Feast Festival organisers call on public to find beloved flamingo mascot Ellen, stolen earlier this month

Feast Festival organisers are calling for the return of their beloved bird mascot, who was swiped this month. She’s rumoured to be floating around the East End. Have you seen her?

Feast Festival organisers are calling on the public to flock together and find their beloved pink flamingo mascot, Ellen, stolen earlier this month.

Feast, Australia’s third largest LGBTQA+ queer arts and cultural festival, is on until November 27 with a number of events held across Adelaide. Ellen – one of two metre-high flamingo mascots – was stolen from the opening show on November 5.

Ellen and co-mascot Portia are named after famous American gay couple, comedian Ellen DeGeneres and actor Portia de Rossi.

Festival chair Adam Gardnir said they were desperate to reunite the pair in time for Feast’s finale event, Picnic in the Park, in the new location of Rundle Park on Sunday 27.

“I am astonished that society today dictates that its OK to steal items that are loved and bring meaning to broader communities,” Gardnir said. “We have received lots of messages of support, with witnesses saying there have been countless sightings of Ellen flapping around on North Terrace, Rundle Mall and East Terrace.

Ellen, pictured left, is stolen. Here with Evan Johnson, Gerry Ebert, Adam Gardnir, Kate Toone, Annie Schofield, and Dr Gertrude Glossip. Picture: Jo-Anna Robinson

“We are appealing to the guilty to bring back Ellen and drop her off anonymously at the Feast Office front door foyer.”

Unfortunately, the theft of characters and mascots is not new.

Earlier this month, touring theme party organisers The Big Party reported the theft of their 2.7m-high Smurf costume, from an event in McLaren Vale.

And, last year, two men dubbed the Big Bird Bandits appeared in court after swiping a $137,000 Sesame Street costume from the Sesame Street Circus Spectacular, Bonython Park.