Mermaid at East Passyunk’s Singing Fountain dons new cape and hat for Halloween celebrations.
In a vibrant celebration of creativity and community spirit, the Philadelphia Drunken Knitwits have unveiled an imaginative Halloween-themed yarn installation at East Passyunk’s Singing Fountain. This effort, part of their seasonal festivities, features a whimsical display of handcrafted elements including pumpkins, candy corn, and blood drips, which collectively form the latest installment of the group’s unique “yarn bombing” art project.
Coinciding with the East Passyunk Fall Fest on October 25, the new façade will remain on display through Sunday night. The fountain—an iconic focal point within the area—has been transformed, with the top mermaid figure adorned in a striking black and orange witch’s hat and cape, while the surrounding cherubs wear crocheted costumes reminiscent of a monarch butterfly, a bat, and a fairy, respectively. The artistic installation extends its flourishing creativity through cozy fall-themed makeovers of birds perched upon the fountain, each dressed in sweaters featuring playful designs such as skeletons, haunted houses, and jack-o’-lanterns.
Further enhancing the festive ambience, the benches around the fountain are adorned with colorful bunting that exhibits classic Halloween motifs such as bats, pumpkins, candy corn, and ghosts. Organizing this extraordinary display was Allison Covey, who heads the Philadelphia chapter of the international Knitting group based in Oxford, England. Taking over two months to complete, the installation involved contributions from more than 18 artisans skilled in knitting and crocheting, uniting in a collaborative effort to inject joy into the local community.
Covey expressed that the reception from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, noting that people of all ages have enthusiastically enjoyed the artistic expression. The group’s contributions extend beyond this recent installation; they have previously engaged in other themed yarn bombings throughout the year, reflecting local pride and community spirit.
Earlier in the year, the Drunken Knitwits paid homage to Philadelphia’s sports teams with a display featuring team-themed sweaters for sculptures at the fountain. Following some vandalism to the installation in April, the group responded swiftly by creating replacement pieces, demonstrating their commitment to maintaining public art initiatives.
Their creative endeavors are not limited to East Passyunk, as they have also conducted yarn bombings at locations including Eakins Oval and Fitler Square Park. Covey disclosed that the group has completed a second Halloween-themed project at Fitler Square Park, where six animal sculptures are now donned with festive sweaters, showcasing their versatility and artistic ambition.
As the installation at East Passyunk transitions to storage for future use on Sunday, the Philadelphia Drunken Knitwits are set to continue their legacy of enriching the urban landscape through art, contributing both beauty and community engagement that resonates with the spirit of Philadelphia.
