Firebird: Built to Burn, a new documentary that focuses on the Firebird Festival in Phoenixville, will premiere at the Colonial Theatre on Nov. 29 and continue to play through Dec. 14, writes Kristin Hunt for Philly Voice. 

The festival is an arts fest held in December. Every year, local artists and volunteers come together to build a larger-than-life bird in the center of Veterans Memorial Park. Then, on the day of the festival, they burn it down. 

Ahead of the burning, thousands of residents and visitors join a procession through the streets, browse a pop-up craft market, and cheer on drummers and fire-eaters who are heralding the big blazing moment. 

This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the beloved festival. 

The documentary from producer Charlie Hudson and director Colleen Brady has been in the works since 2019 when Phoenixville native Hudson took Brady to her first Firebird Festival. 

“I’ve never seen a fire that large,” said Brady. 

They first planned to capture the 2020 festival for the movie but had to rearrange production due to COVID-19. When the festival returned the next year, they were ready. 

Read more about the documentary featuring the Firebird Festival in Phoenixville in Philly Voice. 

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