BY RECORD STAFF

The Whidbey Island Kite Festival and Sportkite Competition takes to the sky with colorful kites of all shapes and sizes on today and Sunday, Sept. 23 on the parade grounds at Camp Casey.

The highlight of the weekend is the Whidbey Island Sport Kite Championships, one of the premier sportkite competitions in the Pacific Northwest. Competition takes place both Saturday and Sunday.

Activities include kids’ kitemaking, beginning sportkite lessons and sportkite demonstrations.

Two mass ascensions are planned. The first 50 people to sign up and participate in each event will receive a special-issue event pin. A mass ascension is where everyone can fly a kite at the same time. The style of kite for Saturday is either delta or cellular and Sunday is flat/bowed or sparless.

A teddy-bear drop is scheduled each day at 1 p.m. for children under 10.

The Whidbey Island Kite Festival is presented by the Whidbey Island Kite Festival Association and the Whidbey Island Kite Fliers.

All events are free.