You do not need to wait for the annual festival to see Kelantan’s signature craft in the air. Through the drier, windier months, the giant wau bulan (the crescent moon kite) goes up along the coast on ordinary afternoons, riding the sea breeze, taller than the person flying it, painted in confident colour.
The classic spot is Pantai Cahaya Bulan, where late afternoon brings families, sea air and a sky dotted with kites. It is one of the most photogenic, and most everyday, sights in the state.
Practical notes: Best on breezy, dry-season afternoons; the coast turns rough and wet in the Nov–Jan monsoon. For the big organised event, see the wau festival on our events page.