Puerto Rico - Countryside Tours

      Eighth Annual Kite Festival at Castillo San Felipe del Morro

The public is invited to attend and participate in the 8th Annual San Juan
National Historic Site Kite Festival on the beautiful historic grounds of
Castillo San Felipe del Morro on Sunday, February 26 from 11:00am to
4:00pm.  As kite enthusiasts around the island know, the brisk ocean breeze
and beautiful green grounds of El Morro make it a very popular local site
for kite flying. Unfortunately every year the park staff removes tons of
litter, kite string and discarded kites from the historic walls and
buildings, as well as the Paseo del Morro and San Juan Bay.  This involves
a significant cost to the park as well as the damage that occurs to the
cultural resources and natural landscape. This festival is focused at
educating the public about this  damage to our cultural heritage as well as
the adverse impact to the wildlife in the waters of San Juan Bay, while
participating in several activities such as kite making to a kite contest.

Through participating environmental organizations and advocates such as the
Sierra Club PR Chapter, San Juan Estuary Program, Department of Natural
Resources- Marine Turtles Program, ECO Kids (an environmental award winning
show), and Amigos de Los Fuertes del Viejo San Juan, the public will learn
about conserving the resources of their park, while enjoying the many
activities scheduled for the Festival. “We are pleased to once again
conduct the Kite Festival on the grounds of Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
I encourage you to come join us for this year’s Kite Festival and learn how
you can help being a steward for your park. Bring your family and friends
for a fun and educational Sunday at El Morro” said Superintendent Walter J.
Chavez.

For more information, please call (787) 729-6777 ext 239 or visit
www.nps.gov/saju.

San Juan National Historic Site is comprised of Castillo San Felipe del
Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal, Fort Juan de La Cruz (El Cañuelo), San Juan
Gate, and most of the City Wall. The fortifications are open every day from
9:00 am to 6:00 pm, except on Tuesdays when the LeLoLai Festival program is
held in the main plaza of San Cristóbal from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Admission to the fortifications El Morro and San Cristóbal is $3 for adults
for one fort or $5 for both; free for ages 15 and under.