| Where: | Bodmin, Cornwall - town centre with Trial at the Arcade and various refreshment stops and performances in town centre(and formerly Wrestling in Priory Park and Riding service procession from St Mary's to St Petrocs church) |
| When: | First Weekend in July |
| Time: | Saturday all day - see website link for full schedule |
Bodmin Riding and Heritage Day is an event with its origins in medieval times involving local trade guilds, and it’s being kept alive by the Beast of Bodmin and followers today. It used to commemorate the hanging of the Mayor in the fifteenth century,but the focus has now moved more recently to the less sinister hunting of the Beast of Bodmin play; there is still plenty of gore including entrails so it’s still perhaps not for the faint hearted! The former Heritage Day frequently included morris and historic dancing, music and entertainments including Cornish Wrestling; there was a fair including craft sales, fairground rides, other sports and exhibitions, and the Riding service was on Sunday morning commemorating St Petroc, whose bones were carried through town to St Petrocs Church and St Thomas’ Chapel. Traditional Riding Ale was available over the weekend. Now, the play features important figures from throughout Cornish history who tell the tale of the capture and trial of the fearsome Beast on the Saturday , including Jan Tregeagle, St Petroc and the Duke of Cornwall, and their procession features a model of the reliquary of St Petroc (the original is on display inside the Church, despite having been stolen twice in its history!).
Helpful Hints
The Beast of Bodmin makes an appearance around town (see link below) with the mock trial and numerous performances of the play on the first Saturday in July, which in 2025 should be Saturday 5th July. Check the Facebook link below for the up-to-date schedule as it varies from year to year.
For some years aspects of the Festival have been in abeyance, but it will hopefully fully resume at some point in future.
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
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!