Covid-19-affected Semaphore kite festival to return with support from council

One of the casualties of Covid-19 restrictions – for two years running – is set to return, bigger and better than ever in 2022, with the support of council.

The last Kite Festival was held at Semaphore in 2019. Pic: Dean Martin

The Adelaide International Kite Festival used to draw thousands to Semaphore Beach every year and the popular event is set to return in 2022.

Covid-19 restrictions led to the cancellation of the festival this year and in 2020.

Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Claire Boan said council would extend an agreement it has with the Adelaide International Kite Festival to allow the event to be held in 2022 and 2023.

“It’s a great event that we’re happy to continue supporting” she said.

The festival had been held annually at Semaphore beach and had become an iconic event for the western region.

The last Kite Festival was held at Semaphore in 2019. Pic: Dean Martin

It had grown to be one of the largest kite festivals in the southern hemisphere, attracting kite flyers from across Australia and overseas.

The 2018 and 2019 events were estimated to have crowds of more than 60,000 people attend across three days over Easter.

In July 2018 Port Adelaide Council’s grants and sponsorship committee agreed to support the event by providing $25,000 per year for a further three years – for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 events.

The kite festival at Semaphore is set to return in 2022. Pic: Dean Martin

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March last year, and the resulting lockdown and then restrictions on social gatherings, meant that the Easter 2020 event had to be cancelled.

By early 2021, while requirements for the delivery of Covid-19 safe events had been established and event organisers were able to submit an application for a COVID-19 management plan, they decided not proceed with last year’s event. There were a number of reasons for the 2021 cancellation including many of the kite flyers coming from interstate, at a time when snap lockdowns were still occurring.

The organisers have maintained contact with council staff throughout this year and 2020 and advised them their intention to remount the event in 2022 and again in 2023.