By invitation only. A stage for the best of the best in the world of kite flying.
The LBI FLY Invitational Kite Festival is unlike any other – by invitation only and reserved for an elite group of world-class kite fliers from around the globe.
Each year, a select lineup of kiters are chosen for their artistry, skill, and ability to transform the sky into a breathtaking display. With limited invitations, this is the stage where the best of the best come to fly, create, and inspire.
Rolf Zimmermann – Germany
Rolf Zimmermann discovered his passion for kites in 1992 at the age of 31 and quickly began creating imaginative designs that would capture the attention of kite lovers worldwide. His very first creation—a 15-meter-long flying Lobster—earned him the German Championship in 1996. Over the years, his kite family grew to include sea creatures like starfish and seahorses, along with spectacular dragons, one of which won him another national title in 2007.
By 2008, kitemaking became Rolf’s full-time profession, blending artistry and craftsmanship into a career that continues to take him to festivals across the globe. Each journey brings fresh inspiration and new details to his ever-evolving designs.
A career highlight came in 2016 when Disney commissioned Rolf to create a giant flying version of Pete’s Dragon (Elliot) — a project that solidified his reputation as one of the most imaginative kite designers in the world. Today, his whimsical, detailed creations inspire awe in the sky and joy on the ground, making Rolf a true standout in the international kite community.
Ron Gibian – California, USA and Santiago, Chile
With roots in Santiago, Chile, and a lifelong home in the U.S., Ron Gibian is internationally recognized for his breathtaking and imaginative kite artistry. A former professional musician and jazz percussionist, Ron’s creative journey has spanned the worlds of music, visual art, and kite design.
Since rediscovering kites in the 1980s alongside his wife Sandra, Ron’s passion has taken him to every continent, flying at major festivals across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. His uniquely expressive, often whimsical kites draw inspiration from the natural world, architecture, and modern design, creating flying works of art that both inspire and provoke.
As a mentor and instructor, Ron has taught at countless kite-building retreats and is celebrated for his generous spirit and creative innovation. Whether leading workshops or filling the sky with vivid motion, Ron’s mission remains simple: to stir imagination and connect people through beauty in flight.
Thad & Denise Walton
Thad and Denise Walton, from Loveland, Colorado, have built a life around their love of kiting and community. Thad’s passion began at age eight, flying dime store kites with neighborhood friends and tying together spools of string until his kite disappeared into the sky. That early fascination with the wind eventually led to years of windsurfing in the Midwest before he rediscovered kite flying after moving to Colorado.
A longtime collector, Thad travels with bags full of kites—ranging from two-line sport kites and quads to foils and intricate works from world-class artists. One of his favorite bags, however, is filled with production kites that he gives away to kids, sparking joy and curiosity in the next generation of kite flyers. Since retiring, he enjoys the simple pleasure of flying multiple staked kites at once and sharing conversations with anyone curious about the wind.
Thad is a member of Team Gibian and a brand ambassador for Sky Dog Kites’ Festival Line. Alongside Denise, he can often be found at kite and music festivals across the country, filling the sky with color and handing out kites to new friends. For the Waltons, kite flying is not just a hobby—it’s a way of building community, friendship, and wonder wherever they go.
Scott and Marilyn Hampton – Sandy, Utah.
Scott has been providing the kite world with his unique art style for over 35 years. His banners and kites are distinctive with their bright colors and original graphics. He has become an expert in the use of Design Master Spray Paints on ripstop nylon that allows him to make full use of color gradients.
This is also one of our premier guests. He spray paints all of these kites as well as design and fly them, perfect for interaction with kids and families!
South Jersey Kite Flyers Club
Mike & Cecilia Dalmer
For more than 40 years, Mike and Cecelia Dallmer have been flying, building, and sharing their love of kites with audiences around the world. Together, they’ve amassed an impressive collection of one-of-a-kind creations, from whimsical showpieces like What the Duck—a 300-piece, 30-pound inflatable rubber ducky—to Jack Benny, a towering 30-foot LEGO spaceman that took six years and over 400 hours to complete. Other crowd favorites include Violet, a massive spikey ball, and Camelot, a dragon that has earned more awards than any other kite at the Smithsonian Kite Festival.
