Make a sled kite. Lots of templates - but here's a quick one. https://www.my-best-kite.com/how-to-make-a-sled-kite.html

They are super easy to fly in low wind, and at worst you can run with it and it will go up. I used to make them with middle school students out of a plasticized paper. Decorate with sharpies, tie a string, add some plastic streamers for tails (home depot) and you are good to go!

Agree that a small kite and a short string are your best bets. Bring a blanket -- but expect the ground to be damp. There will be lots of kites to watch, and also sometimes kite shows.

Bring some picnic food and and a blanket and eat while you watch others fly. (we stop by subways and get sandwich and chips)
Once you are done eating and you've been able to watch others, you can get a good feel for how best to help you kid fly their kite.

Anonymous wrote: For that age, I would try to find a mini kite. We have one that’s about the size of half a sheet of typing paper. It’s small enough that it can be “flown“ just by the kid running around with it on a short string.

This is what I would do

For that age, I would try to find a mini kite. We have one that’s about the size of half a sheet of typing paper. It’s small enough that it can be “flown“ just by the kid running around with it on a short string.

I work in the area and the premium parking signs are already up ($35). I would metro given that this weekend is also peak bloom and it will be in the 70s on Sat.

Any parking recommendations? Or should we metro?

Are there porta potties available? Worried about our getting our kids to the museums for a potty break if there are no other facilities available. Thanks!

Thank you, All! Helpful feedback.

Just go and attempt it, it’s fun for kids even if they don’t fly for long.
Last year I was bombed with the sharp end of a kite in the face mere steps out of the car. It didn’t hurt more than surprise me. People expect tangling and fumbling.

I went last year right when it started with my then 2 yo. He loved it. We went for like 90 min, then lunch and nap and it wasn't too crowded yet.

It's a lot of fun, but it can be tricky to get the kite up. There are lots of other people, and you can't count on the wind.

It can be challenging to fly but it's spread out over a large area so you should be able to find some space. Whether you get your kite up depends a bit on your expertise and the weather. It will be crowded because of the warm, sunny forecast but is still one of my favorite DC family events.

It's fun and quite the spectacle, but you're going to have a hard time getting a kite up without getting tangled, especially with the nice weather in the forecast.

We’re taking our 3 1/2 year-old to the kite festival this weekend. We’ve never been. How ridiculously crowded is it? She wants to fly a kite and I am not the best at it. How realistic is not crashing it into someone? I was suggesting we just go to watch that she’s 3 1/2…pretty firm in her opinions ( yeah I know I’m the parent, just trying to get an idea of how intense it is to fly there).