St Piran’s Day Parade 2025 in Truro: What’s Changing and What’s Staying the Same

Annual Celebration Takes a Different Path Through the City

Truro’s St Piran’s Day Parade is back on Wednesday 5th March 2025, promising a day filled with tradition, music, and community spirit. However, due to essential roadworks, the parade will take a different route this year, starting at Lemon Quay before making its way through the city centre and finishing at High Cross.

The parade will begin at 1pm, with participants gathering at Lemon Quay from 12.30pm. Once it reaches High Cross, the event will conclude with speeches followed by Trelawny, Cornwall’s national anthem. The event will wrap up by 2pm.

Schools, Music, and Competitions

This year, Alice Browning and Carmen Hunt, commissioned by Lowender, have been working with local primary schools to incorporate dance workshops into the celebrations. These performances will take place on Lemon Quay before and during the parade.

Truro Old Cornwall Society President Bert Biscoe welcomed the schools’ involvement, saying:

“We very much welcome the enthusiasm shown by our schools for St Piran and the Truro parade. Handing on such valued and resonant traditions and celebrations is vitally important for community life and everybody’s identity. It’s great to have Lowender aboard.”

A shop window dressing competition will also take place, with Deputy Mayor Sam Rabey and Town Crier Lionel Knight judging entries on the morning of 5th March. The winners will be announced at High Cross at 1.30pm, receiving a trophy to display for the year.

Calling All Musicians!

Organisers are calling for brass and silver band players to bring their instruments and form a band to play The Pengelly Marches—a series written by the late Jim Pengelly, especially for the Truro parade. Those interested in joining the ‘scratch band’ can contact Abbie Williams at events@truro.gov.uk.

Free Activity Packs and a Special Appearance

Local artist Molly Biscoe, in collaboration with the Truro Visitor Information Centre, has designed St Piran’s Day activity packs for primary schools in Truro. Copies will also be available for free at Truro Library (Union Place) and the Visitor Information Centre (Boscawen Street), with electronic copies available online.

Adding to the day’s historic feel, The City of Truro Steam Roller will make a special appearance, stationed on Lemon Quay for public viewing. Owner Justin Ellis has made this possible, bringing back a piece of Truro’s history.

A Day of Cornish Pride

Mayor of Truro Carol Swain shared her excitement about this year’s celebrations, saying:

“It’s an honour to stage the St Piran’s Day parade in Truro, and I look forward to seeing it traverse through our great little city on its way to the cathedral steps. The return of The City of Truro Steam Roller will also add another dimension to the day as it’s a very evocative part of Truro’s heritage. Many people remember it working, and we walk, ride and drive over the roads it rolled. There is great affection and admiration for steam technology, and we are excited to see it, if only stationary, back in Truro for this very special day.”

St Piran’s Day, celebrated annually on 5th March, honours Piran, the patron saint of Cornwall. Known for his work with miners, his legacy is deeply woven into Cornish history, and his feast day is marked with celebrations worldwide.

For more details on the parade, visit Truro City Council’s website and follow Visit Truro for updates.