St Ives Feast 2025: Exciting New Additions to Cornwall’s Historic Celebration

Published On: 24 January 2025Last Updated: 24 January 2025By CornishStuff

The much-loved St Ives Feast returns on Monday 10th February 2025, promising to be bigger and better than ever. This historic event marks the anniversary of the dedication of St Ia Church in 1434, and new contributions from the community are set to enhance this cherished tradition.

A New Sound for the Parade

This year, a newly formed processional band will debut, taking over from the long-serving Bagas Porthia. Under the leadership of co-directors Dee and Dave Brotherton, the new group will guide the parade with both familiar tunes and fresh compositions. Notably, they will perform the traditional “Bodmin Riding” alongside “Up’long and Down’long,” a new piece written by co-director Gavin Nicol.

The band aims to bridge generations, involving seasoned musicians while encouraging emerging talent from across the community. They will accompany the parade as it journeys to Venton Ia, also known as St Ia’s Well, for the Blessing of the Silver Ball, before continuing to St Ia Church, where the Mayor, Johnnie Wells, will hurl the ball to the gathered crowd.

Expanding Involvement with Local Schools

Children from St Ives Infants and St Uny School will join forces for the first time to dance in the parade. Headteacher Richard Wigham expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “It’s really important for the children to take part in the local tradition and support the St Ives community.” This collaboration underscores the growing reach and inclusivity of the Feast celebrations.

A Revival of Guise Dancing

The Scaleybacks of Hakeybay, a guise guild formed in 2023, will once again take to the streets on the evening of Feast Monday. Guising, an ancient Cornish tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages, was revived in the late 1970s and is now a highlight of the Feast. The group will assemble at 7:00pm at the Golden Lion before parading through the streets, singing and playing music to “chase out Winter and awaken the Spring.”

The Feast Day schedule offers a full day of activities:

9:30am: Parade departs the Guildhall for Venton Ia.
9:50am: Blessing of the Silver Ball at Venton Ia, Porthmeor.
10:30am: Hurling of the Silver Ball from St Ia Church.
11:30am: Distribution of pennies to children under seven at the Guildhall steps.
Midday: Return of the Silver Ball to the Mayor, with the winner receiving a silver coin.
7:00pm: Feast Monday Rugby Match at St Ives RFC and Scaleybacks of Hakeybay parade.

Road Closures and Safety

Thanks to the successful road closures implemented in 2024, Gull Rock will be on hand to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators during this year’s celebrations. Road closure details can be found on the St Ives Town Council website.

Pre-Feast Events

Preparations for the Feast begin with:

Sunday 2nd February, 11:00am: Church service and refreshments at St Uny Church, Lelant.
Sunday 9th February, 11:15am: Mayor’s Parade and Church Service at St Ia Church.

St Ives Feast is a celebration of history, community, and tradition. With these exciting new additions, the 2025 Feast promises to leave lasting memories for all who take part.