| Where: | Bodmin, Cornwall - town centre with Trial at the Arcade and various refreshment stops and performances in town centre. Check links for full schedule. |
| When: | First Weekend in July |
| Time: | Friday evening & Saturday all day from 9am to 6pm - see website link for full schedule |
Bodmin Riding and Heritage Festival is an event with its origins in medieval times involving local trade guilds, and it’s making a welcome full return in 2026 after being kept alive by the Beast of Bodmin and followers for several years whilst other parts of the festival were in abeyance. 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 perhaps not for the faint hearted! 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!).The Heritage Day features morris and historic dancing, music and entertainments including local choirs and battle re-enactments ; there will be a fair including craft sales, fairground rides, sports and exhibitions ,and Riding Ale will be on sale. In the past there was Cornish Wresting and Riding service was on Sunday morning commemorating St Petroc, whose bones were carried through town to St Petrocs Church and St Thomas’ Chapel (I haven’t seen refences to these featuring in the new festival but even if they’re not on in 2026 they may make a comeback in future).
Helpful Hints
The Festival should return on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th July – full schedule will be on the links below. The Beast of Bodmin makes an appearance around town (see link) with the mock trial and numerous performances of the play on the first Saturday in July, which in 2026 should be Saturday 4th July (times be confirmed). Check the Facebook link below for the up-to-date schedule as it varies from year to year.
The schedule for the Beast in 2025 (for reference): Approx timings 10.45 Portuguese cafe, 11.15 Meet the Beast outside Arcade, 11.45 Barnecutts, 12.30 Hole in Wall, 13.30 opp Arcade- Trial ,14.15 The Tavern Fore St, 15.00 The Masons, 15.30 Garland Ox. Check the Facebook page on case of any last-minute alterations.
Click here for the Beast’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GwariBosvena
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!