Golowan Festival

Golowan is a joyful community festival in Penzance enjoyed by thousands

The Golowan Festival is a celebration in Penzance of the Feast of St John at Midsummer and is traditionally launched by a Civic Parade for a service at St John’s Church, which this year will be held on Sunday 22nd June.

On Midsummer’s Eve – Monday 23rd June – a Torchlit Procession featuring costumed revellers and an appearance of Golowan’s legendary Oss, Penglaz heads down Chapel Street to the harbour.

From the mid-Wednesday until the end of the Festival, at the end of Quay Fair Day, the Quay Fair sets up down by the Harbour. Similarly, a Marquee is erected in the Wharfside Maritime Car Park on the same Wednesday, which houses some of the Festival’s music and events through to 29th June.

Throughout the days leading up to Mazey Weekend the Golowan Festival supports, encourages and promotes events held at venues throughout the town and on Thursday 26th June, Golowan is closely involved in hosting the ancient and anarchic ceremony of the election of the Mock Mayor of the Quay.

On Friday 27th June – Mazey Eve – a huge Fireworks display will light the Bay followed by a Serpent Dance around the harbour.

Mazey Day itself, Saturday 28th June, sees the centre of Penzance closed off as a traffic free area with market stalls, five parades featuring schools and community groups and full of colourful sculptured imagery, street music and entertainment throughout the town, a Folk Stage and a myriad of food stalls in Greenmarket Car Park – Festival Square for the day – with music, family entertainment, food & craft stalls and community activities in Penlee Park over Mazey Weekend.

On Sunday 29th June, Quay Fair Day, activities move down to the harbour with market stalls, folk stages, shanty crews and morris dancers on the Quay.