A colorful kite festival in South Africa raises awareness for mental health

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Enthusiasts flew kites of all shapes and sizes Sunday at a festival in South Africa that raises awareness for mental health and provides a burst of beachside color.

The Cape Town International Kite Festival is celebrating its 30th year, with participants traveling from the United States, Tunisia and elsewhere.

They ranged from seasoned pros — there is such a thing as professional kite fliers, according to organizer Barbara Meyer — to children who skipped down the sand with kites fluttering above them.

Kite designs included “Finding Nemo”-inspired fish, blue dragons, yellow lizards and a wiggly green jellyfish. One inventive entrant was a kite in the shape of a skydiver. Another was a giant hand that flew above spectators, waving in the wind.

October is mental health month in South Africa. Meyer said the festival is an important fundraiser for Cape Mental Health, an organization that offers largely free counseling to any who need it in the Cape Town area.

She said kites reflected a motto: “No matter how fragile the string seems, a person can use it to hold a kite as large as a house."

She said the last few years had been tough for many with the mental scars of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially young people.

“There were so many different layers that COVID brought to people,” she said. “People lost family members. The issue of isolation and lockdowns made it worse. There were a lot of job losses as well and a lot of people coming and asking for help.”

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

People fly kites at the Cape Town International Kite Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)

People fly kites at the Cape Town International Kite Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)

People fly kites at the Cape Town International Kite Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)

South African kite maker Mari Ware-Lane flies kites at the Cape Town International Kite Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)

South African kite maker Mari Ware-Lane flies kites at the Cape Town International Kite Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)

South African kite maker Mari Ware-Lane flies kites at the Cape Town International Kite Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)

South African kite maker Mari Ware-Lane flies kites at the Cape Town International Kite Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)

Teyana Taylor and Jenna Ortega took risks on the Golden Globes red carpet with celebrities opting for classic black, velvet tuxes and voluminous ball gowns.

Taylor wore a custom slinky gown in black that showed off some skin and featured a deep low-cut back with a glittery low-hanging bow. Lisa of Blackpink arrived on the carpet Sunday in a semi-sheer goth-inspired look by Jacquemus in black. Ayo Edebiri and Selena Gomez were also in black.

Edebiri kept it classic in a black off-the-shoulder Chanel dress embellished with jewels on the shoulders from Matthieu Blazy’s Métiers d’Art 2026 show. Gomez also arrived in a black dress with a white feathered bustier.

Host Nikki Glaser, who is hosting for the second time, brought some color to the carpet where she wore a strapless satin blush-pink corseted satin gown with a full skirt by Zuhair Murad.

Celebrities are holding onto their gowns and watching their steps as they pose for photos on this year’s Golden Globes red carpet. Like the Met Gala, fashion stars are lining up steps for their picture-perfect moment.

The 83rd Golden Globes gives a glimpse into how A-listers and rising stars will each showcase their original take on fashion. Since 1944, the show has honored the best in film and television, and for the first time, podcasters have been added to the awards lineup.

The carpet — at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California — is a chance for nominees to make a statement, though some are beholden to fashion houses who pay them as ambassadors.

While some fashionistas were predicting white as the color of the night after several celebrities chose it for the Critics Choice Movie Awards, there were several pops of color at the Globes.

“Sinners” star Wunmi Mosaku stunned in a flowy yellow Matthew Reisman gown. The mother-to-be revealed her baby bump on the carpet.

“Sinners” is up for several nominations including best motion picture.

The male nominees didn’t stray too far from traditional looks. Actor Colman Domingo pared down his typical colorful suits for a black suited look adorned with silver leaves.

“Heated Rivalry” star Hudson Williams brought the cummerbund back but with a laid-back twist. The breakout star paired a white-peak lapel dinner jacket with an unbuttoned silk shirt. Williams, along with his co-star Connor Storrie, will serve as presenters during the award ceremony. Storrie opted for a Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello tuxedo jacket paired with a tie and sunglasses.

Jenna Rosenstein, beauty director for Harper’s Bazaar, noted Storrie's hair transformation. Storrie plastered his trademark curly locks into a shaggy, retro-inspired mullet. Among the women, beauty highlights included the swoopy bobs of Edebiri and Gomez, she said.

For more coverage of the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/golden-globe-awards

Connor Storrie arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Colman Domingo arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Ayo Edebiri arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Jenna Ortega arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Jenna Ortega arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Teyana Taylor arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Teyana Taylor arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Justine Lupe arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Brittany Snow arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Brittany Snow arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Wunmi Mosaku arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Lisa arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Ariana Grande arrives at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at The Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)