The skyline above Los Angeles State Historic Park will come alive with color as Clockshop’s Kite Festival returns. Now in its sixth year, this free annual event is expected to draw thousands for an afternoon of kite flying, art-making workshops, and live performances. The gathering serves as a core reflection of Clockshop’s mission to build a culture of care through the connection between artists, neighborhoods, and the land, bringing people together on public ground to foster long-term relationships based on shared values.
This year’s theme, Take a Breath, centers on the wind that lifts the kites, the open sky above the park, and the shared air that connects all attendees. Sue Bell Yank, Executive Director of Clockshop, expressed her excitement for the joyful celebration at what she calls Downtown LA’s backyard. She emphasized that public parks must be protected by future generations so they remain vital, accessible resources amid accelerating downtown development. This advocacy is central to Clockshop’s belief that the community built through these shared experiences will ultimately shape a more resilient future.
As part of the annual kite commission program, artists Christine Sun Kim and Thomas Mader will debut a new inflatable sculpture exploring the complexities of communication across signed and spoken languages. This commitment to artistic unveiling is paired with the work of this year’s featured kite artist, Francisco Ramos. A two-time competition winner, Ramos will present a design inspired by the meditative qualities of park spaces, created in the style of a traditional Guatemalan barrilete. Rooted in a rich cultural practice often associated with Día de los Muertos, these kites symbolize the connection between spiritual and material worlds. His hexagonal designs, decorated with scenes cut from papel chino and noise-making tails, pay homage to his homeland. Ramos, who views parks as places of healing, is currently passing these traditional techniques down to his two daughters.
For the third consecutive year, the festival will host a competition inviting participants to showcase handmade creations judged by expert kite makers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own kites or visit clockshop.org for eco-friendly options, though a limited number of donation-based kites will be available at the onsite kite-making station. The program also includes a main stage speaking series with interpretation in Spanish, Chinese, and American Sign Language to ensure the event remains accessible to the diverse surrounding communities.
While Los Angeles State Historic Park continues to serve as a vital space for artists, Clockshop notes that this environment faces potential challenges from the proposed aerial gondola project, which could impact open space, wildlife habitats, and mature trees. Through the simple, intergenerational act of kite flying, the festival seeks to build awareness around the importance of protecting such public land. The event is free and open to the public, though a suggested donation of $5–$10 supports ongoing public programming and future artist commissions.
The festival is made possible by an ongoing partnership with California State Parks, the LA Parks Alliance, Rediscover Center, Set Zero, and Bub & Grandma’s. Additional support comes from the Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Sieroty Company, LA City Council Districts 1 and 13, Sierra Club, Riboli Family Wines, Sugerman Communications Group, United Way of Los Angeles, and American Business Bank. The festival returns May 9 from 2–6 p.m. www.clockshop.org.
