Latest news with #InternationalKiteFestival
CBS News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Visitors flock to Wildwood, New Jersey, for Memorial Day Weekend – the unofficial start to summer
It's the unofficial start to summer, plus the International Kite Festival in Wildwood, New Jersey It's the unofficial start to summer, plus the International Kite Festival in Wildwood, New Jersey It's the unofficial start to summer, plus the International Kite Festival in Wildwood, New Jersey Those Wildwood days are back again! The iconic tram cars are moving, and families are once again filling the boardwalk, making memories at the beginning of a new season down the shore. "It's the ocean, it's the restaurants, it's the amusement parks – Morey's Piers has been here as long as we have," said Calvin Price, who has been coming to Wildwood for 50 years with his family. Price drove from Connecticut on Thursday afternoon to beat the traffic. He enjoyed a walk on the boards on Friday, and his grandson, Oscar, is helping to carry on the tradition. "I'm looking forward to doing whatever my Poppop had planned and go to the boardwalk and have fun," said Oscar Brennan. The Wildwoods unlocked the ocean Friday morning. The festivities kicked off with a moving Flags of Liberty Ceremony to highlight the true meaning of Memorial Day. More than 125 casket flags were unfurled around the Convention Center, which represented deceased veterans. Lori Stokes-Powers remembered her father, who served in WWII. "It means so much to us, I personally think we can never do enough for the veterans," Stokes-Powers said. "We should always take care of them, whatever they need, take care of them for what they've done for us, we wouldn't have the life we have without them," said Ted Powers. Inside the Convention Center, second graders from the island's schools made kites and then made their way onto the sand to help kick off the International Kite Festival. This is the 39th year of the festival, and all different colors, shapes, and sizes took flight, another tradition helping the Wildwoods come alive this weekend "As soon as the traffic lights go back on we know it's time to kick into high gear, get ready for our guests to come down and visit us and make sure everybody has a spectacular summer that they're used to," said Louis Belasco, executive director of the Greater Wildwood Tourism Authority.
Express Tribune
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Kite flying ban
Lahore's new law that prohibits kite flying because it associates traditional kite events with criminal behaviour is debatable. The Punjab administration's prevention strategy presents a confusing approach by attempting to eliminate cultural traditions while neglecting to eliminate the core elements that threaten public safety. Lahore's Basant festival attracted worldwide tourists who promoted travel while celebrating the city's cultural legacy. Metal-coated strings led to catastrophic accidents prompting the government to impose a total ban instead of creating balanced regulations. Several countries around the world have created designated safe spaces for kite flying while ensuring safety and protecting cultural traditions. Both India and Japan successfully hold festivals celebrating flying kites: India hosts an International Kite Festival and Japan holds its Hamamatsu Festival. Why don't we follow their example? The real solution lies in holding string producers accountable rather than levying excessive penalties starting at Rs50,000 against kite enthusiasts and children. Targeting producers instead of banning this traditional custom would create a more equitable and effective approach. This ban threatens the economic survival of festival workers who build kites and guide tourists through the event. Our national identity and economic stability are at risk when we eliminate Basant from our cultural heritage. A better approach would combine designated kite zones with usage regulations and strict string manufacturing restrictions. The Punjabi government must reconsider their current approach and develop strategies to ensure public safety and cultural heritage preservation. The answer lies in responsible regulations instead of eliminating recreational fireworks altogether. Ayesha Fatima Lahore
