Tens of Thousands Attend Mazey Day in Penzance

Tens of thousands take to the streets

Tens of thousands of people filled the streets and parks of Penzance yesterday, Saturday 28th June, for Mazey Day – one of the UK’s biggest street parties and the centrepiece of the week-long Golowan Festival.

Now in its 35th year since revival, the event brought music, colour and community spirit to the town under the theme “On the Crest of a Wave”, celebrating the Cornish coast, its sea life, and the area’s connection to the ocean.

Parades, heat and a severed head

The day kicked off at 10am with the Civic Parade, which ended in a speech from the Mayor of Penzance, Stephen Reynolds, and this year’s Mock Mayor – represented by a Severed Head on a Plate.

Despite hot and humid conditions as the south of the UK sweltered in a heatwave, the streets were packed from morning until late. The main parades at 11am, 1pm and 3pm featured hundreds of schoolchildren and community groups showing off their giant wicker creations, with marching bands keeping the tempo.

A festival rooted in history

Mazey Day is a modern revival of the Feast of St John midsummer celebrations that were once a key part of Penzance life but ended in the 19th century. The tradition was brought back in 1991 as a one-day celebration and has grown into a full week of festivities with Mazey Day still firmly at its heart.

Golowan Festival is supported by Penzance Council, who fund and partner with Golowan Festival CIC – the group contracted to run the event until 2027.

New event space at Penlee Park

This year’s Mazey Day also introduced a new event area in Penlee Park. It offered entertainment and activities for all ages, food stalls, a bar, craft traders, and a chill-out space for young people called the Tree Lounge, organised by PZN Youth.

The Golowan Festival continues to draw huge crowds to the town every year with its blend of tradition, performance and community spirit.

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council

📷Tens of thousands of people fill Penzance on Saturday 28 June for Mazey Day, the highlight of Golowan Festival. Photo by Penzance Council