In what was meant to be a quaint celebration of community spirit, the annual Dahlia & Arts Festival parade took an unexpected turn when a colossal inflatable dinosaur broke free from its moorings, wreaking havoc in the Eaglehawk CBD.
The parade, known for its small-town charm and homemade floats, quickly transformed into a scene reminiscent of a horror movie as the T-Rex, affectionately dubbed “Dino-mite,” made a bid for freedom. What started as amused chuckles from onlookers soon turned to gasps of horror as the prehistoric behemoth lunged forward, propelled by an errant gust of wind.
“It was like something out of Jurassic Park, only with less Goldblum,” remarked resident Sheila Patterson, who narrowly avoided being trampled by the inflatable menace. “One moment, we were admiring a marching band and the next, we were running from a giant, inflatable dinosaur.”
Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos as parade participants and spectators scrambled to evade the rampaging reptile. Children clung to their parents’ legs, crying out in terror, while parade organizers frantically attempted to corral the runaway balloon using ropes and makeshift barricades.
“It was pandemonium,” recalled parade organizer Warren Stewart. “We thought we had everything under control, but then that damn dinosaur had other plans. It was like trying to wrangle a balloon in a hurricane.”
Local authorities and SWAT teams were quickly dispatched to the scene, armed with giant safety pins and a sense of grim determination. After a tense standoff, during which the dinosaur attempted to make a break for Lake Neangar, the inflatable menace was finally subdued and brought back under control.
Despite the chaos, some parade-goers found humour in the situation. “I never thought I’d see the day when a parade float would stage a daring escape,” quipped longtime Eaglehawk resident Greg Smalls. But hey, it certainly made for a memorable afternoon.”
As cleanup crews worked to clear the streets of deflated balloons and shattered dreams, Eaglehawkians were left to reflect on the day’s events.
While the parade may not have gone exactly as planned, one thing was sure: in a town where the unexpected is always just around the corner, anything can happen – even a dinosaur on the loose.
