Final preparations and rehearsals are underway for this year’s St Piran’s Day celebrations in Penzance. Held annually on 5th March, this year the event will take place as Penzance prepares its bid to become the first UK Town of Culture.
Organised by St Piran in Penwith for the past 21 years and now an important part of the town’s cultural calendar, the popular event will see the return of hundreds of local schoolchildren dancing the St Piran Furry through the streets of Penzance.
Ahead of St Piran’s Day, a special Cornish Concert by a combined choir of schoolchildren from the Penwith area will take place in St John’s Hall, Penzance, on Wednesday 4th March, at 7pm.
St Piran’s Day
On Thursday 5th March, hundreds of schoolchildren will gather at the top of Causewayhead, before setting off at 10.15am and dancing the St Piran Furry through the town to Morrab Gardens, where everyone will join together in a rousing rendition of ‘Trelawny’. From there, accompanied by the Mayor of Penzance and the Town Crier, the procession will dance up Morrab Road to St John’s Hall where the schoolchildren will all be given a well-earned saffron bun!
Mayor of Penzance, Stephen Reynolds commented:
“As Penzance prepares its bid for UK Town of Culture, it is fitting that the town comes together once again to celebrate community spirit and Cornish culture on St Piran’s Day. Penzance Council is proud to support this joyous event with grant funding again this year and I look forward to joining hundreds of schoolchildren as they parade through the streets. Gool Peran Lowen Onen Hag Oll! Happy St Piran’s Day One And All!”
Grant funding
St Piran in Penwith has received £1,860 grant funding from Penzance Council to cover the costs of rigging and de-rigging of the St Piran town flags, public liability insurance, rent of St John’s Hall and saffron buns for all the children taking part, as well as other costs associated with the event.
Penzance Council provides grants to local community groups and charities who are working to benefit our residents and our Parish environment.
Road Closure
A road closure will be in place for the St Piran Furry on Thursday 5th March from 10am – 12noon. The roads affected will be:
- Causewayhead
- Parade Street
- St Marys Terrace
- Morrab Gardens
- Access to rear of Morrab Terrace and Morrab Gardens
- Morrab Terrace
- South Parade
- Morrab Place
- Morrab Road
- Buriton Row
(Please note: the Penzance Council offices will be closed on Thursday 5th March)
