OBBY OSS 2024 TAKES PLACE IN PADSTOW ON WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 2024. YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE THERE TO DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF THE PADSTOW OBBY OSS FESTIVAL!
It’s a festival without equal. One of the oldest surviving festivals in the UK, in fact. What are you doing for Obby Oss 2024?
The Padstow Obby Oss festival is unique and so much fun. A celebration of the Celtic feast of ‘Beltane’ that pays tribute to the fast approach of summer, this fest always falls on 1 May, unless 1 May is a Sunday. Each year it takes place in Padstow‘s narrow streets and around its beautiful harbour. It starts at 10am as the ‘Blue Oss’ appears and at 11am the ‘Old Oss’ appears. The fun carries on until around midnight.
Flags are everywhere. Bright flowers decorate the town. There’s a massive May Pole. And then there’s a huge procession with dancers, drums, music makers and local people adorned in white costumes that are decorated with ribbons, cowslips and bluebells. It’s all enjoyed by thousands of people who soak up this incredible feast for the senses.
Of course, there’s only one star of the show. Nope, scratch that. There are actually two stars of the show. A red ‘oss’ and a blue one, also known as the Blue Ribbon (dating back to the 19th century) and the Old (dating back even further) Osses. Both of these artistically stylised horses in fabulous masks that leave their homes in the morning and dance through the streets taunted by a ‘teazer’ with loads of music going on all around.
The osses often try to grab pretty maidens on their way. Kids dance with little osses too and, well, everyone has a good time. Right up until midnight, in fact, when the locals sing the ‘May Song’, a traditional Padstow ditty.
It’s an awesome sight. And it’s an awesome day that’s got it all. Bizarre, fairly scary ‘osses’. Tons of Cornish tradition. Masses of locals and visitors. Beautiful white costumes that shine in the sunlight. Dancing and making merry all over town. Songs. Music. Dancing. Fun for all the family. So, we’ll ask you again: what are you doing for Obby Oss 2024?