Ok, so this post might be a little bit of cheating because we have already written about Villa de Leyva and Cartagena, and we want to show you the best Colombia has to offer so we try to vary our locations Beyond Bogota. However the month of August is a great time to talk about Villa de Leyva and Cartagena, and the traditional kite festivals that take place in these cities. And because in both cases we already wrote about the colonial city, the surroundings and the history of both places, we will spare you those details and head straight to the festivals.
Image via http://www.villadeleyva-boyaca.gov.co/
If you are not clear on what the deal with the kites is, or want some more insight, you can keep an eye out for our upcoming post in our blog 2600 meters closer to Flying Kites where we talk more about kite flying in August; however the quick summary of the story is that August is the month of strong winds in the country and it’s ideal for kite flying. Beyond the kite sellers and flying in the city, many people like to leave Bogotá and head to other cities to fly their kites and watch the pros in action.
The oldest festival in the country is the one in Villa de Leyva, officially called Festival del viento y las cometas, or festival of wind and kites. The festival began in 1975 and has been taken place over a weekend in the month of august ever since. In 2015 the 40th version of the festival will be celebrated with over 70 participants in the actual flying constests and thousands of visitors who come to fly them on amateur basis or just to watch the air acrobatics of the large and colorful kites.
The festival takes place on the 15th, 16th and 17th of August 2015, and the contest categories are Artisanal Kite, Art Kite, Night flight, Children sport kite, Vertical kite and spectacle kite. The competition starts at 9 in the morning and goes into the night with usually one day where the town square is cleared for everyone who wants to give kite flying a try without participating in the competition.
THere is also the social and cultural component to the event, with parties, fairs, showcases and exhibits for the visitors to the town. This festival is high tourist season in Villa de Leyva, so if you plan to attend we recommend making reservations and planning ahead for full occupancy.
The festival in Cartagena is a lot newer, celebrating in 2015 its 5th iteration. However it is known for having a strong international aim, with over 30 participants from The Netherlands, Malaysia, The US, Canada, Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba and Colombia. Hence the official name of Festival internacional de las cometas.
Image via IDER Cartagena
The event begins on Friday the 14th at 3pm with a workshop in kite making for children, and ends on Monday the 17th to take advantage of the long weekend. The event will extend itself into the night time where spectacles will be taking place to the delight of children and adults. It is a great plan for some time as a family, but bear in mind the high tourism season and the large crowds in the city.