Giant kites soar
The annual International Kite Festival in Berck-sur-Mer, France is a site to behold with giant kites taking to the skies and skilled handlers showing off their talents. This year's festival took place from April 9-17, 2016.
Check out the amazing kites that have filled the skies at the festival the past few years.
Here, kites take the shape of a person in northern France on April 12, 2016.
International Kite Festival
People fly a whale-shaped kite on the beach of the northern French resort town of Berck-sur-Mer, April 12, 2014.
International Kite Festival
People fly kites of different shapes and colors during the 30th International Kite Festival in Berck-sur-Mer in northern France on April 12, 2016.
Nearly 700,000 spectators come to the Berck-sur-Mer beach to see the world's best kite-makers and their creations.
International Kite Festival
A man flies a kite in the shape of comic strip character Papa Smurf during the 30th International Kite Festival in Berck-sur-Mer in northern France on April 12, 2016.
The expert kite flyers compete in mega-teams.
International Kite Festival
Kites take flight in Dieppe, northern France, September 8, 2012.
International Kite Festival
People prepare to fly a purple dragon kite in Berck-sur-Mer in northern France on April 12, 2016.
International Kite Festival
A man prepares to fly a crab-shaped kite on the beach in Berck-sur-Mer, northern France on April 20, 2015.
International Kite Festival
People fly kites of different shapes and colors in northern France on April 12, 2016.
International Kite Festival
A penguin kite above the beach in the northern French resort of Berck-sur-Mer on April 13, 2013.
International Kite Festival
A man flies a kite during the 30th International Kite Festival in Berck-sur-Mer in northern France on April 12, 2016.
The expert kite flyers compete in mega-teams.
International Kite Festival
People fly kites in the shape of a car in Berck-sur-Mer in northern France on April 12, 2016.
International Kite Festival
A man prepares to fly a kite during the 30th International Kite Festival in Berck-sur-Mer in northern France on April 12, 2016.
International Kite Festival
People prepare to launch kites of different shapes in Berck-sur-Mer in northern France on April 12, 2016.
International Kite Festival
People fly kites on the beach in Berck-sur-Mer, northern France on April 20, 2015.
International Kite Festival
Kites begin their ascent on the beach in Berck-sur-Mer, April 12, 2016.
International Kite Festival
Kites fill the sky in Dieppe, northern France, on September 8, 2012.
International Kite Festival
People look at the world's biggest kite (featuring a ray) flying during the International Kite Festival, on April 19, 2011.
International Kite Festival
A man prepares his kite prior to taking part in the festival in Dieppe, northern France on September 8, 2012.
International Kite Festival
A wide variety of kites shapes, including characters and animals, can be seen in Berck-sur-Mer, northern France, fly their kites on April 13, 2013.
International Kite Festival
A man gets his kite airborne in Dieppe, northern France.
International Kite Festival
A giant creature on the beach during the international kite festival in Berck-sur-Mer, northern France, April 13, 2013.
International Kite Festival
A panda kite needs a little help taking off during the festival in Berck-sur-Mer on April 13, 2013.
International Kite Festival
Kites fill the sky above the beach in Berck-sur-Mer, northern France, April 13, 2013.
International Kite Festival
A man looks up at a giant kite flying above the beach in Berck-sur-Mer, northern France on April 20, 2015.