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PHOENIXVILLE — Thousands of people flocked to Phoenixville to celebrate the 20th Firebird Festival on Saturday night in Veteran’s Memorial Park.
The large wooden phoenix-like structure was set alight and burned brightly against the dark sky, culminating in an epic blaze, signifying the unofficial start of winter.
Held each December, the Firebird Festival signifies the rebirth of the town in recent years and also welcomes the approaching winter solstice. The enormously popular festival continues to draw people from all over the Philadelphia region. Some estimates had a crowd of up to 10,000 people at this year’s event.
Longtime festival organizer Henrik Stubbe Teglbjaerg has passed along the responsibility of organizing the festival to the Phoenixville Jaycees, yet is still very involved and committed to the building of the large wooden phoenix.
This year the bird was designed by volunteer Rob McDowell. The process takes months with a crew of volunteers helping each week. Teglbjaerg noted the weeks of collaboration during the build as a meaningful part of the festival. He also noted the ingenuity of the design this year and the Phoenix’s head that rotates.
“I’m quite impressed by what Rob has done. He has a rotating head, with four cables going underground, all the way out to a table out front with a joystick. When he moves the metal rod, the head moves. It’s magical. I think it looks very beautiful.”
“There was just the right amount of volunteers and we had a great team. It’s always fun to be part of the build and cocreate with other people. It is amazing how people really give their all and their excitement carries it. I feel we all gift each other with creative things which is nice,” said Teglbjaerg.
Festivities began in the afternoon with dozens of vendors set up around the field selling unique crafts and wares, and food. Live music and performers entertained the crowd leading up to the arrival of the Firebird Parade.
The procession made up of colorfully dressed Firebird dancers, drummers, and fest-goers was led by Teglbjaerg and began on Bridge Street, then headed one mile up the Schuylkill River Trail to reach Veteran’s Memorial Park, and carried the torches to light the phoenix.
“The festival tells the story so well of Phoenixville rising out of the ashes. Our town was not very exciting after the closure of the steel mill. I came to Phoenixville when it was very depressed. I think the festival has been embraced because it really emphasizes how we were rising out of the ashes,” Teglbjaerg said.
Leading up to this year’s festival was the release of a documentary film, “Firebird: Built to Burn,” that screened for two weeks at the Colonial Theatre. Filmed all over Phoenixville and focusing on all phases of the festival, filmmaker Colleen Brady said the film project began four years ago.
“It was an honor to premiere the documentary around the 20th Firebird Festival because the film delves into other historic Firebird moments. Celebrating 20 years of Firebird feels so special because they have been through a lot. Every year has challenges, but the Firebird team perseveres every single time. It’s quite inspiring to have had the chance to capture that dedication on film,” Brady remarked.
“As the days get shorter, colder, and darker, the Firebird gives everyone a reason to come out, celebrate the arts, and have a great time around a fantastic bonfire. But it also gives people the chance to reflect on the year as it’s coming to an end — the good, the bad, the joyful, the uncomfortable, the advances, the losses. There’s an opportunity to throw everything into the fire, let it burn, and in that void, welcome what’s to come, and build anew. It’s a sentiment that’s evergreen and universal. It’s simple and accessible. And what an incredible spectacle to remind us how simply we are connected in all these ways,” she said.
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