Kick-off event Saturday to precede Good Friday KiteFest

Get ready Bermuda! The Bermuda Good Friday KiteFest is back on at Horseshoe Bay! Thanks to the gracious support of KeyTech and Minister of the Environment Sylvan Richards this cultural event, focused on bringing people together in the spirit of community and national pride will be taking place Friday, March 29th.  

Kite Flying has long been one of Bermuda’s oldest and most cherished traditions and The Bermuda Good Friday KiteFest celebrates this legacy by bringing families together to enjoy kite-flying in a fun and festive atmosphere. The Chewstick Foundation is honored to have the opportunity to steward this event and are very happy for the outpouring of community support that allowed them to move forward with it. With the solid support of government, civil servants, the community and Title Sponsor, KeyTech  they are focused on further enhancing the event to take it toward the national and international audience.

In the spirit of community celebration, togetherness and the upholding of traditions, The Chewstick Foundation has expanded the historically one day event with a kickoff event at Washington Mall this Saturday, March 23rd at The Washington Mall. There will be a Kite Making demonstration by master Kite Builder  Mr. James Butterfield, alongside Dying of the Eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt on Good Friday, as well as face-painting, marbles and more! This will take place between 10a.m. to 4p.m. on the Washington Mall Second Floor which will be buzzing with activities in preparation for the Good Friday event. As “The Heart of Hamilton”, Washington Mall stores were keen to support an event focused on celebrating the culture, heritage and “heartbeat” of Bermuda. The Easter season has many uniquely Bermudian traditions and the Washington Mall event will focus on passing those traditions on to the next generation in a way that is fun and collaborative. People can bring their kite-making materials to the Washington Mall or pick up theirs there during the demonstration and workshop, then stick around for fun games, activities and treats in anticipation of Bermuda’s Good Friday KiteFest.

The Bermuda Good Friday KiteFest, taking place on March 29 2013, will be a day filled with the fun and excitement of kite-flying, egg-hunting and fun races, in a great family atmosphere. The event will also showcase a diverse cross-section of Bermuda talent including traditional folk music, acoustic reggae, contemporary gospel and Bermuda Gombeys.

The entire event will be hosted by The Chewstick Foundation’s Executive Director and Founder Gavin Djata Smith, who will bring his incredible energy, talent and love of the community to the event.

The Bermuda Good Friday KiteFest is completely free, with music and activities starting at 10 a.m. and plenty of ways to get involved and win fantastic prizes. KiteFest will feature the island’s largest Kite Competition, categories include; Best Boxy (Fennel Sticks), Biggest Kite, Smallest Kite, Best Design, Best Traditional Kite, Best Innovative Kite Design, Loudest Kite, and even the Ugliest Kite! The contest is wide-open, just come through with your kite and enter right there on the sand. It is free to enter the competition for the chance to win prizes courtesy of KiteFest title sponsor KeyTech alongside the Ministries of Environment & Planning, Tourism & Transport and  Public Safety.  

This year there will also be a competition for the Best Bermuda Fishcake; to enter just bring four fishcakes to the beach to be sampled by KiteFest’s esteemed judges including well known Fishcake empresario Mr. Dale Butler. If you are successful you’ll walk away with the Title of Fishcake of the Year 2013 to brag about for a whole year!

The Chewstick Foundation is hoping to make this event a fundraiser to assist them in continuing their work in the community, so while KiteFest is free, there will be volunteers on hand if you wish to learn more about Chewstick or make a donation to the charity. In addition, they are encouraging anyone who is interested in helping to make the day fun and safe for all, to contact them before the event.

Each and every person is encouraged to attend The Bermuda Good Friday KiteFest and to celebrate one of Bermuda’s longest standing and iconic family traditions, on the most beautiful beach in Bermuda. If you would like to find out more information visit their website

www.chewstick.org, call them at 292-2439 or email

[email protected].