On Sunday evening a dragon took over Lakeside Park, meandering its way through the sky above the beach toward the bridge, brightly lit in the dark night.
It was followed in a winding line by drummers and hundreds of others of all ages, many of whom were carrying lanterns they had made for the occasion.
The beach and the park were adorned with hand-made lanterns and lights, reflecting the relaxed and celebratory mood of the crowd.
The Polka Dot Dragon Lantern Festival attracted many more people than in past years, said organizer and founder Myra Rasmussen.
“It was a way, way bigger turnout than we’ve ever had,” she said, adding that people seemed desperate to take part in an active, family-friendly event after so much staying home.
“People were just really excited that it was happening. I had put out lantern kits for the public, and I couldn’t keep up with the demand.”
She says she also got many requests from teachers for the kits. The theme this year was eggs and cocoons, reflecting the desire to emerge from isolation and feel some hope.
The festival has outgrown its location at Taghum where it was held for the past few years after Rasmussen launched the original festival in 2014 at Cottonwood Lake.
In 2008, Rasmussen spent several months as an apprentice to a master lantern-maker at the Aomori Nebuta Lantern Festival in Japan. The head of the Nelson dragon that visited Lakeside beach is made in a style she learned there.
Rasmussen has also worked at other large community art projects, including Carnival in Brazil and parades in Toronto.
She’s committed to family-friendly community art projects.
“That’s part of why I have made it on Family Day weekend,” she said. “It’s something that appeals to everyone. It’s about making art accessible and about getting people involved in the process of art making — a celebration of art and nature in our community.”
bill.metcalfe@nelsonstar.com
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