Civic parade kicks off week-long Golowan Festival celebrations

PENZANCE'S Golowan Festival, the town's week-long celebration of arts, performance, culture and community, got under way on Sunday with its first parade.

- by CORNISHMAN REPORTER

The historic event was revived 35 years ago and the theme of 2025's festival is 'On the Crest of a Wave' which, say organisers, is "honouring the power of our Cornish coast and seas, unique sea life and love of the ocean in Penzance".

The name Penzance comes from the Cornish 'Pennsans, meaning 'Holy Head, and refers to the head-land by the harbour.

Symbolising the 'Holy Head, the severed head of St John the Baptist, patron saint of Penzance, featured on the town's old common seal, which was adopted in 1614.