Beyond the field, the Dallmers have long supported the kite-flying community through leadership and service. Cecelia currently serves as Treasurer of the American Kitefliers Association, while Mike is President of the South Jersey Kite Flyers. Retired from their professional careers, the couple now devote their time to kites full-time—flying, building, and inspiring joy wherever the wind takes them.
Mike Dallmer, Jr.
Following in his parents’ footsteps, Mike Dallmer, Jr. has been immersed in the world of kites since childhood, and today, his creative touch can be seen in many of the Dallmer family’s signature pieces. An accomplished designer in his own right, Mike Jr. is credited with the striking custom flame graphics on the family’s Peter Lynn Ray and has become well-known for his imaginative contributions to the art of kite-building.
Mike Jr.’s passion, however, extends far beyond the field. Over the years, he has designed and produced thousands of colorful “duck banners” in more than 100 distinct designs and multiple sizes. His rubber duck creations, complete with eggs and themed variations, have been spotted on beaches and at kite festivals across the globe—bringing a touch of humor, playfulness, and artistry wherever they appear. When he isn’t building or flying kites, Mike Jr. works professionally as a mechanical engineer, blending precision and creativity in all he does.
Ben Huggett
Donna McGee
Melanie Morgan
Larry & Nancy Krablin
Joe & Dawn Kay
Joe Kay—better known by his nickname Grumpy (which he proudly prefers)—has been a part of the kiting and bubbling community for more than 20 years. A member of both the American Kitefliers Association and the South Jersey Kite Flyers, Joe is just as comfortable flying a kite as he is creating dazzling displays of bubbles. In fact, bubbles have become his true passion. Guided by his favorite saying, “You’re never too old for bubbles,” Joe has brought laughter and joy to children of all ages at festivals across the East Coast.
From Long Branch’s Kites at the Pier and the Wildwoods International Kite Festival to the Maryland International Kite Expo, Sunfest in Ocean City, and beyond, Joe’s larger-than-life bubbles have become a beloved highlight of every event he attends—including the LBI Invitational Kite Fly.
Passing Wind Kite Club
Trip & Debra Bowlby
Trip and Deb Bowlby are the founders of the Passing Wind Kite Club of Toms River, New Jersey, which they established in 2013 as a family-centered kite club. Over time, their circle grew to include close friends Tim and Deb Allen and Cathy Bialuk, making PWKC a true community of passionate kite enthusiasts.
The Passing Wind Kite Club has become known for its massive, colorful displays featuring owls, frogs, lobsters, fish, and dragons—one of the largest collections of inflatable kites and ground displays in the United States. Many of their kites are custom creations by master kite maker Rolf Zimmermann of Germany, while the club’s members, including Deb Allen, Cathy Bialuk, and Debra Bowlby, proudly contribute their own handmade banners, bouncers, and kites.
PWKC has taken their kites to international skies in Fano, Denmark, and St. Honoré in Canada, and they’ve been a part of the LBI International Kite Festival since its very beginning. For Trip, Deb, and their fellow members, every festival is an opportunity to share their creativity, craftsmanship, and love of kite flying with the world.
Brandon Ross
Stephenie Slack
Lauren Bowlby
Amy Gould
Tim & Deb Allen
Tim & Deb Allen enjoy flying large inflatable kites. Our kites include creations from Rolf Zimmerman, Peter Lynn, Kevin Bayless and others. They have attended festivals in St. Honre, WISKF, Fano, Rhode Island, Florida, California, Maryland, Liberty State Park & New Jersey beaches. They are also members of AKA, SJKF and part of The Wind Wolves Traveling Kite Show.
Tim Sorenson & DanaLyn Dalrymple – Palmer, Alaska
Tim Sorenson and DanaLyn “DL” Dalrymple share their love of kite flying from the stunning landscapes of Palmer, Alaska. Together with their family, they have built a passion for kites and wind art displays, traveling across the country to attend festivals, explore new places, and connect with fellow fliers.
Tim began flying kites at the age of five, when his mother would bring home kites and gliders from the grocery store. That childhood pastime soon grew into a lifelong passion. Over the years, Tim and DL have flown kites from coast to coast, across Alaska, and even at unique venues like a glacier—an experience unlike any other. Among Tim’s favorite events is the Washington State International Kite Festival at Long Beach, where he has been flying for over 40 years.
