Overview
Golowan is an annual 10-day themed festival of events in Penzance in Cornwall that culminates in a street festival on the last weekend in June where thousands attend a spectacle of giant wicker models paraded through the town, street performances, street music, Sea Shanties, theatre, and the Golowan live music and DJ Marquee. This annual event is much loved and is the biggest event in the calendar for this southwest Cornish community. It is a 35-year revival festival of the Feast of St. John and the midsummer solstice that is delivered by the whole community and has grown into one of the biggest street festivals in the South of England.
The 2025 Festival introduced two new events: a Mazey Weekend area in Penlee Park with food, entertainment and activities for all ages, and a mini-Sea Shanty Festival at Penzance Dry Dock.
Today’s Golowan festival, created in 1991 by Stephen Hall and people from the Penzance community brings back to life many of the traditions and practices recorded in Penzance during midsummer celebrations centuries.
Golowan is the Cornish language word for the Midsummer celebrations in Cornwall, UK; they were widespread prior to the late 19th century and most popular in the Penwith area and in particular in Penzance. The celebrations began on St John’s Eve with bonfires, fireworks, dancing and music, followed by a fair around the town quay on Midsummer Day and were repeated on St Peter’s Eve and St Peter’s Day.
Note: At time of writing, the most recent festival was held between 20 – 29 June 2025 with the next scheduled to take place 19 – 28 June 2026