Golowan is Penzance’s midsummer festival, celebrating the ancient Feast of St John with ten days of parades, music, art, street performances, and community events. The highlight is Mazey Day on the final Saturday, when the town centre closes to traffic and becomes a massive street party.
Expect giant puppets, samba bands, open-air stages, art trails, and thousands of people filling the streets of one of Cornwall’s most characterful towns. The festival has deep roots in Penzance’s history — “Golowan” means “Feast of St John” in Cornish — but the atmosphere is thoroughly modern and welcoming.
Free to attend throughout. A genuine community festival that captures Penzance at its best.