Redondo Beach Hosts Annual Kite Festival
The Redondo Beach Pier Association hosted its 52nd Annual Kite Festival on Sunday. The local tradition drew large crowds to the pier for a day of kite-flying demonstrations and family activities.
The 52nd annual festival is a key component of Redondo Beach's tourism strategy, which is a significant economic driver for the city. In 2019, total bed-tax revenue was projected to hit $8.8 million, with a 1% transient occupancy tax specifically funding a non-profit group formed by the city's 15 hotels to market Redondo Beach as a "Classic California" destination. The event's organizer, the Redondo Pier Association, is a non-profit that includes the more than 50 businesses operating on the pier and boardwalk. These local enterprises, from restaurants to gift shops, depend on the high visitor turnout that free public events like the Kite Festival generate to support their operations. Beyond the traditional tourist economy, Redondo Beach is also nurturing a cluster of early-stage technology companies. The city is home to startups like Ozobot, which creates coding robots for education, and MyCrypto, an open-source tool for managing cryptocurrency assets. The broader South Bay region is also a hub for tech firms in sectors like fintech and B2B software. The blend of a high quality of life, evidenced by community events, and a robust local economy helps attract and retain skilled professionals. The largest employment sector for Redondo Beach residents is in professional, scientific, and technical services, with a median household income of $144,588. This concentration of local tech talent is supported by a dynamic early-stage investment landscape in the greater Los Angeles area. The region is home to numerous angel investor networks and venture capital firms, such as Tech Coast Angels and Upfront Ventures. Prominent investors like Mark Suster and Jason Calacanis are active in the LA ecosystem, creating a rich environment for fundraising and networking for South Bay founders.
