Children from Pitsmoor adventure playground went on a trip to Sharrow Lantern Carnival and walked the Dragon of Pitsmoor. The theme this year was ‘Life on Earth’ and the Dragon of Pitsmoor fitted in just right.
Often, many of the lanterns haven't been seen illuminated until the night of the carnival. Hundreds meet up in Mount Pleasant Park at dusk, wait expectantly for nightfall and then get led by the Sheffield Samba Band on a procession to the General Cemetery where the lanterns congregate and makers celebrate with fire-spinners and local live bands.
The Dragon of Pitsmoor came into being back in 2007. I was busy running lantern-making workshops over in Sharrow, but as I live in Pitsmoor, I was keen to incorporate my own neighbourhood. These willow-framed constructions take shape incredibly quickly. It's such a magical craft, accessible and achievable.
It’s a champion of community art. The dragon’s head was thought up and made by young people at Pitsmoor Adventure Playground in just one day! Since then, we’ve made other lanterns that have made it to Sharrow’s carnival, including a hammerhead shark and an armadillo made from old CDs. But the dragon has always been a bit special to me
This year, the dragon was starting to look a little washed out and so, with the carnival approaching, took the forlorn fellow up to Pitsmoor Adventure Playground, where the kids patched him up. Who knows where the dragon will pop up next!
Patrick Amber