The DragonParade in Sundsvall 

The DragonParade in Sundsvall is a yearly "arts on street" exhibition that Xcited established in 2003. Around 30 Company Owned Dragon Statues are placed in the City each summer. The Dragons are painted by artists who through there special expressiveness profiles the Philosophy of the company, who owns the dragon. Xcited did all the coordination between artists, companies, the German producers and other companies.

This year (2006) has "På Stan citybolaget AB" taken over the project The DragonParade. For us it has almost been like giving away a child, but we trust På Stan Citybolaget 100% and we are convinced that they are doing a great job. Xcited still has all the contact with the German producer, but På Stan citybolaget is responsible for everything else regarding the DragonParade.

  The DragonParade 2005 

Already after two years the Dragons were seen as a tradition of the City and it was seen as a sign "that the summer was here". The Newspapers in the region wrote that “Xcited has made the Dragon as a united Symbol for the city, a symbol that the inhibitors of Sundsvall are proud of”. It became a third year with the Dragons in the city and the voting of the nicest dragon statue of the year became the toughest ever. With a very small margin Terminator 3, who is owned by the company Top Coat took the 1st price.

Pictures of all the dragons of 2005

  The DragonParade 2004 

In the beginning the DragonParde was meant to be a one year project, but the unbelievable enthusiasm of the companies and the inhibitors made that the DragonParade to continue for another summer. Some of the statues followed from the previous year of the exhibition and some were new.

Pictures of all the dragons of 2004

  The DragonParade 2003 

Xcited works fulltime during eight months with the preparations. In June 2003 the Opening was held at Gustaf Adolfs Square in Sundsvall, where a massive crowed was gathered to watch the opening of the 30 dragon statues. The project got a lot of attention in the media and the expectations were high. The inhibitors of Sundsvall gave the dragons a warm welcoming and the whole summer the children stood inline to give the dragons hugs and kisses.

Pictures of all the dragons of 2003
Film about the preparations and the opening

  The history behind... 

The DragonParade started as a "Junior Achievement Company" (http://www.jaintl.org) when Lisa and Julia studied in High School. In Germany they had seen an exhibition with fish statues and it was there the idea was born. Off course it became dragons in Sundsvall – since the dragon is the symbol of Sundsvall. We asked the famous artist Christian Beijer to design the original dragon statue and after that it just went on... www.drakparaden.se

  Links 

www.drakparaden.se
The Official webpage of the project.

www.sundsvall.nu/pastan
This year’s arranger of the DragonParade

  Pictures