Each year, more people flock to phoenix fire

The annual Firebird Festival in Phoenixville , which began four years ago, drew nearly 3,800 people last year for the the burning of the phoenix.

It may not be surprising that every year in Phoenixville, a town of homegrown festivals and wacky artists, a sculpture of a phoenix is set on fire.

This year, the wooden sculpture will be set ablaze at 8 p.m. Saturday during the town's Firebird Festival.

Organizer Lynn Miller said, "The town was named for the bird," a symbol of rebirth. Legend goes that in 1813, the founder of the town's first iron company had a vision of a phoenix emerging from the flames and named his company Phoenix Works. Later, the town adopted the name Phoenixville in honor of its main industry.