Rescheduled burning still brings a crowd
The Red Rooster Bar was illuminated by flames that slowly engulfed a 20-foot-tall, half-horse, half-dragon sculpture on its lawn June 12 as part of the eighth annual Dragon Burn.
Organized by the Pamlico Arts Council, the event kicked off with about 200 attendees trickling onto the field of the outdoor bar, tucked behind The Silos Restaurant in Oriental.
The burn, originally slated for March 28, was postponed due to a red-flag warning from the National Weather Service that day. But it went off without a hitch on the new date.
The event began in 2018, when Angie Propst became president of the Arts Council and sought to create a membership drive. “I got the idea, kind of took it from the seed from a different arts council in the Piedmont,” Propst said. “(I) then tied it in with the Burning Man, with the arts, igniting, igniting community, which is probably more Burning Man as it's about community and expression. So, anyway, we decided we would make it Oriental style.”
This year’s bold red and yellow design came from council Vice President Marguerite Chadwick-Juner, who modeled it after a horse in honor of the Chinese zodiac, with the frame constructed by Silos owner and council member Chris Daniels. The event also featured T-shirts designed by local high schooler Wyatt Johnson, whose design was selected by the council.
“It's been exciting to watch what happens when you have one of the art kids that all of a sudden gets recognized,” Propst said. “I think a lot of times kids in the arts kind of get overlooked because they're not scoring touchdowns.”
Visitors relaxed ahead of the burn, setting up lawn chairs, grabbing drinks and chatting while kids entertained themselves with games of tag and red light, green light.
Some participants painted a mural commemorating the Arts Council’s upcoming 50th anniversary next year. It will be displayed across from the Piggly Wiggly in town.
First-time attendee Lisa O’Toole said the event was hysterical. “I loved it,” she said.
O’Toole, who moved to Oriental with her husband a little over a year ago, just missed the 2025 Dragon Burn and had been looking forward to this one. “It’s great,” she said of such community events. “That’s the thing that really appealed to me when I was looking to retire.”
The leisure activities were gently interrupted when the Drumming Dragons began to beat their instruments. Soon, the Dragon Dancers entered, waving colorful dragon puppets, weaving in and out of the crowd. Migrating over to the main attraction, the dragon bearers danced around the horse, coiling as snakes before marching off the field.
There was a short auction for the honor of setting the dragon ablaze, with the winning bid of $200 serving as a donation to the Arts Council. And with the click of a lighter, the flames ignited.
The burn lasted 36 minutes, initially setting off fireworks placed around the structure. Soon fire caught at the tail, and a brilliant orange glow shone across the mesmerized crowd’s faces. Smoke billowed out of the dragon’s mouth, and a few remaining fireworks occasionally added to the bright display of color.
The illumination contended with the sunset, matching its orange disappearance, and soon contrasted with the blue of the early night.
Southeast Pamlico Volunteer Fire Department Station 19 Chief Eric Kindle and his crew, who were on standby, doused the surrounding areas with water to keep the burn safe.
“I always get a little bit nervous when we're doing this because, you know, we get a lot of wind down here and it's like, ‘Oh what wind direction is it blowing today or tonight?’” Kindle said. “But thankfully (I know) that area pretty well, having done it for eight years.”
Kindle said that the open setting, with trees on either side and wet foliage, is optimal for the burn. The event also allows volunteer firefighters to practice their skills and put on a public display.
“It gives us a little sense of purpose, because we don't have a large call volume,” he said.
The flames burned themselves out and firefighters watered down the last embers and snuffed out the coals. However, while the crowd thinned, some attendees lingered to enjoy the night.
“It really gets people thinking about the arts, and it definitely builds a sense of community,” Propst said of the event. “It is so exciting when you see little kids, big kids, grandma, great-grandma, you know, all out there for the burn.
Propst said people look forward to the event every year. “It's just a sense of community,” she said. “I think it brings our whole county together, as well as people from all over.”
