The rain obligingly held off for the hundreds of schoolchildren who danced through the streets of Penzance on Thursday 5 March to mark St Piran’s Day 2026. After months of torrential rain and wind, the weather looked kindly on the town, allowing one of its yearly highlights to go ahead in celebration of Cornwall’s famous patron saint.
This year marks the 21st year of the now famous Penzance St Piran Furry, organised by St Piran in Penwith, which is danced by hundreds of schoolchildren from local schools in the Penwith area. As with previous years, St Piran in Penwith have been supported with grant funding from Penzance Council to help with costs of the popular event.
Setting off from the top of Causewayhead at 10.15am the procession danced through the town to Morrab Gardens, where everyone joined together in enthusiastic renditions of ‘Trelawny’ and ‘Cornwall my Home’.
Speaking to the large crowd of schoolchildren and members of the public in the park, Mayor of Penzance, Stephen Reynolds gave an emotional speech, announcing that this would be his last big public event before stepping down as Mayor in May:
“Thank you to Jakki Williams and all the work that she does and the team at St Piran in Penwith for making this such a special occasion. It’s bigger than ever this year, I don’t know how we’re fitting everybody in here – we’re going to have to get an extension on Morrab Gardens to fit everybody in!
“Thank you all and thank you especially to all you young people from our local schools who make this event what it really is, we really appreciate you!
“So, here we are again, my third gig here, and each year the sun has shone. I said my first year here that whatever you say about St Piran he is some kind of miracle worker, because he always manages to find a little spot of sun in Morrab Gardens on March the 5th, and that’s so important because this is a day when all of us around here today, we are laying down memories. You young people, you will remember this in years to come, us older people we are building our memories too, this is like a memory factory, this circle of togetherness in these gardens today. It’s something we can treasure, we can remember for many, many years ahead.
“And at a time when there is trouble and strife in the world it is so wonderful to me personally to look round and see people with smiles on their faces, to see people holding hands and dancing, playing their instruments and celebrating what it is to feel at home. For all of us, this is our home, all of you here today. It doesn’t matter where you were born, it doesn’t matter where you are going, we are here today at home, we are belonging and we celebrate Cornwall our home.
“I wish you all Gool Peran Lowen / Happy St Piran’s Day. Cherish your memories of this place, of this town, of this music, of your friends and family, your school mates. This is precious. Kernow Bys Vyken, Pennsans Bys Vyken!
“Meur ras onen hag oll / thank you one and all. Thank you for all the support everybody in the town has given me, this is my last big event as Mayor. It has been a pleasure serving this community, it’s been a pleasure knowing you all, helping you all as best I can and I look forward to serving you in a slightly more humble capacity in the future.”
Cllr Reynolds also paid tribute to Penzance’s inimitable town crier, Phil Northcott, who was on duty for his last event before he steps down from the role following eight, ear-piercingly eloquent years.
Phil addressed the crowd in his usual booming manner, saying:
“On this day in Penzance, Cornish folk stand proud and tall. Whether born here, drawn here or a recent blow-in, a steadfast love of this Land is your only qualification.
“Lesser folk will bicker and squabble over jam or cream first, who makes the best pasty, which Cornish town is best. I say, just enjoy your bleddy scone. Your next pasty is the only one that matters. Give your heads a wobble, Penzance is always the best!”
From Morrab Gardens, the procession continued up Morrab Road to St John’s Hall where the schoolchildren were rewarded with a well-earned saffron bun. 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.
See all the photos from the event in the slider gallery below:
