Penzance flies high as Mazey Day draws tens of thousands

Published On: 28 June 2026Last Updated: 28 June 2026By CornishStuff

📷 Mazey Day in Penzance on Saturday 27 June, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

Tens of thousands of people poured into Penzance on Saturday for Mazey Day, the street party at the heart of the town’s week-long Golowan festival and, by the organisers’ reckoning, the biggest of its kind in Cornwall.

This year marked the 36th year of the festival’s revival, and the theme was “Forever Flying High”. The idea was to celebrate everything that soars above the town, from the seabirds over Mounts Bay to Cornish sky spirits and bolder visions of future flight.

The crowds turned out on 27 June after a week of record-breaking temperatures, with the processions getting underway in cooler, more comfortable conditions.

Video Credit: Penzance Council

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A new Mayor opens the day

The Civic Parade started proceedings, followed by an opening speech from the new Mayor of Penzance, Andy Law.

“As the Town Mayor and on behalf of Penzance Council, I am incredibly proud of our support for Golowan,” he told the crowd, before giving what he called a massive shout-out to festival lead Alan Shepherd, his team, the staff, friends and army of volunteers behind the event.

The Mayor went on:

“The theme for Golowan this year is ‘Forever Flying High’, and as I stand here before you, I can genuinely say that I can see Penzance is flying high.

“This isn’t just a festival, this is the beating heart of Penzance. This brings the community together in joy and celebration. It’s an expression of what unifies us, an expression of who we are, our community and our love for this place we live in.”

Andy Law also paid tribute to Stephen Hall, who he described as a “community hero and superhero” and a founding force behind the revival of Golowan. Stephen Hall’s funeral had taken place earlier in the week.

📷Mazey Day in Penzance on Saturday 27 June, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

Mr Penzastic gets the party started

Adding to the volume was this year’s Mock Mayor, Mr Penzastic, otherwise known as Mitch Holmes. He was elected by a raucous crowd earlier in the week after proclaiming his love for Mazey Day.

Penzance born and bred, with the Golowan Festival tattooed on his arm, Mitch kicked the street party off with a rousing “Oggy, Oggy, Oggy”.

📷Mazey Day in Penzance on Saturday 27 June, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

From the Feast of St John to today

The midsummer Feast of St John celebrations stopped happening in Penzance at the end of the 19th century. The tradition came back in 1991 as a single-day event, Mazey Day. With the continuing support of Penzance Council, Golowan has since grown into a full week of arts, performances and parades, with Mazey Day still at its centre and now drawing tens of thousands to the town.

The main parades ran at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Hundreds of participants from schools and community groups showed off their giant wicker models, all to the sound of marching bands.

📷Mazey Day in Penzance on Saturday 27 June, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

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Penlee Park returns

This year also saw the welcome return of a festival area in Penlee Park, with entertainment and activities for all ages. There were food stalls, a bar, craft stalls and the Tree Lounge, a hang-out space for young people organised by PZN Youth.

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