TAKING PLACE RIGHT IN THE THICK OF THE GOLOWAN FESTIVAL 2025, MAZEY DAY 2025 WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY 28 JUNE 2025. EXPECT A IS A RIOT OF COLOUR, SOUND, MOVEMENT AND ART. IT’S A SHOWCASE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GIVE LOCAL SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ARTISTS THE FREEDOM TO RUN WILD – QUITE LITERALLY – THROUGH THE STREETS.
Let’s get one thing straight. There are days in Cornwall that are a bit special… and then there’s Mazey Day. This is the big one. The mother of all street parties. The day when Penzance packs away any sense of calm and unleashes a full-blown celebration of Cornish culture, creativity and chaos. And it’s brilliant.
Expect five major parades, each led by enormous handmade sculptures: towering sea creatures, mythical beasts, musical contraptions on wheels, and creations that defy explanation. This year’s theme is “On the Crest of a Wave” so you can expect everything from shimmering jellyfish to the odd kraken riding a paddleboard. Because why not?
But Mazey isn’t just about the parades. The whole of Penzance becomes one big performance venue. There’s live music on pop-up stages, street performers at every corner, stalls flogging proper Cornish goods, and the smell of food that’ll drag you off your feet by your nose. Think of it as Glastonbury crossed with a school fête, with a bit of Cornish rebellion thrown in.
The day builds towards the Serpent Dance – an old tradition brought to life in the early evening when hundreds join a winding, stamping, drum-fuelled dance through the town. And yes, Penglaz the ‘Obby ‘Oss makes an appearance. Always does. Always causes a bit of a stir.