Flying High invites makers, dreamers, and collaborators for a one-day kite celebration at the Rockaway Beach Amphitheater.
Kites have existed for over two thousand years, originating in China and spreading across Asia before reaching the rest of the world. They have carried messages across great distances, guided scientific discovery, held deep significance across cultures, and simply brought a sense of joy for people of all ages. To build and fly a kite is to engage one of humanity's oldest curiosities, the desire to connect earth and sky through something as simple as a line of thread. And at the center of it all is wind, invisible and powerful, a force that cannot be seen but only felt. A kite makes the wind visible and is the only art form where the sky is a key collaborator to bring the work to life.
This is an invitation to tap into that invisible spirit. Co-presented by Jean Lee & Dylan Davis of Ladies and Gentlemen Studio, Rockaway Film Festival, Materials for the Arts, and NYC Parks, the day will include kite flying on the beach, a group kite show, kite-making workshops, live music, and a film screening by the Rockaway Boardwalk – all free and open to the public.
The kite brief is open to all creative backgrounds and formats. Collaborate with friends, kids, and family. Make a beautiful object that flies in the sky! If you’re interested in exhibiting a kite, learn more and register here by May 24th.
SCHEDULE
2:00-4:00 PM Kite flying on the beach
Between Beach 94th and Beach 95th street. Open to everyone!
4:00–6:00 PM Kite exhibition & free kite-making workshop
Original kites on view at the amphitheater through sundown. Workshop supported by Materials for the Arts – all supplies provided
6:00–7:00 PM Workshop kites take flight
Participants fly their creations in the open sky
7:00 PM Live music: Tini Vessel
Rockaway-based musician performs at the amphitheater
8:30 PM Amphitheater screening: Mary Poppins (1964)
One of Walt Disney's most beloved classics
Flyer artwork by John Grund.
