The skies above Cape Town are set to come alive with colour and hope as the Heideveld Community Fly takes flight next week, bringing families together to raise awareness about mental health ahead of the 32nd Cape Town International Kite Festival.
The community event hosted for school children in the area will take place on Wednesday, October 21, from 10am to 1pm, at the Heideveld Sports Field, providing an opportunity for learners to participate in a colourful celebration with a meaningful message.
Hosted by Cape Mental Health, the initiative aims to promote inclusion, challenge the stigma surrounding mental health conditions and highlight the importance of community support, particularly for vulnerable individuals and children with intellectual disabilities.
The event also builds excitement ahead of the Cape Town International Kite Festival, which returns to Youngsfield Military Base in Ottery on October 24 and 25 under the theme #ColourTheSky.
For more than three decades, Africa's oldest kite festival has combined family entertainment with mental health advocacy, using the simple joy of kite flying to encourage conversations often avoided because of stigma and discrimination.
Kite festival returns to Ottery
Cape Mental Health provides essential services across the Western Cape, supporting people affected by mental health conditions and intellectual disabilities while advocating for dignity, inclusion and access to care.
The organisation hopes the festivities will encourage people to recognise the importance of emotional wellbeing and create environments where those experiencing difficulties feel comfortable seeking help.
This year's festival will welcome international kite flyers from across the world, including Karin and Roger Stevens and Phil and Carly Broder from the United States, Bernhard Dingwerth from Germany, Dave and Claire Hardwick from the United Kingdom, Jean-Louis Castanier from France, and Herman and Ina Plattje from the Netherlands.
Joining local kite enthusiasts, the international visitors will showcase spectacular creations, transforming the skies above Ottery into a moving canvas of colour and imagination.
Beyond the kite displays, festivalgoers can look forward to an entertainment-filled weekend featuring children's rides provided by Funland SA, food stalls, market vendors and live performances.
Artists Simone, Keeno-Lee and Carletheia are among those expected to entertain crowds, while families are encouraged to bring their own kites and participate in the festivities.
Although the festival promises a weekend of fun, its greater purpose is to raise awareness and funds for services that remain vital to communities across the province.