Every year on the 5th of March the county of Cornwall comes together to celebrate its cultural heritage. The day is named after Saint Piran, the patron saint of Cornwall and of tin miners, the day was originally observed as a tin-miners holiday.

This year Falmouth and Truro will both be holding celebrations on either side of the traditional day. Truro will be holding a day of activities on Saturday the 4th of February while Falmouth will be holding its parade on Monday the 6th.

Truro St Piran's Celebrations

A number of exciting events will be taking place across Truro on Saturday 4th March as the town celebrate St Piran's Day.

The day will feature their annual St Piran's Parade, as well as free children's activities and a St Piran's Market.

The parade, which celebrates the values of St Piran, will set off from Waterfall Gardens on St George's Road at 13.00, heading towards the War Memorial on Boscawen Street, ending at High Cross, where there will be brief speeches and songs, including a special performance by the City of Truro Male Choir.

St Piran's Parade Truro (Image: Jonathan Jacobs)

Elsewhere, Truro City Council has worked closely with Salt Projects to arrange a series of free children's workshops that will all take place on the morning of Saturday 4th March.

These include a dance workshop, a mask-making workshop, and arts and crafts.

The dance workshop will run at the Chapter House of Truro Cathedral at the following times: 10.00, 10.45, and 11.30.

Dance Workshop (Image: Jonathan Jacobs)

Cornwall Dance School will be running the drop-in workshops, where they will teach children the St Piran's parade dance.

At Lemon Street Market, children can make masks inspired by the story of St Piran, which they can then wear in the parade. The session will take place on the first floor of the market, and you can drop in any time between 10.00 and 12.30.

Truro Community Library will also be running a free arts and crafts activity, where children can help build a Cornish mine in the children's library. You will also be able to design your own tile and take it home with you.

Craft Activity (Image: Jonathan Jacobs)

The activity will run on a drop-in basis between 10.30 and 12.30.

In the meantime, children can collect a free St Piran's activity sheet, produced by Truro City Council. The sheets are available to collect from Truro Community Library and the Truro Visitor Information Centre. A digital version is also available to download from the Visit Truro website.

Of course, no Saturday is complete without the Truro Farmers Market, who will be bringing their St Piran's Market to Lemon Quay between 09.00 and 16.00.

This specialty market will feature a pasty-making competition, as well as live Cornish music and Cornish vintage tractors. You can find out more here: Truro Farmers Market

The council says they hope Truro will be awash with Cornish colours for the 2023 Shop Window Competition, which will be judged on the morning of Saturday 4th March by the Mayor of Truro, Cllr Steven Webb, and Truro's Town Crier, Lionel Knight.

The winner will be announced during the speeches at High Cross at 13.30, and they will then be awarded a trophy to display in their window until the end of March.

For further updates, please see the Visit Truro website and social media channels: Visit Truro, @visittruro

Falmouth St Piran's Day Parade

This year St Piran's Day Parade will be held on Monday the 6th of March so that schools in the area can take part.

The event will be organised by Gorsedh Kernow a group that is preserving the history and culture of the Celtic people through poetry, song, dance, music, art, sport, and spoken word. They try to maintain and give expression to the national spirit of Cornwall.

Everyone is welcome to join in the parade that will meet on The Moor for a 10 o'clock departure. Led by the Mayor and flag-bearers, they will go down Webber Street to Market Strand, down the Prince of Wales Pier, and back. For this part of the parade, the schoolchildren will be dancing to the tune of the Falmouth Furry.

Falmouth Parade 2022 (Image: Robin Markland)

After that, everyone will walk down Market Street and Church Street to King Charles Church. There will be refreshments and entertainment in the church. Anyone who doesn't want to join the parade can line the route and wave their flags.

Falmouth Parade 2022 (Image: Robin Markland)

Falmouth Parade 2022 (Image: Robin Markland)

There is also a children's art competition being held, with St Piran as the subject. (more information to come) Prizes will be presented to the winners in the church.

As well as recorded music during the parade, the organisers say they hope to have live music as well – "an accordion player, possibly a brass band, and even maybe Falmouth Marine Band."

Falmouth Marine Band in 2021

Nub News will bring you more updates for St Pirans Day in Falmouth but you can also check here: Falmouth St Piran's Day Parade