St Piran's Day celebrations in Cornwall: where to take part

Legend tells of Piran’s arrival in Cornwall from Ireland during the 5th century. After a disagreement with King Aengus of Munster, Piran was tied to a millstone and thrown off the Irish cliffs into a stormy sea.

The sea became calm and the millstone miraculously floated and brought him to Cornwall, where he washed up on Perranporth beach. He spoke only Irish and the locals spoke only Cornish but he still gathered disciples.

His first followers were said to be a badger, a fox and a boar.

One evening, followers had gathered around a fire to listen to Piran when he saw a rock glowing. He hit it with his staff and silver liquid poured out in the form of a cross. The silver liquid was tin.

This white cross on a black background became the St Piran’s Flag; the emblem of the Cornish tinners and the Cornish national flag.

Piran’s followers built a small chapel in the sand dunes, which has recently been excavated from the sand at Perranporth.

Here's where you can take part in St Piran's Day celebrations around Cornwall today (Saturday).

FALMOUTH

This year the festivities in Falmouth will be centred at the Princess Pavilion, which is now back in the ownership of Falmouth Town Council.

At 10am a walking and dancing parade will leave Queen Mary Gardens and go along the seafront. There will be musicians and entertainers to bring drama and sound to the occasion.

The parade will then go into Gyllyngdune Gardens and to the Princess Pavilion, where there will be live music, dancing and family entertainment. This will include story-telling, singing, art workshops, rock pooling, origami and ‘Cornish’ stalls.

There will also be food and drink, including a licensed bar.

Falmouth Marine Band Nigel Bennetts salutes St Piran in 2020 Picture: Colin Higgs.

PENRYN

A free event will be taking place from 10.30am on Saturday, March 5 at the Temperance Hall in Lower Market Street, Penryn.

There will be Cornish songs with Penryn's Forget-Me-Not Singers, talks on St Piran and the Prayer Book Rebellion, Cornish food and the Trelawny Shout.

TRURO

Truro City Council have worked with partners at Salt Projects,Tyller A Nerth,Truro Old Cornwall Society,Truro BID, and Truro Farmers Market,to organise a programme of events to mark the occasion.

These includes the traditional St Piran’s Day parade throughout the city, culminating with speeches on High Cross.

Mayor of Truro, Cllr Steven Webb, said: “I am very much looking forward to taking part in the parade, especially as this will be my first St Piran’s Day as Mayor.

“It is wonderful to come together once again to recognise this special day.”

The parade will leave from Waterfall Gardens on St George’s Road at 1pm, heading towards the War Memorial on Boscawen Street, ending at High Cross, with speeches and songs to follow.

As well as this, Truro BID have organised a themed window competition, which will be judged by Mayor of Truro, Cllr Steven Webb, andTruro’sTown Crier, Lionel Knight. The competition will be judged on St Piran’s Day between 9am and 10am, with the winner being announced during the speeches at High Cross in the afternoon.

The winning shop will be awarded a trophy to display in their window until the end of March.

Truro Farmers Market will also be part of the celebrations. The market will be on Lemon Quay from 9am until 4pm, showcasing Cornish produce from local traders, as well as hosting live music.

Stewart Girvan, market co-ordinator of Truro Farmers Market, previously said: “We are thrilled to be involved with the St Piran’s Day events in Truro.

“The market boasts a wealth of Cornish craft and produce from local traders, and we will also be joined by local musicians throughout the day.

“It promises to be a fun and exciting day and we can’t wait to enjoy the celebrations with you all.”

A series of creative workshops are also being organised, including sash making, dance workshops, and storytelling. For locations and booking information see the Truro St Piran’s Day Facebook page.

HELSTON

An evening lantern procession will mark St Piran's Day in Helston, from 6.15pm.

Lantern-making workshops led by Lucy Grant and Vicky Wiltshire were held at CAST throughout February in preparation for the event which is organised by the Museum of Cornish Life.

The workshops have attracted hundreds of participants of all ages including school groups from Nansloe, Parc Eglos and St Michael's as well as the wider community in further free workshops that took place over the half term.

There will be four processions taking place, heading out from Nansloe School, Parc Eglos School, and St Michael's School as well as CAST.

The processions will then converge at Old Market Place outside the Museum of Cornish Life, where there will be singing, and music by Helston Town Band.

The public can gather at 6.15pm at Old Market Place to see processions assemble.

The project has been supported by the Welcome Back Fund, funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The Welcome Back Fund supports the safe return to high streets and helps build back better from the pandemic.

Lantern workshops took place at CAST with schools and during half term

REDRUTH

The popular Cornish festival returns to Redruth filled with live music, street food, interactive stalls, workshops and the launch of a new family fun activity from 10am.

This year there will be no parade, but activities include the launch of a Tolgus Tracks interactive app and storytelling with Will Coleman in Redruth Library along with creative workshops, live music, stilt walkers, drama performances and the traditional Obby Oss around town.

There will also be the launch of the People’s Museum, Lowender Perran and workshops led by Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change, Kresen Kernow and other local engagers.

There is a plan for a new song, 'St Piran', to be sung at approximately 11.30am near the miner's statue.

Redruth Town Market will return for 2022 and there will also be many stalls in Lower Fore Street, including street food.

Cobweb Tours will be launching their walking festival with a St Piran’s Day theme and Cornwall’s famous Trewlany Shout will be performed at midday.

There will be open houses at the Wesley Buildings from 9am to 12pm, St Andrews Church will be open between 10am to 12pm serving refreshments and cake and holding a a book sale, and Murdoch House will be open for refreshments between 10am and 3pm.

See more details on the Discover Redruth Facebook page.

ST AUSTELL

Activities taking place in and around St Austell include:

- St Austell Town Centre St Piran's Parade/Event

- St Austell Market House Craft Fair & Live Music

- Holy Trinity Church Cultural Heritage Hub

- The Four Lords Trelawny Shout & Pasty Supper

- Wheal Martyn Cornish Stories

- Gorran Haven 8am singalong on the beach

- Barley Sheaf at Gorran Trelawny shout

- Western Inn Karaoke and Pasty Supper