International Kite Festival across Île-de-France Parks

Sortiraparis included the International Kite Festival in Marines, in Val-d’Oise, in its roundup of events for the week of May 18-24, 2026, pointing readers to a five-day program of exhibitions, workshops and outdoor flying displays. The event runs from May 20 to May 24 and is billed as the 23rd edition of the festival, according to a separate event listing published by the outlet. Marines, a town northwest of Paris, is the named host. The festival is being organized by the association Les Dragons du Ciel, according to the event page. Sortiraparis said the program is aimed at both children and adults and combines static displays with hands-on activities and live demonstrations. The listing says admission is free, with some workshops requiring a small fee. ### Where exactly is this festival taking place? Marines is the confirmed site for the 2026 International Kite Festival, according to Sortiraparis’s event listing. The page names Salle Georges Pompidou, 21 Boulevard Gambetta, 95640 Marines, as the practical location for the event. Val-d’Oise is one of the departments in the Île-de-France region, which is why the festival appears in a regional weekly events guide rather than a Paris-only listing. Sortiraparis’s May 18-24 roundup places the festival alongside other outings across the wider region, including Roland-Garros Opening Week and Museum Night events. (sortiraparis.com) ### What are visitors being told to expect between May 20 and May 24? From May 20 to 24, the program includes an exhibition tracing the history of kites across continents, according to the event page. Sortiraparis said the exhibition is housed at Georges Pompidou Hall and described it as free to attend. (sortiraparis.com) Workshops are also part of the schedule. The listing says visitors can take part in kite-making and introductory sessions, with a participation fee of 5 euros, and it gives reservation contacts by phone and email. (sortiraparis.com) The largest flying displays are scheduled for the weekend of May 23 and 24. Sortiraparis said performances begin from 12:30 p.m. and will feature delegations from across Europe, along with Chinese dragon kites, Indian kite trains and works by French kite flyers. (sortiraparis.com) ### Which detail stands out most for families? Children are specifically mentioned in the event description through a candy drop staged from the sky, a recurring feature that Sortiraparis called a tradition of the festival. The same listing says the event is intended for “young and old,” underscoring the family focus. (sortiraparis.com) Weekend food service is also part of the setup. Sortiraparis said a refreshment stand and a crepe vendor, “La P’tite Crêpe,” will be on site during the weekend, while also advising that some visitors may prefer to bring a picnic. (sortiraparis.com) ### How much does it cost, and do visitors need to book anything? Admission is listed as free on the practical information section of the event page. That makes the main exhibition and general access to the festival free of charge, according to Sortiraparis. (sortiraparis.com) The 5-euro charge applies to hands-on workshops rather than entry. The event page says reservations are recommended for those sessions and provides a telephone number and email contact for bookings. ### Why is this showing up in a week-ahead Île-de-France guide? (sortiraparis.com) On May 15, 2026, Sortiraparis published its regional guide to events for May 18-24 and named the International Kite Festival among the week’s attractions. The roundup does not present the festival as a single Paris event; it presents it as one of several destination outings across Île-de-France. (sortiraparis.com) That framing matters for readers planning a weekend outside central Paris. The Marines listing gives the exact dates, venue and price details, while the broader weekly guide places it in the context of other regional events happening the same week. (sortiraparis.com) May 23 and May 24 are the key dates for the main aerial demonstrations in Marines, according to Sortiraparis, while the full festival runs from May 20 through May 24. The weekly Île-de-France guide and the dedicated event page are the two published sources readers can use now to check the listing and practical details. (sortiraparis.com)