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2019 EVENTS
4th February St Ives Feast Day – Hurling the Silver Ball
An ancient tradition that celebrates the anniversary of the consecration of the Parish Church of St Ia in 1434 and offers a rare chance to watch the game of Hurling, a centuries old form of rugby. The day begins with the Mayor’s procession for the blessing at St Ia Well near Porthmeor Beach. This is followed by the start of the boisterous hurling of the silver ball, one of Cornwall’s oldest customs dating back at least a thousand years. The game involves much rough and tumble as each side tries to keep possession of a cricket ball-sized ball made of apple wood coated in silver. Whoever returns the ball to the Mayor on the steps of the Guildhall on the stroke of midday receives a silver coin. In the afternoon, pennies are thrown from the balcony by town councillors to the waiting children on the Guildhall forecourt.
February 8th February – 6th May Anna Boghiguian Exhibition at Tate St Ives
6th May St Ives May Day
19th April Good Friday Sail Boats
Consols Pond For over a century the families of St Ives have enjoyed the tradition of sailing model boats at Consols Pond on Good Friday. The tradition began in the early 1900’s, when fishermen and children sailed model boats in the town’s harbour. It is thought to be a gesture to the old seafaring communities which used to launch miniature boats in the hope of ensuring safe passage for mariners.
April 13th April Voodoo Room, The Guildhall 26th – 28th April Porthleven Food Festival 27th April Trevithick Day, Camborne
Celebrating the end of winter and the coming of spring is a tradition that stretches back hundreds of years. At midday at the Guildhall, the Grand Bard and Mayor choose the May Queen and King in a ceremony known as the “pee-weep”. (Pee-weeps are whistles made from young tree branches and blown on May Day). At 1pm there’s a parade to the harbour where you can enjoy maypole dances, Cornish dancing and traditional music with various local choirs and brass bands performing by the harbour. Throughout the day there’s a fish barbeque by the harbour and a lively local market where you can stock up on some of the region’s produce.
May 8th May Helston Flora Day 11th – 18th May St Ives Literature Festival
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