Plans for summer kite festival take off

Kite enthusiasts have held test flights at the Great Field at Poundbury

A kite festival could take to the skies in Dorset, a decade after the popular Weymouth International Beach Kite Festival ended.

The proposed event in Dorchester, scheduled for June 2026, aims to attract professional kite flyers from across the UK and beyond as well as local fliers.

It would be organised by the Dorchester Town Council with the White Horse Kite Flyers, which was involved with the Weymouth festival during its heyday.

The Yeovil-based group praised the suitability of the planned location at Poundbury and said it had carried out a "very successful test flight".

"We all had fun and received lovely feedback from local residents. There's a lot of enthusiasm from us to support making this happen."

The planned event would be free to attend, with no entry charge, and would feature public kite flying zones, stunt kite demonstrations, children's kite-making workshops as well as food and charity stalls.

A budget of £4,000 has been proposed, covering marketing, staff costs, materials for workshops, first aid, and facilities. The town council would seek sponsorship and charge pitch fees to reduce costs.

It is hoped the festival could boost visitor numbers during the quieter early summer period, outside of school holidays.

Local businesses in Poundbury have expressed support for more public events on the Great Field, and the kite festival could become a new highlight in Dorchester's cultural calendar.

The proposal is currently awaiting approval in principle from Dorchester Town Council members.

Nearby Weymouth hosted its International Beach Kite Festival up until 2017 but suffered from cuts in council funding.