The Thrilling Skies of Fuerteventura: The 37th International Kite Festival in Corralejo

This year, the skies of Fuerteventura are painted with the vibrant colors of kites as the 37th International Kite Festival of Corralejo comes to life. This festival has firmly established itself as a global reference point, attracting over 300 kite enthusiasts from around the world. Participants hail not just from various European countries such as The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Spain, but also from distant lands like Brazil and Turkey. Each kite flyer brings multiple kites, resulting in a breathtaking display of nearly 1,000 kites soaring high.

As excitement builds for the inaugural flight set for this Friday, participants are already taking advantage of the favorable wind conditions at the gorgeous Playa de La Concha in El Cotillo. Early bird kite fliers are testing the winds, which have been promising, blowing steadily between 22 and 25 kilometers per hour under delightful temperatures.

A Community Celebration

The first day of the festival has attracted many curious onlookers keen to witness the initial flights. Local residents are eager to enjoy the festive atmosphere, as colorful kites dance across the sky. A special feature of this year’s event is the participation of local senior citizen associations from the municipality of La Oliva. They have the unique opportunity to see firsthand the intricate art of kite-making and flying techniques. Students from CEIP El Toscón and members of the La Oliva municipal corporation have also joined the festivities, fostering a sense of community and engagement.

Voices from the Municipality

At the heart of the festival’s significance is the mayor of La Oliva, Isaí Blanco. He emphasizes, “The International Kite Festival is an event that has become part of our municipality’s history. Celebrating the 37th edition, this festival has carved itself a place on both local and international calendars due to its unique character and environmental consciousness. We are thrilled to host these events that captivate both residents and visitors alike.”

Echoing this sentiment, David Fajardo, the councilor of Tourism and Environment, highlights the commitment to blending tourism with environmental protection. He states, “We are taking various measures to ensure that this event aligns with the preservation of our valuable natural heritage. We offer free bus services to encourage public transport usage, host workshops focusing on local flora and fauna, and protect the environment at the Corralejo Dunes Natural Park. Additionally, we will have environmental guides available to enhance sustainability throughout the festival days.”

Activities Galore

The 37th International Kite Festival of Corralejo has planned an action-packed schedule giving both participants and spectators numerous activities to enjoy. The festivities kick off on Friday at 10:30 a.m. with the highly anticipated inaugural flight at Las Grandes Playas de Corralejo. Throughout the weekend, from Friday to Sunday, attendees can revel in thrilling acrobatic and static kite displays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

On Friday and Saturday evenings, starting at 9:30 p.m., visitors can look forward to an innovative drone musical show at the Corralejo Bay. This will feature an impressive display of 220 drones—the largest number for a show held in the Canary Islands—moving in perfect synchronization to create stunning silhouettes set to music.

One of the festival highlights will be the Rokaku kite battles, scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Families can also enjoy a variety of other attractions, including inflatable castles, children’s kite-making workshops, Brazilian kite workshops, and environmental workshops. Registrations for guided tours and workshops are already available on the official website, corralejokitefest.com.

Organizational Efforts

The International Kite Festival of Corralejo is organized by the Tourism Department of the La Oliva City Council, with support from the Tourism Department of the Fuerteventura Cabildo and the Government of the Canary Islands through Promotur Turismo Canarias, backed by the REACT EU Fund and the European program EcoTur2, part of the Mac 2014-2020 Territorial Cooperation project. Collaborations also come from local businesses such as Binter, Naviera Armas, and RIU Hotels and Resorts.