The 4th annual Onset Kite Festival bid summer farewell on Saturday, Sept. 1 with a colorful display in the sky. Birds, bats and even purple trilobites floated in the air above Onset Beach dazzling old and young spectators alike.

When the festival first began back in 2015, it only had about 40 attendees. This year, festival organizer Eric Guillory estimated that number would be closer to 200.

“We just keep growing,” Guillory said.

Guillory provided kites for attendees to build and decorate themselves with help from the Onset Bay Association. The wind didn’t always cooperate once the kites were together, but hopes on the beach were nonetheless high.

Prior to organizing the festival, Guillory owned a hobby shop known as Cape Cod Collectibles. It was there that he began teaching children of all ages how to build and fly kites.

“I kept a lot of kids out of trouble in my store,” Guillory said. “And that’s when I realized there was a need for an event like this.”

Guillory said he plans to continue growing the event next summer with the goal of creating a competitive stunt flying team.

“They have competitive kite flyers in New Bedford and down the Cape,” Guillory said. “So why not here?”

Guillory added that the Kite Festival will most likely move to Shellpoint Beach where the wind is stronger in 2019. He also said he’d like to add new hobby activities to the event, such as a model rocket launch.

“It’s stuff that the whole family can do,” Guillory said. “And we just want everyone to have fun.”