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Better get your flame-retardant clothing ready, as the first ever Norwich Dragon Festival flies its way into the city between Saturday, 31 January - Sunday, 22 February, 2009.

The festival entails three weeks of flame-filled activities including exhibitions, puppet shows, story-telling, talks, films, arts and crafts and a dragon trail.

The aim of the festival is to celebrate dragons as part of Norwich's vast culture and history, with the fiery creatures being a part of the city since the Medieval Ages.

The festival will call at 15 different locations around Norwich, including the £2 million renovated Dragon Hall on King Street, and many venues will exhibit their displays for free.

The Dragon Festival

The fire-breathing creatures have been given the support of many companies throughout Norwich to bring them to the public domain.

"There's over 15 organisations involved from all across the city and about 30 different events," said Christina Lundberg, communications manager at Norwich Heritage, Economic and Regenerations Trust.

"The activities are mainly aimed at families, but there's treats for the young people at heart and talks that are also aimed towards adults," she added.

A dragon in the spandrels at Dragon Hall

One of the main dragons that can be seen at the festival is an incredible 581 years old, placed in the spandrels (rafters) of Dragon Hall.

"We've had groups who've liaised with community artists to work at filling our other spandrels at Dragon Hall, because we only have one dragon there at the moment," said Gina Woods, learning and development officer of Dragon Hall.

"Even though there is only one, it is rather famous, being 581 years old," she added.

Young people have been able to get involved in filling the remaining spandrels of the hall.

"Filling the triangular spandrels has been really fun and creative. We have a felt dragon made by Catton brownies," said Gina.

The history of Norwich's dragons

Ever since the Medieval Ages, Norwich has had a history of dragons.

A Dragon on St John's Cathedral, Norwich

"The dragons are mainly related to St George, the great dragon-slayer, and Margaret, the maiden he rescued," said Christina.

"Dragons have been carved in Norwich since Medieval times and they boomed around the Industrial Revolution, where the creatures were incorporated into the architecture of the buildings.

"Snap dragons were involved in the Annual Guild Day on St George's Day and various dragons can now be found throughout Norwich.

"People in Norwich have really taken dragons to heart".

A fiery trail

The success of the Go Elephants in the summer of 2008 means the dragon trail has a high standard to live up to.

"There are high expectations in the air for trails following the fantastic Go Elephants of the summer," said Christina.

People will get to see many dragons

"Our trail predominantly features carved and stone dragons that you can see in buildings around Norwich. Many have been there since the medieval times.

"What's particularly exciting is that a lot of the dragons in the trail aren't normally visible to the public.

"For example, there are six fantastic dragons in the Refectory of the Norwich Great Hospital that people can finally see".

An educational experience

The aim of the festival is for people to enjoy viewing the vast number of dragons, but to also learn a part of Norwich's history along the way.

"Our emphasis is on fun, but we want to teach children and trigger an interest in local history," said Christina.

"We hope that with the trail, people of all ages will look at the buildings involved in a different light and keep Norwich's history alive," she added.