2019 Events

2019 EVENTS

2019 Events

4th FebruarySt Ives Feast Day –Hurling the Silver BallAn 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.

19th April Good Friday Sail BoatsConsols 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.

6th MaySt Ives May Day 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.

11th – 12th MaySt Ives Food and DrinkFestivalPorthminster Beach Delicious food, expert cookery demonstrations and the chance to sample some of the finest produce around are all on the menu as the St Ives Food and Drink Festival returns for 2019. The free event is a celebration of all that is great about our region’s food and drink industry. Top celebrity and home-grown Cornish chefs will take to the demo stage. As well as two days of chef demos, visitors to the festival can also sample the delights of an artisan produce market, mouth watering meals from a host of top food traders, beachside music and a dedicated family area with activities to keep young and old amused.

15th – 16th JuneSecret Gardens of St Ives This annual event is not just a treat for garden lovers. It is also a great way to explore hidden corners and alleyways of the town. Ten different private gardens, varying in size, position and gardening style, are open for the weekend each year, varying in size, position and gardening style. Find out how local gardeners make the most of the town’s mild micro-climate, and how much they are able to cram into often quite small plots. Tickets are available from the Visitor Information Centre, or follow the link from the town website.

EVENTS

September

24th JuneMidsummer Eve BonfireThis old custom was revived by the St Ives Old Cornwall Society and takes place on Carnstabba Hill, where the mayor lights the fire. With echoes of a very ancient rite, flowers and herbs are thrown by the ‘Lady of the Flowers’ into the hilltop blaze. The gathering is blessed by the vicar and prayers are said in Cornish.

14th – 28th August St Ives September FestivalStarting in 1978, the St Ives September Festival lasts for fifteen days offering a wide range of music, arts and literature events in locations throughout the town, attracting visitors from far and wide. With a full programme of exhibitions, music, concerts, poetry, walks, talks, workshops, comedy, theatre, plays, stories and film, you can expect an eclectic mix of performers and artists on the guest list which in the past has included some of the UK’s top singers and bands such as Fairport Convention, Barbara Dickson, Seth Lakeman, George Melly and Elkie Brooks. There are lots of free entry art exhibitions along with dancers, musicians, shanty crews and performers who entertain in the town’s streets and pubs. Locally themed plays and musical shows are put on in the theatre, walking tours taking in the area’s history take place throughout the festival and there are drop-in art classes led by professional artists in areas such as textiles and life drawing. Events at the Tate and art talks at the Leach Pottery and Hepworth Gardens give a real insight to St Ives as one of the world’s leading centres for art.