From Thursday, MIA Park Hills will host the three-day Qatar Kite Festival

Qatar Kite Festival

A dazzling array of uniquely patterned kites coming from different countries will converge on the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park Hills from Thursday, March 16 to 18 as the 2023 Qatar Kite Festival is ready to take off.

A total of 40 kite flyers will be participating this year, said Hassan Al Mousawi, CEO of Safe Flight Solutions, the organiser of the festival in a press conference yesterday at Al Riwaq Gallery. Joining him was Director of Lusail Museum, Dr. Karen Mary Excell.

Al Mousawi said that the 40 kite flyers from Germany, Thailand, Turkiye, France, Italy, India, Indonesia, United Kingdom, and United States will be flying multiple kites. 

He also told The Peninsula that the event is “an opportunity for people to come and enjoy the nice weather and the beautiful display of art which will be flying above the Museum of Islamic Art.”

Although similar kite festivals have been held in the country for the past years, this is the first edition of Qatar Kite Festival where the organiser is Safe Flight Solutions.

Throughout the course of the three-day celebration, kites will be visible in Doha’s skies, and each night, these kites’ LED characteristics will illuminate the night sky. 
It can be recalled that illuminated huge kites were also introduced in January this year during the 3rd Qatar Balloon Festival. A number of kite troupes and professional kite flyers will gather at the upcoming festival to pilot their traditional and modern kites. 

The detailed kite designs come in a variety of shapes, including a kite shaped like Charlie Chaplin, a falcon, a spider, a penguin, a horse, an elephant, a snake, an octopus, a dolphin, a dinosaur, a turtle, and an octopus.

The three-day festival will also feature child-friendly activities including a play area with inflatables at the MIA entrance and kite-building workshops in front of the Al Riwaq gallery and on the alleyway in MIA Park Hills. 

And due to the limited number of available slots, registration is required through vqikf.com in order to join the said workshop which will be led by Iqbal Husain, a seasoned kite-flying professional. 

The festival will be held at MIA Park Hills, adjacent to the “7” sculpture by Richard Serra. It is open from 3pm to 9pm on March 16 to 17, and from 11am to 9pm on March 18.

There are also food and drink carts and kiosks available, in addition to a wide variety of entertainment choices for both children and adults.

Source: The Peninsula