Leesburg Festival of Kites & Crafts

Leesburg Festival of Kites & Crafts

Ida Lee Park has a wide open field and, one Saturday every August, a sky full of kites over it. The Town of Leesburg runs the kite flying alongside a craft fair, so there are local makers, food vendors and kids' activities for the stretches when the wind quits. Admission is free and the field is big enough that nobody's untangling lines with a stranger.

Bring your own kite. A few vendors sell them but never enough for the crowd, and the good patches of field go to families who showed up ready. Eleven to five is a long day for small kids, so pick a half and commit. The playground and rec center sit right there when someone needs a reset.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Check the wind Friday night: Under about 5 mph and kites won't hold. Plenty of families still come for the crafts, but set expectations with your kid before you're standing in a still field.
• ✓Pack a spare line and a spare kite: The tree line at the field edge collects a few every year. A cheap backup saves the afternoon.
• ✓Bring shade: There's very little on the open field. A pop-up tent if you own one, otherwise hats, sunscreen and a plan to rotate into the trees.
• ✓Use the playground as your reset button: Ida Lee has a real playground plus rec center bathrooms. Good for the hour when everyone's overheated.
• ✓Carry some cash: Most craft vendors take cards now, but the smallest ones don't, and the line moves faster with bills.
• ✓Pick a half of the day: Six hours is long for little kids. Arrive at 11 for thinner crowds and better parking, or come at 2 when the wind usually picks up.
• ✓Downtown Leesburg is five minutes away: If the festival food line looks grim, historic King Street has plenty of options and is worth a walk anyway.