After more than 40 years as a United Bermuda Party event, the popular Good Friday kite festival at Horseshoe Bay will fly under a new banner.The Chewstick Foundation has partnered with the Department of Tourism for the event following the end of the UBP as a political party.The festival will continue as a non-partisan cultural event and has been renamed Bermuda Good Friday KiteFest.“I am appreciative of those who birthed this event but my experiences have taught me that there are many things that are greater than politics, and this is one of them,” said Kim Swan, who was elected as a UBP MP. “We feel this is the right thing to do at the right time, to bring better unity in our community.”Gavin Djata Smith, executive director and founder of Chewstick, expressed his excitement that the charity was taking over the reins of the traditional event. “It was indeed a surprise when we got the call, however we are proud to have been given the opportunity to take this legacy event and open it up to bring the entire community together and create even bigger impact, both within and beyond our shores.”Several artists have agreed to perform at Friday’s KiteFest.“The general plans are to keep KiteFest 2012 consistent with the fun, family atmosphere enjoyed in the past while showcasing a diverse cross-section of Bermuda talent, including traditional folk music, acoustic reggae and contemporary gospel and Bermuda Gombeys,” said Chewstick’s Deidra-Lee Bean.“The entire event will be hosted by HOTT 107.5’s Nikita Robinson, who promises to bring her incredible energy, faith and love of the community to the event. Some of the artists scheduled to perform include gospel sensations Big Snipes and Missian, as well as performances by Amora Rose, Rivah, Joy T Barnum, Chewstick founder and executive director Gavin Djata Smith and many more.”Admission to KiteFest is free. The event starts at 10am. There will also be a kite competition with prizes in several categories including longest tail, biggest and smallest kites, best design, best traditional kite, best innovative kite design, highest flying kite and even ugliest kite.The Chewstick Foundation is hoping to make this event a bit of a fundraiser to assist them in continuing their work in the community through their youth programmes. Volunteers will be on hand during the day if persons wish to make donations.For more information, or to help, telephone 292-2439, e-mail info[AT]chewstick.org or visit www.chewstick.org.