Flora Day
8th May every year
Helston’s famous Flora Day is a Spring festival, celebrating the end of winter and marking the arrival of new vitality and fertility with trees and flowers bursting into life. The houses and shops of Helston are decorated with greenery and floral arrangements to express the spirit of renewal and dancers take to the streets from dawn till dusk.
As well as the dancing there’s also stalls, fairground rides and games for everyone to enjoy as the town celebrates its biggest day of the year. It’s a great family day out.
When the big bass drum strikes the first beat of the dance at seven in the morning, the spirit of the day is stirred and celebrations commence. Some eighty couples dance through the streets, entering selected houses and shops, driving out the darkness of winter and welcoming in the light of spring.
A colourful pageant, known as the Hal an Tow, tells the history of Helston with the participating characters singing about the challenge of the Spanish Armada, the English patron saint, St. George and the fight between St Michael and the devil.
This ancient festival is usually held on May 8th , unless that date falls on a Sunday or Monday, in which case you’ll need to attend on the previous Saturday.