The Great Delaware Kite Festival, co-sponsored by the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation, will celebrate its 58th anniversary on Good Friday starting with an Easter Egg Hunt at 11 a.m., Friday, April 3, at Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes. All activities are free.

The kite competitions for children and teens are scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. but could be sooner if the egg hunt is completed before then. The highest kite competition follows at approximately 1 p.m. and is open to all ages. The awards ceremony for those competitions includes medallions sponsored by Lewes Chamber members. The adult competitions follow the first awards ceremony. The event concludes with the awards ceremony for the adult competitions. Times may vary according to weather conditions and the number of competitors.

Kite competition registrations begin at 10 a.m. with ample opportunity for practice in the field near the competition area. The Easter Egg Hunt will be limited to children up to age 12, and participants are encouraged to arrive at the park much earlier than the 11 a.m. scheduled start time to allow for travel time from the parking area at the main beach lot.

The competition will be held at the east end of the parade field. Food trucks will be located on the old tennis courts adjacent to the field, with picnic tables set up next to them. Other vendors will be located on the field.

The kite competitions are in three age categories: children up to age 12, teens 13-17, and adults 18 and older. Within each age category, kite flyers are judged by the type of kite they are flying – homemade or store-bought. The Special Class awards include the Open Individual Ballet (free flight performance accompanied by music which the entrant provides), Individual Precision (compulsory figures including the square, the mount and ladder down, judged on technical execution), Most Senior Flyer, Youngest Flyer, Flyer Farthest From Home, Smallest Kite and Largest Kite. The Highest Kite Award category is open to all ages.

In celebration of America’s 250th, a new award has been added this year – Most Patriotic Kite – and Ben Franklin will be making a special appearance.

Park entrance fees for vehicles are in effect and will be collected at the park entrance; cost is $10 per vehicle for Delaware license tags and $20 per car for out-of-state tags.

The Jolly Trolley will transport attendees at no cost between the competition field and the beach parking lot.

For those who have not made their own kites and want to participate, local stores will be on site selling a wide variety of kites, with space nearby to practice before competitions. There will also be a face-painting booth along with community organizations set up surrounding the field.