MOUNTAIN HOUSE - The Mountain House Kite & Multi-Cultural Festival returns Saturday, June 12, to fill the skies with colorful kites and the air with laughter and music.

Included in the day’s activities will be a variety of cultural music and dance performances, acrobatic kite demonstrations, fantastic food options, children’s activities and more.  Visitors are encouraged to bring their own kites and take to the air at Central Community Park, 25 E. Main Street, in Mountain House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The highlight of this year’s festival will be the presence of AirZone, a professional sport kite exhibition team.  AirZone is best known for their audience-pleasing moves including choreographed routines performed to popular movie soundtracks such as “Lawrence of Arabia” and “The Phantom.”  Popular at kite festivals around the world, AirZone has performed together for more than nine years and recently returned from a fourth place finish at the World Team Sport Kite Championships in France.

The Mountain House Kite & Multi-Cultural Festival will offer plenty of food, children’s activities and local craft vendors.  There will be an interactive kids zone with face painting, entertainment from Doodles the clown, bounce houses, carnival games and more.  Giant kites including a 98-foot gecko and 50-foot teddy bear will fly overhead with a scheduled candy drop for children at the end of the day.  Food vendors will have several enticing offerings including fresh barbecue, fried chicken, fish and chips, caramel corn, Italian ice and more.   

Throughout the day, the main stage will host a variety of cultural performances including Polynesian Dancers, Kalaikoil Indian Dance, Japanese Taiko drums, Pan Extasy Caribbean steel drums and even a performance from locally renowned, Sounds of Santana, a tribute band known to recreate the music, energy and atmosphere of Carlos Santana.

•10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. -   AirZone – Opening to “Lawrence of Arabia”

•11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  - Sounds of Santana

•12:10 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. - AirZone – Acrobatic Kite Performance

•12:40 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. - Polynesian Dancers and Musicians

•1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. - San Jose Taiko Drummers

•1:55 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. - AirZone – Acrobatic Kite Performance

•2:20 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. - Kalaikoil Indian Dance                                    

•3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. - Pan Extasy Caribbean Steel Drum Band

•4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. -  Candy Drop or Kids

To reach Central Park in Mountain House, take the Mountain House Parkway exit from Interstate 205 and turn right on Mountain House Parkway. Turn left on West Arnaudo Boulevard and then right onto Central Parkway.

For more information, visit www.ci.mountainhouse.ca.us or contact the Mountain House Community Services District offices at (209) 831-2300.