| Where: | Helston, Cornwall - starting at the Guildhall in the town centre |
| When: | 8 May (if 8th is a Sunday or Monday, it's held on the previous Saturday instead which will be 6th or 7th May- but see Helpful Hints for 2023) |
| Time: | All day from 7am |
Helston Flora Day is one of the oldest surviving May customs celebrating the end of winter and coming of spring. A series of dances are performed throughout the day starting at 7am at the Guildhall with the Early Morning Dance, followed by the traditional performance of the Hal-an-Tow at 8.30 which is a play and dialect song, and then the Childrens Dance. At noon the principal or Furry Dance takes the form of a procession, also starting at the Guildhall, of elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen who wind their way around town, even passing through houses and shops. The Final Dance of the day starts at 5 pm and anyone can take part. The whole town is decorated for the event, which attracts large crowds, and the day even has its own unique tune (similar to the well-known Floral Dance tune but not the same).
Helpful Hints
Don’t miss the Hal an Tow at the start if you want to have the full Flora Day experience. Expect large crowds all day! Plenty of food & drink are available in town. Lily of the Valley buttonholes are also on sale from streetsellers with baskets ( a bargain in 2012 for £2).
In 2024 Flora Day will be on Wednesday 8th May.
Click here for the event website : http://www.helstonfloraday.org.uk/
and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Helstonfloradayassociation/
I was born in Helston and danced the flora many times, It attracts an amazing amount of people from all over the world, although I have`nt lived in the UK for over 30 years May 8th is a special day for me and reminds me that old traditions dont die. Its because of the input of the whole community that makes the day such a great experience for everyone,
Hi Christine,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Flora Day. We went for the first time this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. The sun even shone brightly throughout! My husband made a video – he needs a bit of time to edit it, but if you look back at the site in the near future it should bring back a few more memories!
Kind Regards,
Averil
WHAT A GREAT DAY SAW MY GRANDSON DANCING HE LOOKED AS THOUGH HE WAS HAVING A GREAT TIME. THE CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS SO LOVELY.ALSO THE MIDDAY DID NOT LET US DOWN WITH THERE LOVELY DRESSES THEY LOOK SO FANTASTIC
Hi Carole – Glad you enjoyed it! It was our first visit to Flora Day and it was beautiful. My husband made a video so have a look back at the site in a little while (to give him time to edit it) and see if your grandson is in it!
Kind Regards,
Averil
Hello,
We are three aussies that will be visiting Cornwall early May, just wishing to clarify the date the Helston Flora & Furry Day will be held on this year as the 8th May is a Wednesday? Will it therefore be held on that day or the weekend prior ie. 4th and 5th May (2013) ?
many thanks,
Lee
Hi Lee!
Yes, it will be held on Wednesday 8th, not on the nearest weekend. The only time it moves off the 8th is if it falls on a Sunday or Monday but that doesn’t happen this year. If you can get there early enough, try to arrive in time to see the Hal-an-Tow which is held early morning – they tour around the town performing it and you need to arrive by about 7.30 to be sure of seeing it and finding them (just follow the music). It’s a really good day out – we went for the first time last year and thoroughly enjoyed it – hope you do too!
Best Wishes,
Averil
Hope to see the festival May 2015. We are staying in Newquay that week. How long is the drive from there to Helston?
Hi Nancy,
It’ll be about 3/4 of an hour or so (but longer in heavy traffic so allow extra time unless you’re heading into Helston really early!)
Averil
Hello, I am a local to Helston, lived there for 18 years and have done the children dance for 12 years. I was wondering how I can apply for dancing for the morning dance.
Georgia
Hi Georgia,
If you follow the following link at http://www.helstonfloraday.org.uk/contacts.htm, it will get you through to the organisers and they’ll be able to sort it all out. Best of luck – it’s a fantastic event!
Averil
Hey,
I go to the flora day every year and have lived in Cornwall for most of my life. That is because I was born in Kent, but doesn’t mean I haven’t learnt the Cornish ways! I love the way they dance, and would like to be one of the dancers one day, because they look soooooooooooo professional and as if they go to a stage school! I like how traditional the whole festival is, and enjoy it every year.
Kind regards,
Poppy
Yes it’s a wonderful spectacle – you’re lucky to be able to go as a regular 🙂 We live right up the other end of the country so have just been once but one day we’ll be back…
Best wishes,
Averil