People filled the streets of Penzance yesterday evening (Monday 23 June) to take part in the St John’s Eve Torchlit Procession celebrating midsummer as part of the week-long Golowan Festival.
Starting from the top of Chapel Street, the torch-carrying procession was led by the Golowan Band and met by Penzance’s summer ‘oss, Penglaz.
Now in the 35th year of its revival, the theme of this year’s festival is “On the Crest of a Wave”, honouring the power of our Cornish coast and seas, unique sea life and love of the ocean in Penzance.
After Penzance’s ancient Feast of St John midsummer celebrations stopped happening at the end of the 19th century, the tradition was revived in 1991 as the one-day celebration – Mazey Day. With the continuing support of Penzance Council, Golowan has grown over the years into a week-long festival, with Mazey Day still at its heart and now attracting tens of thousands of people to the town.
The main day of the festival on Saturday, 28 June, sees the Mayor and Mock Mayor address the crowds from the Mayors’ Platform followed by the 11am, 1pm, and 3pm parades where hundreds of participants from schools and community groups showcase their giant wicker models to the tune of marching bands.
Penzance Council is proud to support Golowan through partnership and funding of Golowan Festival CIC, who won the tender to run the festival and is contracted to deliver it until 2027.
See all the photos from the event in the slider gallery below:
