Lafrowda Day

Today is Lafrowda Day, the highlight of the 14 day Lafrowda community arts festival held every July in St Just in Penwith, Cornwall. The name is pronounced LaTHROWda and comes from the old Cornish language name for the area. 

The event includes a number of processions where musicians and bands lead members of the community who often carry large willow sculptures and images made especially for the day.These sculptures are covered in paper and glue before being painted. The images change each year to represent the theme of the festival, which is especially chosen by the organisers.

There are also two music stages in the town, where a wide variety of music is performed. Lafrowda Day is held on the third Saturday of July, with free activities for all the family during the preceding fortnight, ranging from knit and natter to dancing shows.

One of the most interesting places in St Just is the Plain-an-Gwarry. A plain-an-gwarry (or plen-an-gwarry), which translates to 'playing place' in English, is a community space once used to stage plays and other entertainment. The most famous of these plays were the religious stories called 'miracle plays'. On Lafrowda Day the Plain-an-Gwarry is used for entertainment for children. 

The event website is here.