THE Golowan Festival got underway in Penzance yesterday (Sunday, June 22) with the first parade of the town’s week-long festival of arts, performances, culture and parades.

Now in the 35th year of its revival, the theme of this year’s festival is “On the Crest of a Wave”, honouring the power of our Cornish coast and seas, unique sea life and love of the ocean in Penzance.

The name Penzance translates from the Cornish ‘Pennsans’ as ‘Holy Head’ and refers to the headland at the harbour. To symbolise the ‘Holy Head’, the severed head of St John the Baptist, patron saint of Penzance, featured on the town’s old common seal, which was adopted in 1614.

Carrying the ceremonial head of St John on a plate, the Civic Parade set off from St John’s Hall and made its way through the centre of Penzance to St John the Baptist Church for the Feast of St John Service.

Led by Penzance Silver Band, around 50 dignitaries joined the procession with mayor of Penzance, Stephen Reynolds, who commented: “Golowan is a festival like no other, and I’m proud that Penzance Council is once again supporting the amazing team at Golowan CIC and the dedicated band of volunteers who make it happen.

“This year’s theme chimes perfectly with the burgeoning ‘Penzance Renaissance’, and I have every faith that Golowan will continue riding the wave of success for years to come.”

After Penzance’s ancient Feast of St John midsummer celebrations stopped happening at the end of the 19th century, the tradition was revived in 1991 as the one-day celebration - Mazey Day.

With the continuing support of Penzance Council, Golowan has grown over the years into a week-long festival, with Mazey Day still at its heart and now attracting tens of thousands of people to the town.

The main day of the festival next Saturday, 28 June, sees the Mayor and Mock Mayor address the crowds from the Mayors’ Platform followed by the 11am, 1pm, and 3pm parades where hundreds of participants from schools and community groups showcase their giant wicker models to the tune of marching bands.

As well as the parades, street entertainment and stalls on Mazey Day, this year sees the introduction of a new event area in Penlee Park, where there will be entertainment and activities for all ages, as well as food stalls, a bar, craft stalls and the new Tree Lounge hang out space for young people, organised by PZN Youth.

Penzance Council support Golowan through partnership and funding of Golowan Festival CIC, who won the tender to run the festival and is contracted to deliver it until 2027.