Where: | Bodmin, Cornwall - town centre with Capture at the Jail, Trial at Mount Folly and Wrestling in Priory Park; Riding service procession from St Mary's to St Petrocs church |
When: | First Weekend in July |
Time: | Saturday all day from 9am with Trial at 2.45 - see website link for full schedule Sunday church service 10 am |
Bodmin Riding and Heritage Day is an event with its origins in medieval times involving local trade guilds. It used to commemorate the hanging of the Mayor in the fifteenth century,but while the procession tradition and medieval fair continue, the focus has moved more recently to the less sinister hunting of the Beast of Bodmin play. Expect morris and historic dancing, music and entertainments including Cornish Wrestling; the capture and trial of the fearsome Beast take place on Saturday afternoon. There are also craft sales, fairground rides, other sports and exhibitions. The Riding service is on Sunday morning and it commemorates St Petroc, whose bones are carried through town to St Petrocs Church and St Thomas’ Chapel. Traditional Riding Ale is available over the weekend.
Helpful Hints
It will hopefully resume in 2024, with a new team to run the event, and the main day should be on Saturday 6th July with further events on Friday 5th July and Sunday 7th July (all to be confirmed). When the full Festival isn’t on the Beast of Bodmin still makes an appearance around town (see link below) with the mock trial on the Saturday.
Click here for the Beast’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GwariBosvena
Click here for the event website: https://bodminrandh.wixsite.com/mysite
Click here for the event facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/BodminRidingHeritage
View this location on the map.
Is this event going ahead this year?
If so, what day is it on?
I’ll be visiting Cornwall around this date and would enjoy nothing better then chasing a strange black beast around the village.
Hi Mark! Sorry I took so long to reply – just got back from holidays in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The event is going ahead on July 2nd & 3rd but so far the timetable has yet to be made public. If you visit http://www.bodminlive.com/site/whats-on-in-cornwall/bodmin-heritage-and-riding-day you can click to request the programme when it becomes available (and there’s a great photo of the Beast!). It looks like fun- enjoy!