For nearly four decades, Milwaukee’s lakefront has been the setting for one of the most vibrant and high-flying weekends of the year. Now in its 38th year, the Gift of Wings Family Kite Festival, presented by IKEA, returns to Veterans Parkon Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, 2025.
Festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. each day, with events running through 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. The highlight of each day is the Grand Launch at Noon, when 600+ kites take to the sky in a breathtaking display over Lake Michigan.
This family-friendly tradition includes appearances from some of the most celebrated kite performers in the world. The Fabulous Windjammers, a precision kite flying team from Detroit, will perform three times each day. The Chicago Fire Kite Team will be back for their 24th consecutive year, flying in perfect unison with all six members.
From Montreal, Yves Laforest and the Canadian Dream Team return with their famous super-sized whale kites, a brand-new 120-foot trilobite kite, and the debut of the IKEA Shark kite—a festival exclusive.
Additional performances include Milwaukee’s own Mike Delfar, Paul Koepke, and the Wow Pro-Style team, along with a stunt kite routine by Jean Lemire, who will attempt to fly three dual-line kites simultaneously. Free kite flying lessons will also be offered by the Kite Whisperers, including Jim Cosca.
Young flyers can join in the excitement during the Kids Mad Dash, where the first 100 participants receive a free kiteand launch them all at once in a joyful and chaotic burst of color.
Kites and food will be available for purchase from Gift of Wings, with new offerings for spring. The event is completely free, with plenty of free parking available near the park.
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Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
