A rainbow of kites will dot the...

A rainbow of kites will dot the sky near the Redondo Pier today as the 16th annual Festival of the Kite celebrates the fun of sending lightweight creations of Mylar or nylon and fiberglass aloft on the end of a string.

“There’s a fascination with the concept of flight,” says Randy Joe, a pier kite seller who organized the festival. “You’re actually holding something that’s flying and, vicariously, you can feel what is going on up in the sky.”

He anticipates that a thousand kites will be flying during the festival, which will take place on the sand south of the pier from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pier is located at the foot of Torrance Boulevard.

People are invited to bring their kites to the free festival or picnic on the beach and watch the kites ply the air. “The emphasis is on families of all ages being able to enjoy it,” Joe said, adding that the first 100 seniors arriving will get complimentary kites.

Although the festival is all about kites, there also will be entertainment at 1 and 3 p.m. on a stage set up on the pier. Traditional Japanese precision drumming, called taiko , will be performed by Mugen, a group of youngsters between the ages of 10 and 12.

Japanese kite maker Satoshi Hashimoto also will display and fly his three-dimensional kite handcrafted in the shape of a bee. Joe said only three kite makers in Japan still make the unusual bee kites, which are constructed of bamboo and rice paper. Several of Hashimoto’s other flying creations also will be on display.

The kite festival will continue Saturday and March 17 with displays of the artistry, speed and precision of sport kites. Several teams will compete with their swooping, soaring and dancing kites from 11 a.m to 4 p.m.