Each year Phoenixville celebrates it’s namesake by burning down a three story wooden firebird. This was the first time I got to see the spectacle. Visitors come from neighboring cities to enjoy the event. There are street performers, plenty of good food (both from restaurants and vendors) a parade, live music,and a wonderful community spirit. Phoenixville’s original name was Manavon but in 1849 as the borough was incorporated it used the name of the town's biggest employer, the Phoenix Iron Works, to create “Phoenixville”. Since 2004, to celebrate it’s rebirth, the city has held the Firebird Festival. Clay birds are made weeks before the ceremony and placed inside the giant wooden phoenix. They are reclaimed Sunday morning after the burning. Some of the pictures in the gallery are of Spirit Wing, which performed just before the event, and of the Playing Mantis and Admo Ignis fire dancers, which were amazing. Please check out the FirebirdFestival website for more information, and put it on your calendar for next year.
Firebird Festival
Nikon D4 Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 with 1.4 tele @ 280mm f/4 ISO 400 1/320 sec
You can download the images for free but no printing is available