and flight.