Southend seafront kite festival is set to take place

Planned by community group Project Southchurch, the Kite Festival is set to see the sky above Eastern Esplanade flooded with colour and dozens of kites this July.

Project Southchurch director Rob McAvoy believes the event will offer something new for the city’s residents and provide a helpful boost to business.

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Showcase - Rob McAvoy hopes to highlight Southchurch's community spirit (Image: Rob McAvoy)

"We'd like to see the community spirit of the east side of Southend highlighted, with people enjoying themselves while making the most of the area's businesses, hotels and restaurants," said Rob.

"The idea came from team meetings here at Project Southchurch where we realised that many of the cultures within our group have strong links to kite flying."

Rob said that while his primary goal for the Kite Festival is to bring some joy to resident's every day lives, he is also pleased to be able to showcase Southchurch's diversity. 

The groups' work is focused on improving the Southchurch area of the city and encompasses initiatives around community safety, cohesion and creativity. 

Pleased - Councillor Matt Dent has praised the group's 'boundless ingenuity' (Image: Southend Council) “We’re planning on holding the festival it between Billy Hundreds Fish n Tapas and the Roslin Beach Hotel because we want to maximise the support for our local businesses with the event,” said Rob. 

“We want people to come together to create colour and have already got people signing up to get involved in different ways.

“We’re putting out invitations to kite clubs around Essex, it’s all looking very exciting.”

The plans have jokingly been referred to as an alternative to Southend's much-loved, and much-missed air show, but Rob is adamant that "this is something completely different and entirely new for the city."

Colour - The event organisers hope to brighten the skies above Eastern Esplanade (Image: PA) Matt Dent, Labour councillor responsible for business, culture, and tourism, said: "I salute Project Southchurch's boundless ingenuity."

"Whilst unfortunately the return of the air show isn't viable currently, this kite festival will offer a fun and entertaining day for kids and big kids alike. 

"Well done to the Project Southchurch team for organising this."

The Kite Festival will take place on Southend's Eastern Esplanade from 11am on Saturday July 19.