April 30–May 1, the Atlantic Coast Kite Festival will be underway on the beach between 16^th and 18^th Streets in Virginia Beach, Virginia. For kite entrants, it’s more about construction and function than just being pretty: Competitors are judged on how well kites are made, their appearances and how well they’re flown.

Participants must be able to fly their kites consecutively in the air for five minutes at a height of 100 feet. Judging categories include Flight, Structural Design, Craftsmanship and Visual Appeal in three competitive divisions: Master, Novice and Youth (ages 7–14). Trophies will be awarded in each of these divisions.

Activities — all appropriate to families — include Flight Training, where novices are coached by expert flyers while learning about the intricacies of equipment; how to lay out kite lines; how to set up a field; and how to launch, fly and land a kite.

The fun event also includes free daily kite-building workshops (including materials) that reveal the secrets to great kite construction while exploring issues of aerodynamics and safety. East Coast members of the American Kite Association will host demonstrations and perform kite routines set to music. They’ll also fly colossal kites measuring up to 80 feet in length, including a spectacular octopus kite. Awards categories include oldest and youngest kite fliers, funniest kite, most unusual kite and largest kite.