On Saturday, the sky above Los Angeles State Historic Park will trade smog for streamers as thousands of Angelenos converge for Clockshop’s Community & Unity People’s Kite Festival, a free afternoon of kite flying, art and music from 2 to 6 p.m. Born out of neighborhood resistance to a proposed private gondola to Dodger Stadium, the gathering has evolved into a full-blown community celebration that turns the park into a sea of color. Families, kite masters and commissioned artists will rotate between hands-on workshops, a youth kite competition and large-scale airborne art installations.
What To Expect At The Festival
According to Clockshop, the festival menu includes free kite-making and art workshops, a youth kite competition, live music and community resource booths, with a suggested 5-10 dollar donation to help keep programming free. This year’s artist commissions include a Guatemalan barrilete-style kite by Francisco Ramos and an inflatable sculpture titled "The Weather" by Christine Sun Kim and Thomas Mader, both slated to be unveiled during the afternoon.
From Protest To People’s Party
The festival traces its roots to 2021, when neighbors rallied after a developer floated a plan for a private gondola line that would glide over the park’s open space. As reported by LAist, Sue Bell Yank, executive director of Clockshop, said, "The Kite Festival, [for] some people, it’s their favorite day in Los Angeles," and organizers estimate last year’s gathering attracted about 7,000 people.
Gondola Fight Lingers
The proposed Dodger Stadium gondola is still stirring up local politics and legal filings, with developers and Metro facing lawsuits over the project’s environmental review and opponents arguing it would damage views and public access at the park. The Los Angeles Times has detailed the lawsuits and backlash, while the AP reported that the City Council has taken formal steps opposing parts of the plan, context that helps explain why many neighbors still treat the kite festival as civic action rather than only a party.
Public Land, Public Voices
Organizers frame the festival as an act of stewardship as much as a celebration, and Clockshop describes in its annual report partnerships with California State Parks and local advocacy groups that helped scale the event. That long view is part of why Clockshop keeps the festival free, leans on community volunteers and centers artist commissions that reflect the park’s cultural histories.
Getting There
Los Angeles State Historic Park is located at 1245 N Spring St, adjacent to Chinatown and the Metro A (Gold) Line Chinatown station, and the park’s official page notes limited parking and a main paid lot. Attendees are advised to take transit or arrive early for family programming and kite-making tables, and the park’s site provides maps and parking details for visitors planning their visit.
