Back for its 10th year, the Polka Dot Dragon Lantern Festival will be on Nelson’s streets this weekend, highlighting their theme of Crosspollination.
The festival encourages collaboration between artists across two events:
- Friday, February 7th, Street Performances 6-7 pm at Hall St Plaza, Parade down Baker St at 7pm.
- Saturday, February 8th, Interactive Outdoor Gallery, Lakeside Park, from 5 to 7pm.
Initiated by artist Myra Rasmussen in 2014, The Polka Dot Dragon Lantern Festival is an outdoor, community-engaged arts festival showcasing local artists and performers.
On Friday February 7th, the public is invited to gather at Hall Street Plaza for an hour of street performances from 6-7 pm including Corazon Choir, Zen Wang’s Chinese Lion performance and Material Theatre.
At 7 pm, the Moving Mosaic Samba Band will lead a lantern parade down Baker Street. The parade was a wonderful addition to the festival last year, and will feature the Polka Dot Dragon, along with other creations.
“Everyone is welcome to bring a lantern and participate in the parade, or to just come and observe.” said organizers.
The interactive outdoor gallery will take place the following day, Saturday February 8th, at Lakeside Park, from 5 to 7pm.
“The public is invited to bring a lantern, stroll among the artist installations and enjoy the ambient performances. This year’s theme is cross pollination with a focus on collaboration between artists, and features giant flowers, a glow worm cave, honeycombs, mosquitos, butterflies, and lots more.”
There will also be performances by Wild Rose Dance, Lance Ledger, Quilombera Afrocolombian Ensemble, and Baque Zero Graus.
“Part of the appeal of this festival is the invitation for everyone to get involved.”
There are lantern workshops open to the public hosted at Kutenai Art Therapy Institute on Feb 2 and at Association des Francophones des Kootenays Ouest on February 6th.
Workshops are for all ages and cost $10 per person. See polkadotdragon.ca/workshops to register.
There are also the traditional jar lantern kits with paper hand-dyed with marigold petals and honeybee silhouettes available for purchase at Cowan’s for $3.
Please note that nobody is allowed to release lanterns into the water or air (no sky lanterns
The festival is free to the public, but donations are welcomed.
“This festival has become a beloved event in Nelson, and you can help support it by coming out for Viva Carnaval!, the annual fundraiser for The Polka Dot Dragon Arts Society.”
“This event will take place on March 1st, at the Spirit Bar. The first part will be a showcase of music and dance from celebrating carnaval traditions of Latin America and is open to all ages from 7 to 9 pm.”
This will be followed by a 19+ dance party with DJ B. Lee, DJ Mochileiro, and DJ Dubconscious. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $20 at the door and are available on the Spirt Bar website.
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