ABC Kite Fest, one of Austin’s most iconic traditions, is back for its 98th year! Head to Zilker Park on Saturday, April 11, from 10 am – 5 pm for this FREE all-day festival. Great for folks of all ages, ABC Kite Fest features an annual kite flying contest, a children’s music concert called MossFest, tons of kids’ activities, pet activities, food vendors, and more. Plus, there’s a VIP experience called “The High Flyer Club” that includes meals, snacks, drinks, a DJ, and more!
Founded in 1929 by The Exchange Club of Austin to foster creativity among children, ABC Kite Fest is now the largest and longest-running festival of its kind.
Here’s what to expect at this year’s kite fest:
-
MossFest Children’s Concert Presented by PNC: Honoring the joyful life of Moss Pieratt, and sponsored by PNC Bank, this concert runs from 10 am – 1 pm and features a variety of family-friendly artists like the Barton Hills Choir, Mr. Will, and DiscoTex. Get the lineup here.
- Community Kite Contest & Showcase Presented by H-E-B: The kite contest is open to all ages and is free to enter. The showcase begins at 1 pm, and youth categories are open to ages 16 and under. All homemade and pre-built kites are welcome; however, motorized or “drone kites” are not allowed in the competition. There are categories like “Most Unusual Kite”, “Youngest and Oldest Kite Fliers”, “Largest Kite”, and more. Check out all the details and categories here.
-
Food Court: Offering delicious bites from Austin’s local food scene, you’ll find lots of food and drink vendors at ABC Kite Fest! This year, there are more than 40 activities and vendors.
-
Pet Zone Presented by Subaru: Bring the dogs to an off-leash pet playground pop-up, presented by Austin Subaru, featuring dog-friendly activities like a three-ring jump and tunnel run. They’ll also have rock climbing walls for a little exercise for the humans. Get more info here.
- High Flyer Club VIP Experience Presented By Texas Mutual: Tickets are available here for attendees interested in a VIP experience. The VIP experience includes early access to the park, upgraded parking, catered refreshments, breakfast, lunch, and snacks, upgraded restrooms, face painting, a live DJ, bounce houses, upgraded and covered seating options, and more. VIP tickets are $100 for anyone 9 or older. Kids 8 and younger are free with an accompanying, ticketed adult (up to two children).
Parking & Transportation: The ABC Kite Fest is offering parking passes for $25 per vehicle here. There are limited parking spots at Austin High and Zilker Park Polo Field.
ABC Kite Fest is also offering round-trip shuttles from South Austin. You can purchase shuttle passes for $5 per person here. (Kids 5 and under are free with a ticketed adult). Get the locations, timing, and tickets for shuttles here.
To plan your trip with CapMetro, use Routes 3 and 803.
For more information on ABC Kite Fest, visit www.abckitefest.org. To stay updated on festival news and announcements, follow ABC Kite Fest on Instagram and Facebook.
