The annual Bristol International Festival of Kites and Air Creations takes place at Ashton Court Estate over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd September. Organisers promise an action-packed aerial extravaganza featuring spectacular flying displays, kite fighting battles, synchronised routines flown to music and awesome power kites as well as colourful ground-based inflatables and air sculptures of all shapes and sizes. International kite guests will be winging their way from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand to join flyers and enthusiasts from across Europe.
The high-flying contingent from down under includes one of the world's leading special shape designers Peter Lynn from New Zealand. The festival also welcomes a colourful array of air creations including the inflatable pub, original air sculptures and a collection of 20 larger-than-life inflatable creatures such as 25 metre long dragons, a purple people eater and a walk through a coral reef decorated with sea creatures. Festival highlights in 2006 include:
Sea-themed kites including swirling octopi, a flying scuba diver, a giant mermaid and Roly the mega killer whale. - The brute power of vast man-lifting kite surf wings and the thrills and spills of kite-propelled buggies and land boards.
- Unique inflatable sculptures and lightweight air structures in aerial combat with traditional Japanese fighting kites.
- A 30 metre long multi-coloured manta ray and a gaggle of geckos designed and made in New Zealand.
- Free children’s kite-making workshops run by local kite group Avon Kite Flyers.
- Play structures and children's attractions.
The festival runs on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September from 11am to 5pm. Admission to the event is free. If you’re driving parking costs £6 via Longwood Lane only. Bristol Community Transport will also be providing accessible transport for people with mobility problems to the event. The minibus will collect passengers from the 358 and 359 bus stops at xx15 and xx45 and take passengers to Clifton Lodge. Collection from the festival will be at xx20 and xx50 from Clifton Lodge. | 
