Where Did the Elephants in Burns Court Square Go?

For nearly a year, two massive elephants, Snowflake and Surus, have decorated the entrance of Burns Square in downtown Sarasota. However, they recently vanished.

“We discovered that Snowflake is pregnant,” said Denise Kowal, founder and chair of the Sarasota Chalk Festival. Kowal said the elephants moved to “a quieter location” to await the birth of their baby.

The foam elephants have guarded Kowal’s property since last year’s chalk festival in November 2012, when sculptor Kumpa Tawornprom spent more than four months carving them to grace the entrance of the 10-day street festival, themed “Circus City USA.”

Executive manager, Sheila Foley said she will be organizing a baby shower in October for Snowflake. Her due date is the beginning of November. 

But don’t worry: Snowflake, an albino Asian elephant, and Surus, the grey elephant, aren’t planning to buy a house in the suburbs and disappear into obscurity. The duo and their newborn will be present at the Children’s Chalk Block portion of the festival this Nov. 16-17.

The children's portion of the festival will be located at Selby Five Points in the heart of downtown, due to a festival expansion that extends along Pineapple Avenue.

Kowal is no stranger to taking in larger-than-life thingamajigs; she took custody of Ego Leonard (LegoMan), who washed up on Siesta Key Beach just before the 2011 Chalk Festival and rose to international fame when his appearance was declared Time Magazine’s “Number Two Odd Ball Story for the year.”

When asked if there will be any new surprises during the 2013 festival, Kowal said, “Of course!”

Sarasota Chalk Festival ‘Legacy of Valor’ will run from Nov. 13–18 in downtown Sarasota honoring veterans, inspiring patriotism, and embracing freedom. The festival is free because it's produced by the entirely volunteer, nonprofit cultural arts organization Avenida de Colores, Inc. For more information please visit ChalkFestival.org.