By SCOTT D. JOHNSTON

For Twin Harbors Newspaper Group

A move up the beach last year has been a boon for the Grays Harbor Festival of Colors, the annual show that will bring hundreds of acrobatic stunt kites and gigantic show kites to the North Coast skies this weekend.

Event organizer Andy Sias, owner of two Ocean Shores Kites stores, said moving the event to the space north of the Damon Road beach approach has made it more accessible for attendees because they can drive up the beach alongside the kite flyers.

Previously, they had to park and walk down to the event south of the Chance a la Mer beach approach.

Sias said the result is “a much more enjoyable experience for the guests,” with a “huge open area where a family can fly kites right next to a professional.”

The Festival of Colors kicks off Friday with informal, open flying all day. That’s a prelude to the main event on Saturday, which is filled with competitions, demonstrations, free kite-making for kids and more. Sunday holds time for any leftover competitions, plus more open flying.

Sias — who took over the event’s operations with his wife, Brenda, in 2011 — expects 150 to 200 serious enthusiasts and professional fliers, including a team from India and several from Canada. They will participate with dual-line and quad-line sport and stunt kites in precision, ballet, individual, pairs and team competitions at novice, intermediate, advanced and master levels. Others will launch the huge, colorful show kites that have become iconic images of the event.

He invites and encourages spectators to bring their own kites to fly, noting that anyone can compete. “It’s a freebie,” he said. “There’s no cost at all to walk up, sign up, and fly your sport kite in a competition.”

The event also makes it fun for kids, as volunteers will help make over 150 free single-line kites for kids to fly and take home.

Another highlight is the dinner, raffle and auction that begins at 5 p.m. Saturday at Ocean Shores Elementary School. The evening includes awards, thank-yous, bag raffles, a short live auction, kite pin trading, and indoor kite flying in the gym. All activities are free except dinner, which is $10.

The annual event obviously helps promote the Ocean Shores Kites stores, but Sias and his family also know it is good for the town. He said the participants and many spectators drive several hours for this event, and many end up coming back at other times to fly their kites.

More information is available online at www.oceanshorekites.com, and on the Ocean Shores Kites and Grays Harbor Festival of Colors Facebook pages.

Saturday schedule

7 a.m. — Meet and greet with free donuts at OS Kites, 172 Chance a la Mer NW

8-9 a.m. — Flying begins north of Damon Road beach approach

9 a.m.-2 p.m. — Free kite making for kids

10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Kite flying competitions and demonstrations

5 p.m. — Dinner, raffle & auction at Ocean Shores Elementary; dinner tickets $10