Central Coast residents of all ages will send hundreds of colorful kites soaring into the sky during the annual Family Kite Festival, noon-4 p.m. Sunday, April 7 at Rotary Centennial Park, 2625 S. College Drive, Santa Maria.

The free event is hosted by the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department and Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum.

The Kite Festival will feature professional kite-flying demonstrations, contests, food, vendors and music.

Kite ambassadors from the American Kitefliers Association will be on hand to coach families and help them learn how to smoothly fly a kite. There will also be a kite “hospital” at the park for any kites that need “first aid” or minor repairs.

Children can chase after kite tails, and try their luck at the Running of the Bols Race, during which contestants wear parachute-type kites and race each other in a scientific demonstration of how energy, inertia, and personal grit come together for some memorable family fun.

A limited number of free kites will be distributed during the event.

Local agencies interested in being vendors at the Kite Festival should email their information to aortiz@cityofsantamaria.org. All vendor fees benefit the People for Leisure and Youth, Inc., the nonprofit agency that supports the work of the city’s Recreation and Parks Department.  
 
Directed questions to the Recreation and Parks Department, 805-925-0951 ext. 2260, or the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum, 805-928-8414.