Their kite collection is both vast and eclectic—so much so that DL jokes it’s at the “divorce level.” From one-of-a-kind creations to Tim’s ever-rotating “newest favorite,” their kites bring color and creativity to every sky. A standout is Tim’s lightweight purple and white stingray, designed for light winds, which serves as both a perfect lifter and a graceful solo flyer.
Back home, they lead the Alaskiters kite club, where members embrace the challenges and beauty of kite flying on glaciers, frozen lakes, and Alaska’s spectacular beaches. The group is always active, welcoming visitors and locals alike to join them in the sky.
For Tim and DL, kite flying is not just a hobby—it’s a way of life, a chance to meet people, share joy, and celebrate the artistry of kites.
PETER KEIM & JOE TYLER
Founded in 2012 by Peter Keim (Raleigh, NC) and Joe Tyler (Bucks County, PA), the Society of Kiting Sleestaks (SOKs) has become a familiar sight at kite festivals along the East Coast. From Long Beach Island, NJ, to Ocean City, MD, and the shores of North Carolina, their sky-filling displays are always crowd favorites.
Together, Peter and Joe fly an impressive collection of more than 40 large and mid-size inflatable kites. Among their signature pieces are the massive Octopi, the Space Racer, a giant Grape Ape, and their playful triple-stack of two mid-size Octopi with a cuttlefish. Their bold and colorful fleet brings both fun and spectacle wherever they fly.
KEVIN SEWELL
Kevin Sewell’s love for kites began in childhood on the island of Jamaica, where store-bought toys were rare but imagination was endless. From the age of seven, he learned to make and fly paper kites, sparking a lifelong fascination that continues to this day.
His favorite kites to fly are the traditional Octagon kites, a signature style of the West Indies. Recently retired, Kevin now enjoys devoting more time to honing his craft at home in Westchester County. With two sewing machines at his side, he designs and builds many of the kites he flies.
For Kevin, kite flying is more than a sport—it’s a joyful mix of exercise, creativity, and relaxation that has been part of his life for decades.
RON & KLOPP FAMILY
The Klopp Family—Ron, Pauline, their daughter Sarah, and three dogs—have been passionate about kiting for over 20 years. They began with dual-line kites before Sarah was born, and their love for larger inflatables grew after meeting fellow kite flyers Paul and Tina Keeler. Since then, their collection has expanded to include an impressive variety, highlighted by a 90-foot Gecko.
When asked for a favorite, Ron simply says his favorite kite is always “the one I’m flying that day, with the right wind.”The family has flown at festivals up and down the East Coast and has a beloved tradition of bringing kites to southwest Florida each Thanksgiving. Locals there affectionately call Ron “Kite Man” and eagerly await the family’s colorful beach displays—often likened to their own Macy’s Day Parade.
As retirement approaches, the Klopp family looks forward to attending even more kite festivals across the United States and sharing their joy of kiting wherever the wind takes them.
BILLY ECHEVARRIA
Billy’s love for kites began as a child on the rooftops of Brooklyn, where flying quickly became both a ritual and an escape. In 1998, while visiting Monterey, California, he stumbled upon a kite shop—and was instantly captivated by the colors, shapes, and sheer scale of the kites on display. It was love at first sight.
By 2002, Billy was attending his first kite festival at Riis Beach in Far Rockaway, Queens, declaring the sky as his canvas. From there, his collection of medium and large show kites grew—featuring cheetahs, zebras, and aquatic sea life. His 50-foot zebra and majestic marlins have since become crowd favorites. On the ground, his colorful banners transform beaches into living galleries of motion.
Passionate about sharing the joy of kiting, Billy also mentors newcomers, encouraging them to discover the beauty and freedom of the sport. For him, each festival is more than a show—it’s a celebration of life and the sky’s infinite possibilities.
PAUL & TINA KEELER
Paul has been soaring the skies with kites for over 35 years, specializing in both single-line kites and large inflatables—many of which he crafts himself. Together, Paul and Tina curate an impressive, colorful collection of kites, inflatables, and ground displays. Recently, Paul created two illuminated octopi, adding a magical touch to their night-flying showcase. For the Keelers, kite flying isn’t just a hobby—it’s a way to spread joy. Their hope is that every display brings as much happiness to others as it does to them.
