2013 Firebird Festival Goes up in Smoke

Organizers of the annual Firebird Festival have called off this year's event which features the burning of a huge wooden Phoenix.

The search for a safe place to burn the bird (which in past years had been held on the site that is now home to the new Borough Hall) found nowhere that Borough officials, residents and organizers could agree on in terms of safety.

Organizer Henrik Stubbe Teglbjaerg sent Patch the following statement regarding the decision:


What in my mind makes the Firebird Festival such a good festival, is that fact that it involves the whole community.

We have struggled this year to find a site, that can live up to our expectations. Rather than letting the festival slowly dwindle, because of too many compromises, we rather not have the festival , and instead doing something different. To me it is not a loss of a great festival, but a sensitive action to the changes around us. How can we maintain the creative juices flowing freely. We have already signed ourselves up to be part of the Christmas parade (Friday, December 6th)- yes it is not the Firebird festival, but being part of the Christmas parade, is in my mind a wonderful vessel to  multitudes of creativities. A blank slate, where we all have a possibility to unleash our creativity and excitement. We will make some play shops, where we will make lanterns -  this link is a good inspiration - http://youtu.be/-evmmJxw4hQ

We can have drummers, colorful costumes, firebird dancers, fire spinners , Morris dancers, a firebird float ?,  giant puppets , and much more. Having had the Firebird festival for nine years, gives us a frame - a permission to  expand on what already was created, and I believe we can have a lot of fun with it. If you see yourself partake in this new exploration, please let us know."