28^th Annual
Pacific Rim Kite Festival
June 10 – 11, 2006

Back dropped by the Coast Mountains, English Bay and downtown Vancouver, this year's Pacific Rim Festival enjoyed sunny weather, consistent winds, and contented spectators.

One of this year’s highlights was our own master multiple kiteflyer, Mr. Ray Bethell. Ray entertained the crowds with his world famous kite ballet routines…a huge crowd pleaser as always!

Adding to the entertainment were kite demonstrations from our local members,
including Egan Davis and Dave Hathaway using their Revolution kites; as well as the
Alphabits team Tony Tung, Jeremy Perceval, Dianne O’Brien and Cathie Jung
performing synchronized kite ballets.

Music and sound engineer extraordinaire, Cal Yuen,
manned the sound tent and kept the crowds informed of the day’s events.

The kite making tent was a popular place for the kids, and our volunteers made
over 100 kites. Thank you Squadron 135 for sharing your time with us.

A Megafly was organized, with Ray Bethell as lead kite and caller. Seven sport kites
 (that’s 14, 100' lines) played “Follow the Leader” in the sky. (No kites were hurt during this event!)

The Rokkaku battle was a crowd pleaser, as
 Egan Davis, Tony Tung, Don Lord, Nigel Spaxman and Ron Hardie
battled for the championship…

A ground display of banners and ‘wind-a- ma- jigs’, as well as an assortment of interesting kites, arches and trains filled the sky, making a colourful backdrop to Vanier Park.

Joining in at the festival were Sally Fontana from Kites and Puppets, as well as our food vendor,
Go Greek, serving up delicious hotdogs, hamburgers, and Donairs.

"Bear in the Air"

Many thanks to the Festival Committee who volunteered their time and energy organizing this event. Thanks also to those who came early and stayed late setting up and tearing down the field. Without your help and support, our Festival would not have been such a success.