A live stream of Flora Day will return to Helston next year for the first time since before the pandemic.

The Flora Day Live Stream was a popular addition to Helston’s historic event, giving people around the world the chance to watch the dancers make their way around the town - whether they are in a different country, or live locally but are unable to physically make it into town. 

When it was first tested in 2014 more than 24,000 viewers tuned in, from as far away as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. At the time it was last-minute idea consisting of just three cameras in Coinagehall Street.

The official live stream then launched in 2015, with ten cameras placed around the town, to give a more complete overview of the day.

Now, with the support of the Flora Day Association, Wendy Haris – who was behind the previous live stream – has revealed it will be returning for 2025.

In September Nick Wills, honorary secretary of Helston Flora Day Association, raised £2,500 as the association’s contribution to kickstart the project.

The cameras should capture all the day's dances (Image: Helston Packet) However, like all good projects it needs additional support to help make it happen.

Wendy said: “I’m excited to announce that the Flora Day Live Stream will be returning in 2025, and I’d love your help making it happen!

“I first started this project in 2015 and only paused due to having a baby, the pandemic, and the busy pace of life. Each year, I hear from so many of you wanting the stream back, and with the support of the Flora Day Association, I’m ready to get the ball rolling.

“I’m looking for enthusiastic volunteers to assist in the lead-up and on the day.”

Areas she needs support with are:

  • Hardware: cameras, cabling, networking equipment, radio, etc.
  • Software: managing the live stream, most likely via a rota for the day before, and during Flora Day.
  • Marketing: promoting the stream, ensuring everyone knows how to access it, and creating excitement around the event.

She added: “We already have some initial funding from Nick, the secretary of the Flora Day Association, who recently did a sponsored walk.

“I plan to supplement this with a GoFundMe campaign. The amount raised will help determine how many cameras and locations we can cover.

“Organising this takes a lot of effort but is incredibly rewarding and fun. So, who’s in?

“If you’d like to join the team and help in any of the roles mentioned, please send me a private DM [direct message].

“It's only 187 days left until Flora Day 2025!”

Nick raised £2,500 that will be spent on purchasing the new WiFi cameras.

He took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, walking for more than ten hours to complete the 24-mile (38.6km) circular route – which included 1585m (5200ft) of ascent.

The challenge took on the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent (694 metres), Whernside (736 metres) and Ingleborough (723 metres), which form part of the Pennine range, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Flora Day Association secretary Nick Wills (right, pictured with Helston Town Band musical director Kevin Johns) walked the Yorkshire Three Peaks to help fundraise for the cameras (Image: Helston Packet) Nick told the Packet: “It was a very, very valuable service that Wendy ran initially. Over the course of the years I’ve had lots of requests for it to be streamed again.

“It got me thinking last year that this was something we should do.”

With Flora Day set to cost £12,000 to put on this year – including insurances, road closures and professional marshalling of the closures – Nick added: “Without depleting the ring-fenced Flora Day funds to ensure the day takes place, I thought I would do something to kickstart it. People have been very generous.

“It means Helstonians who can’t be with us, or can’t get into the town centre, can still be part of the day without being there. Flora Day is a feeling more than anything else.”

Cameras will be placed at key points around the town, including at Lismore to see the ‘cartwheel’ that the Midday dancers form in the garden before the half time break.

The plan is to stream the day on YouTube and hopefully also through the Flora Day Association’s Facebook page. The cameras will hopefully also be on the day before, for people to see the town being decorated.

Nick said it was just another example of the effort that goes on behind the scenes to put on the event, by volunteers who are not always seen or recognised.

“It’s not an easy thing to put together. People think Flora Day just happens, but there’s a lot of people that contribute an awful lot that we don’t really see,” he added.

He said he was grateful to everyone who had supported his fundraising, adding: “The cameras will make a big impact and a big difference I think.”

Meanwhile he already has plans to now take part in the Surrey Three Peaks Challenge in April, this time in support of a friend who will be joining him.