Kites take flight to celebrate Geraldton’s Festival of Lights

More than 200 kites will take to the skies over Stow Gardens this weekend as part of one of Geraldton’s premier cultural events.

The Midwest Multicultural Association’s Festival of Lights is back after the 2020 edition was limited to a film of recorded performances due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Kicking off at 4pm on Saturday November 6, the family friendly festival celebrates cultural diversity through live dance, food, art and music from around the world.

For its 13th year, the festival has enlisted the services of kiting master Michael Alvares, who will fly a 12m whale shark kite and 8m dolphin kite over Stow Gardens.

“I will be sending up many Japanese koi fish during the day to symbolise Golden Week in Japan and an arch of 200 kites to colour the sky,” Alvares told The Geraldton Guardian.

“Every Asian country has a symbolic kite that represents their country. I use kites to teach people about Asian culture.”

A fireworks display will close out the festival, which finishes at 8.30pm.

Alvares said he would send up a specially designed night kite just before the fireworks kick off.

Midwest Multicultural Association president Tom Mwangi said there were more than 60 nationalities represented in Geraldton.

“We are very diverse as a community and that presents a lot of opportunity to celebrate our multiculturalism,” he said.