Fiorita and Belcaro
July 01, 2024 2:22 pm
by CARLO MIGNOLLI
Imagine a clear and limpid sky, where hundreds of kites dance to the rhythm of the wind, coloring the blue with bright shapes and hues. It is in this magical setting that the Kite Festival 2024 comes to life, returning to Catanzaro after the great success of last season.
Two days of fun are expected on the Giovino beach, between Lido Valentino and the pre-dune area, to enjoy ample space to fly the many kites planned. For children it will be possible to participate in workshops, from 9:30 to 12:30 and in the afternoon from 15:30 to 18:30.
Will lead the event Philip Gallina, coordinator of one of the most important kite festivals in the world, invited everywhere from China to France. Gallina organizes the most important kite festival in Italy in Jesolo, in terms of numbers and Catanzaro begins to have its own network of enthusiasts.
During the press conference to present the event, at the De Nobili Library in Catanzaro, the mayor Nicola Fiorita states: “It is an initiative born with this administration. The commitment is not only to give birth to things, but to give them continuity, to make them grow and this applies to everything. We are very happy to have the second edition, because it will be bigger, stronger and more successful”.
And he adds: “A crackling July begins for the seaside neighborhood: tomorrow there will be this important regatta, then there will be the Kite Festival, the lighting of a stretch of the seafront and we will also celebrate the Blue Flag. We plan to extend the seafront, that is, to asphalt the Giovino area and the work awaited for years on the Barbaruzza ditch is about to be completed, a very important and long-awaited intervention for the neighborhood”.
The sports councillor was also present Nuncio Belcaro which states: “This year we have decided to characterize the festival as a possible debut of our administration’s summer activities, and among the new features the involvement of Catanzaro also in the Navy regatta stands out. This combination, together with the regatta, marks the beginning of our administration’s summer activities. We think that kites, with their charm and the curiosity they generate, can make everyone agree. I have understood in recent days that it is difficult not to be enchanted by their magic.”
Regarding the innovations of this edition he adds: “The teams of kite flyers have doubled compared to last year, demonstrating the success of the event. There will also be acrobatic flight competitions this year, with international experts performing spectacular stunts. The sky will be carpeted with some of the largest kites existing internationally, offering a unique spectacle. Another novelty this year is the introduction of the “Wind Gardens”: static kites that use the force of the wind to inflate on the ground without flying, creating particular choreographies. Finally, workshops for children will be a driving element of the festival. The little ones will be able to build their own kites and test them in flight. The festival is designed to unite adults and children, making children the real protagonists, together with their families.”
“The goal,” he concludes, “is for this event not to be just an experiment, but to become an annual tradition, turning Catanzaro into a fixed stop for kite enthusiasts. This could attract visitors from the province and the region, and become a very strong marketing element for the city. Catanzaro, the city of wind, has the characteristic of having favorable winds even in the height of summer, which is a challenge, given that these festivals are usually held in spring or autumn.”
