International Kite Festival at Berck-sur-Mer

Each April, the skies above the long sandy beach of Berck-sur-Mer explode with colour, as kites of all shapes and sizes entertain thousands of visitors.    

The seaside town in northern France is a great place to visit anyway, but really comes alive during the International Kite Festival. With Berck-sur-Mer less than an hour’s drive from Calais, the journey to this family-friendly event couldn't be easier.

What is the Berck-sur-Mer kite festival?

The Berck-sur-Mer International Kite Festival is an annual festival of kite flying that takes place on the beach at Berck-sur-Mer, a small town on the Opal Coast not far from Boulogne-sur-Mer. It is one of the most well known kite flying events in the world, attracting elite kite flyers as well as families joining in the fun. It is usually held in the Spring over more than a week and makes for an incredibly colourful seaside scene. 

The kites perform in choreographed displays and acrobatic competitions. Every year there is a different theme. If you’re in the Hauts-de-France region during April, the International Kite Festival is a great family day out, especially if the sun is shining! 

The festival has its roots in the early 1900s when enthusiasts came together to fly their ‘funny birds made of fabric’ at Berck-sur-Mer, where the winds and big skies made for excellent kite flying conditions. The festival started in 1987 and attracts huge crowds every year.

The skies are colourful during the Kite Festival

When is the Berck-sur-Mer kite festival?

In 2025 the Berck-sur-Mer International Kite Festival is being held from April 12th-21st, with the theme being America. Expect lots of kites in stars and stripes!

How to get to Berck-sur-Mer for the kite festival 

It is so easy to reach the Berck-sur-Mer International Kite Festival. The small coastal town of Berck-sur-Mer is under an hour’s drive from the LeShuttle terminal at Calais. Just take the A16 out of Calais and drive via Boulogne-sur-Mer. If you stay on the faster A16 road, there is a small toll to pay. 

Things to do at the kite flying festival

Design your own kite and test your piloting skills

There are fantastic activities for kids at the festival, most obviously getting to fly a kite! If you've flown one before or an amateur it doesn't matter – try your hand at the flight school, check out one of the hands-on workshops or pop to an exhibition to learn more about the history of kite flying.

Watch world-class kite flying competitions

Get to see the experts in action! The US and Japanese flying teams are among the best in the world, and their flying battles are simply spectacular, as they perform tricks like backflips, double axels and spikes. There are competitors from as far afield as India, Malaysia, Korea and Bali, and this is just one of an international calendar of events, so their skills are well honed.     

Pick up tips from the experts and see the fireworks!

As with any other festival it’s a chance to learn more about kite flying and watch practical demonstrations by the world’s best kite-makers and flyers. The festival ends with a dazzling fireworks show on the last night.

The beach at Berck-sur-Mer (sans kites)

Things to do in and around Berck-sur-Mer

Berck-sur-Mer itself is a bustling traditional French seaside town. On the sands and long esplanade you’ll find beach huts, a carousel, mini-golf and plenty of activities to try, from jet-skiing to sand yachting. The town is well catered for with shops, restaurants and cafés, and places to stay. It’s a great base from which to explore the local area.

La Touquet-Paris-Plage

A few miles up the coast is La Touquet-Paris-Plage, one of the vintage jewels of the  Côte D'Opale. People come here for the myriad of sports and leisure activities it offers, the seafood restaurants, the chance to explore the beautiful sand dunes and admire the historic architecture of the town. There’ll be plenty of opportunities to swing your golf clubs and tennis racquet here! 

Nausicaá

You’re also not far from Nausicaá, France’s National Sea Life Centre and the largest aquarium in Europe. It’s a fantastic family day out, where you can get up close with thousands of marine creatures and sea life, from sharks to sea lions, turtles to jellyfish, as well as learn about the importance of the seas for the health of the planet, and the challenges they face.

Explore the wild beaches of the Opal Coast

The beaches of the Opal Coast

The beaches of northern France are just magnificent – seemingly endless sweeping bays where you can walk for hours (if you want to). All the way down the Opal Coast you’ll find a rich array of beaches, some wild and quiet, others more developed and busy, and dunes – lots of dunes! If you have a dog make sure you know the rules for the dog-friendly beaches you’re visiting.

Go where the wind takes you with LeShuttle

If you’re looking for an Easter break with a difference, why not go where the air is clear and the skies are full of colour? The International Kite Festival at Berck-sur-Mer is less than an hour’s drive from the LeShuttle Calais terminal – and you can flutter across from Folkestone in only 35 minutes!