Golowan Festival Returns to Penzance for 2025 with New Events and Old Favourites

Published On: 16 June 2025Last Updated: 16 June 2025By CornishStuff

📷 Golowan Festival parades 2017 © John Stedman

Here’s what to expect at this year’s festival – from pirates to free food for teens

The Golowan Festival is back in Penzance from Friday 20th to Sunday 29th June, and this year’s theme, “On the Crest of a Wave”, promises to flood the town with colour, energy and maritime mischief.

Now celebrating the 35th year of its revival, the theme takes inspiration from Cornwall’s coastline, with references to local sea life, myths, leisure, industry and even an Irish Saint said to have surfed a granite millstone.

“This year’s theme chimes perfectly with the burgeoning ‘Penzance Renaissance’, and I have every faith that Golowan will continue riding the wave of success for years to come,” said Stephen Reynolds, Mayor of Penzance.

Mazey Day and Quay Fair Day

The main events, Mazey Day on Saturday 28th and Quay Fair Day on Sunday 29th, will see the town come alive with parades, music, markets and theatre.

Mazey Day will feature three parades at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, with schools and community groups showing off their giant wicker creations to the sound of marching bands. Greenmarket Car Park will host a collection of street food stalls, while musical acts take over the Folk Stage.

On Quay Fair Day, attention shifts to the harbourside, with a full market, dancing, the youth music stage in Penlee Park, and a Skate Jam Competition at Wherry Town Skatepark. Across the road, there’ll be a Model Boat Display, and the Golowan Marquee, now based at the Wharfside Maritime Car Park, will host a packed schedule of performances.

📷Golowan Festival parades 2017 © John Stedman

What’s New for 2025

Two new events are being introduced this year.

First, Penlee Park is being transformed into a new Mazey Weekend area, taking over both fields. It will include inflatables, craft stalls, a bar, coffee, music and a new space called the Tree Lounge, which offers a dedicated hangout for young people. There’ll even be free food for 11–17-year-olds, available between 1pm and 6pm.

Also new this year is the Golowan mini-Sea Shanty Festival, taking place on Quay Fair Day, Sunday 29th June, on the Quay at the Penzance Dry Dock. The event is set to deliver “wild songs with plenty of embellishments and choruses sung with gusto”.

Other Highlights

The Golowan Marquee will be hosted this year by Cornish Crown Brewery, with live performances running from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th June.
The annual vote for Mock Mayor of the Quay takes place on Thursday 26th.
A quieter fireworks display, funded by Penzance Council, is planned for Friday 27th, using low-bursting effects.
The appearance of Penglaz and the traditional Serpent Dance will also take place on the Friday evening, weaving through the streets with the Golowan Band.

Despite nearby development work at Coinagehall, the Quay Fair will remain in its usual home on Battery Road in front of the Jubilee Pool.

The festival is once again supported by Penzance Council, with funding from Arts Council England, FEAST, the Community Fund, Penzance BID and Sustainable Penzance.

Golowan 2025 looks set to bring a wave of joy and celebration to Penzance as the summer kicks off in full swing.