Darwin Kite Festival 2024: Family fun festival returns to Cullen Bay

Back for its second year bigger and better, the Darwin Kite Festival is set to draw thousands celebrating the end of school term with UFOs (uplifting flying objects).

Judd Smith, Sara Vaughan and Michael Smith gets ready for the kite festival held at Cullen Bay. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Thirty metre crocodiles, mesmerising mermaids and out of this world aliens will take to the Top End skies this weekend for the Darwin Kite Festival.

Back for its second year, the free event is expected to be twice as big as the last, with thousands expected to join the festivities at Cullen Bay.

“It’s the perfect way to start the school holidays,” Darwin mum Sara Vaughan said.

Her sons Judd, 9, and Michael, 8, were “very excited” to see the kites on display.

“The kids absolutely love flying kites and are keen to see the really big ones,” she said.

Some of the kits will be as big as 30m wide. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Activate Darwin executive director Jo Smallacombe said there would be an “amazing array of large colourful kites”, including some special light up kites for the evening.

“There will be plenty of kids entertainment: face painting, a jumping castle and discos, and a different movie showing on both evenings as well, which are somewhat kite themed.”

There will also be a public kite flying zone, food, live music, kite decorating and kites for sale.

Ms Smallacombe advised visitors to plan their travel.

“We know parking is limited at Cullen Bay, so to avoid getting stuck in traffic we’ve also got free shuttles from the city and Mindil Beach,” she said.

The 2024 Darwin Kite Festival runs Friday and Saturday at the Cullen Bay lawns.

Originally published as Darwin Kite Festival 2024: Family fun festival returns to Cullen Bay