Go Fly a Kite Day - Today is Go Fly a Kite Day. Get ready to play in the sun with your kite flying high. If you have never flown a kite then you must do so today.

Go Fly a Kite Day 2025 – April 17, 2025

Go Fly a kite Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of April every year. This year it will take place on April 17. The phrase ‘Go Fly a Kite’ does not always literally mean you should go and fly a kite, it is also an idiom that is used when you want someone to go away or leave you alone. This is because telling someone to go fly a kite requires them to do so. The phrase initially appeared in the 1940s and remained popular for several decades afterward. This national festival is taken to indicate that individuals should go fly a kite instead of telling someone to leave.

History of Go Fly a Kite Day

A kite is a light frame wrapped in paper, plastic, or fabric, generally with a stabilizing tail, and intended to be flown at the end of a long string in the air.Kites are supposed to have originated in Shandong, China’s easternmost province, and were spread across Asia by traders who transported them to India, then to Korea. In various locations, unique kite types evolved, as well as various cultural goals for flying them. Kites made of bamboo and covered in silk and paper were common in the early days. In 1295 B.C., European traveler Marco Polo wrote about kites and how to fly them. Kites had become popular as children’s toys by the 16th century, thanks to books and literature that popularized them. Eventually, kites were used for scientific research. Alexander Wilson, a Scottish meteorologist, used a kite-mounted thermometer to measure air temperature at 3,000 feet in 1749.In 1752, Benjamin Franklin used a kite to demonstrate that lightning is electricity. When the Wright brothers were developing the first airplane in the late 1800s, they used kites for their study. New kite designs began to take flight in the first half of the 20th century.For millennia, kites have been used to ward off evil, send messages, raise banners, represent the gods, uncover natural phenomena, drop propaganda leaflets, propel craft, spy on adversaries, photograph the Earth, broadcast radio signals, measure the weather, transport passengers into the sky, and catch fish. Kites are currently flown for sport and enjoyment, as well as as a traditional form of artistic expression. The kite was the first aircraft to take to the air, and it served as a forerunner to manned flight.

Go Fly a Kite Day timeline

1752
Kites Help an Experiment

Benjamin Franklin uses a kite to demonstrate that lightning is caused by an electrical discharge.

1949
Kites are Used to Measure Air Temperature

Alexander Wilson uses a kite to measure the temperature of the air at 3,000 feet.

1950s
Spaceship Recovery

N.A.S.A. starts using kites for spaceship recovery.

1964
American Kitefliers Association

The American Kitefliers Association is formed.

Go Fly a Kite Day FAQs

What is flying a kite called?

The act of flying a kite is called kiting.

Why does my kite not fly?

A kite will not fly if the tail is too long or too heavy.

Can you fly a kite without wind?

No. Kites will always need wind to fly.

Go Fly a Kite Day Activities

  1. Fly a kite

    Flying a kite is already in the name of the holiday, so that is exactly what we should do. Flying kites is always enjoyable, no matter how old or young you are.

  2. Make a kite

    Making a kite is often more enjoyable than purchasing one. There are many different types of kites to make and many various techniques to make them, but the most essential thing is to have fun while making one.

  3. Join a kite club

    Do your homework; there should be a kite club in your area, and if there isn't, look into international options. When you join a kite club, you will find it more enjoyable.

5 Fun Facts About Kites

  1. Airplanes are just big kites

    Airplanes are a development of kites.

  2. Kites are fast too

    The fastest kite speed was 193 kilometers per hour.

  3. Some kites can be very long

    The longest kite is 3,394ft.

  4. Kiteswere banned in Japan

    In 1760 kites were banned in Japan as it was considered insulting to the principles of the Shinto religion.

  5. Kites were used in the war

    Kites were used to deliver letters during the American Civil War.

Why We Love Go Fly a Kite Day

  1. It is a fun sport

    Kite flying is a lot more enjoyable than it appears. It's a stress-relieving sport that can be done outside. It's ideal to do it with a handful of pals to make it more enjoyable.

  2. It is an avenue for family bonding

    One of the best things about flying kites is that it is something that both adults and children can enjoy together. The whole family can fly kites together on this day to strengthen their bond.

  3. It allows creativity

    There are different ways to make a kite and you can express your creative side with the kites you make. There can even be a little competition as to who has the most beautiful kite.

Go Fly a Kite Day dates

Year Date Day
2023 April 17 Monday
2024 April 17 Wednesday
2025 April 17 Thursday
2026 April 17 Friday
2027 April 17 Saturday