Kite enthusiasts gathered on Sunday for the Cape Town International Kite Festival, a colorful annual event supporting mental health awareness.
The festival, now in its 30th year, attracted participants from as far as the United States and Tunisia.
Kites of various shapes and sizes filled the skies, from “Finding Nemo”-inspired fish to blue dragons, yellow lizards, and a vibrant green jellyfish.
Among the creative designs were a skydiver-shaped kite and a massive hand that waved to onlookers.
Organizer Barbara Meyer noted the wide range of attendees, including professional kite fliers and children joyfully running with their kites.
The event aligns with October’s mental health awareness month in South Africa, raising funds for Cape Mental Health, a nonprofit offering mostly free counseling services in the Cape Town area.
Meyer described the kites as symbols of resilience. “No matter how fragile the string seems,” she said, “a person can use it to hold a kite as large as a house.”
The event also recognized the mental health challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among young people.
Meyer noted that lockdowns, isolation, and job losses had left lasting scars, leading more people to seek support.
The Cape Town International Kite Festival continues to be a beacon of hope, blending joy and purpose on the city’s beaches.