| Where: | Penzance, Cornwall town centre |
| When: | Saturday in late June (usually the Saturday on or following 23rd) |
| Time: | All day with processions starting at 10am and continuing through the morning ad afternoon |
Mazey Day is the main event day and 2nd Saturday of the revived Cornish festival of Golowan, traditionally celebrating the Feast of St John, which lasts for nine or ten days (including 2 weekends). On Mazey Day expect morris dancing and community arts festivities; there are several fantastic costumed processions featuring giants, puppets and hundreds of participants and at around 5pm the ancient Serpent Dance weaves is way through town. Everywhere is decorated and there are street entertainers, musicians and stalls aplenty. On Mazey Eve (the night preceding Mazey Day) there are fireworks, and the festival also includes a torch-lit procession, the election of the “Mayor of the Quay” and the appearance of Penglaz the skull-headed hobby horse. The festival ends with the Quay Fair Day on the Sunday which has more music and entertainment.
Helpful Hints
It’s usually on the last or penultimate Saturday of the month, near Midsummer’s Day/St John’s Eve so falls from around 23rd to 29th June. In 2026 the full Festival dates are 19th to 28th June with Mazey Day on Saturday 27th (follow links below for more details).
Click here for the event website and programme :http://www.golowanfestival.org
and here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Golowan-Festival-Official-Page/277967782386
I understand that the 2012 Mazey Day will be on Saturday June 29th, could you confirm please that is is so.
Could you also confirm that you have availability for our company to exhibit with our trailer in a 6×4 pitch on the day please. Additionally details of costs for this pitch.
Thank you for your help
KInd Regards
Diane
Hi Diane!
Mazey Day will be on Saturday June 23rd in 2012 – I’ve just checked it out. However, I have no connection with the organisation of the event, I just try to give potential visitors the info they’ll need to attend. If you click on the website link from my article (scroll down to Helpful Hints) the Golowan Festival site should appear- select the Stalls Information section or alternatively ring the Stalls Manager 01736 369686/ 07518 603955. Hope that gets you to the right person!
Kind Regards,
Averil
Do we have a date for 2014 – as I am hoping to sort a camping club rally for that weekend
Hi Margaret,
You can contact the festival organisers at golowan@hotmail.co.uk (Calendar Customs isn’t connected to the organization of any of the featured events) – I expect they’ll already have a pretty good idea of when it’ll be next year.
Best Wishes,
Averil
For future reference, Mazey day is always the last Saturday of June.
Thanks for that – I’ll be able to predict the date with precision now! It’s still on my “to-do” list as we live a long way off in Northumberland, so that’s really helpful.
I thought that Mazey Day was not the last Saturday in June, but the first Saturday on or after the 23rd (Midsummer Eve). That means that although it is usually the last Saturday in June, in 2012 for example it was on the 23rd June itself, which was not the last Saturday. In 2015 it will be Sat 27th.
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for your comment re Mazey Day – sorry I’ve taken so long to reply, I’ve been away at the Reburial of Richard III all week (not the sort of reply you’ll get very often!). Well, your formula for dating the festival certainly makes sense and fits for recent years and of course for 2015 too (though I’ve read conflicting reports about how it’s worked out from one year to the next from others) so that’s very useful, thanks again. Think I’ll email the event website to get it straight form Penglaz’s mouth!
Best wishes,
Averil
what time does the procession start as i came last time no adverts in truro bus station or on buses just caught the proc ession by chance???????????? no time on your website as car parks will be jam packed!!!!!!
Hi Jane,
There are several processions! They’re at 10am,11,1,3,4 & 4.45 and if you follow this link you can download a full programme for the festival which tells you the route and who’s in which procession : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2sFtTur-E_CWTZsVzh1RnNQR3c/view I found it on the event’s Facebook page rather than on the official website for the festival. Enjoy!
Averil
John and Chris Mazey from Sydney Australia hope to be there next year
Where is it best to park?
Hi Ros,
I’ve just found the following info on the Blog of the official website for the festival:
Car parking is available at St Clare (the former Cornwall Council site) and at Penwith College (from 8am-9pm) as well as all other town car parks with the exception of Greenmarket and St Anthony’s. St Clare and Penwith College car parking is free.
There’s other useful info on the blog so if you’d like a look, visit http://www.golowanfestival.org/blog/
Might see you there as it’ll be my first visit this year – looking forward to it!
Best wishes,
Averil
Mazey Day in 2022 will be Saturday 25th June! Looking forward to it
Thank you!
When is Mazey Day please ?
Hi Diane-you must have missed the date under Helpful Hints -it’s 29th June. You can find the link to the official website for the event there too with full schedule etc. Enjoy!
Best wishes
Averil