Originally published Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 7:00 PM

Who needs wind to fly a kite? Not Long Beach.

The annual Windless Kite Festival brings indoor kite pilots (or choreographers, or dancers, you name it) to Long Beach, Wash., on Jan. 14-15, 2012.

By Brian J. Cantwell

Seattle Times travel staff

PREV of NEXT

BRIAN J. CANTWELL / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Look for kites of all designs at the World Kite Museum in Long Beach, or flying in the town's Windless Kite Festival Jan. 14-15.

Top comments Hide / Show comments

LONG BEACH AND ILWACO ARE GREAT PLACES TO VISIT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR....ALWAYS HAVE... (January 6, 2012, by wndrflclyde) Read more

The Long Beach Peninsula is just an outstanding place to visit and explore. Fine... (January 6, 2012, by FJR1300) Read more

Read all 2 comments > Post a comment >

Itching to get out of town? Looking for something different, but worried about the weather? This might be just the thing for you.

Why leave town: Because January can be a very long month in the Gray Northwest, and cabin fever is a killer.

What's going on: Windless Kite Festival

When and where: Jan. 14-15, Long Beach

What's special: Kite flying with no wind? It's actually more like dancing with kites. Long Beach's World Kite Museum showcases indoor kite pilots who create wind with walking patterns, using shoulder, arm and wrist movements, as well as acrobatic spinning, twisting and twirling to keep kites aloft to music. January bonus: Both participants and spectators get to be indoors out of the rain.

What to expect: Kite ballet, hot tricks and demonstrations, plus free flying lessons on Saturday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Got a break in the weather? Go beachcombing, see Jake the Alligator Man at Marsh's Free Museum, or order up some fresh clams at a local diner.

The details: Admission by donation; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 14, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Jan. 15, Long Beach School Gymnasium, Washington and Fourth Street South, Long Beach; 360-642-4020 or http://kitefestival.com/windless-kite-festival-2.