Falmouth Worm Charming Championships

Falmouth Worm Charming Championships is a worm charming competition and afternoon of events at The Dracaena Centre.

This will be the second year in a row that the event has taken place at the Dracaena Centre after an initial tournament was held in Penryn in 2021.

Win trophies for the most worms charmed, the most inventive worm charming technique, and for the longest worm. Trophies by Artists Flo Brooks, Naomi Frears & Nicolas Deshayes.

You could be a winner if you beat last year's record of 1 worm!

There will be music from Gweek Silver Band. Work tattoos, worm art workshops, portrait painting, bug hotels, games. Food from Saffron Huns and refreshments from The Dracaena Centre. + More

£3 suggested donation per person.

The organiser for the event, Georgia Gendall has described the history and details of the unique event, she said:

"Worm charming, or worm grunting and worm fiddling are words to describe the act of enticing earthworms to the surface of the earth. As a skill and profession worm charming is now very rare, with the art being passed through generations to ensure that it survives.

"Most worm charming methods involve vibrating the soil, which encourages the worms to the surface. In 2008, researchers from Vanderbilt University claimed that the worms surface because the vibrations are similar to those produced by digging moles, which prey on earthworms.

"Worm charming is a behaviour also observed in animals other than humans, especially among birds. The methods used vary; however, tapping earth with feet to generate vibrations is widespread. One common example is the 'Seagull dance'.

"In most competitions, the fiddlers with the collector (or collectors) of the most worms in a set time are declared as the winners. They usually have a zone in which to perform their charming, measuring three yards square. The current world record was established on June 29, 2009, by 10-year-old Sophie Smith of Willaston, England, who raised 567 worms during Britain's World Worm Charming Championship.

Rules:

• Each team is to operate in a 3x3 metre plot.
• Teams of up to 4 people per plot.
• 50 plots available
• Each team to bring their own tools for charming.
• Duration of the competition is 30 minutes, starting at about 2.30pm.
• Worms may not be dug from the ground. Vibrations only to be used.
• No mechanical vibrators - all vibrations must be made by hand.
• Nothing toxic is allowed to be used and anyone using a liquid must first take a gulp of the liquid in front of the official judge, the "Worm Master", before using it in the competition.
• Any form of music may be used to charm the worms out of the earth.
• Worms to be handled carefully. Incomplete worms won't be counted by the judges.
• Each competitor may only collect worms from their own plot.
• The competitor who 'charms' the most worms to be the winner.
• In the event of a tie, the winner to be decided by a further five minutes of charming.
• Charmed worms to be released after the birds have gone to roost on the evening of the event.