The Mayor and the brave Knight Sir Constantine parade around the village (Photo: John Cryws-Williams).
When: 3rd & 4th May 2014 (Bank holiday weekend)
Where: St Agnes, Cornwall
£: Free
What is it?
The St Agnes Bolster Festival is an annual event which involves a lantern procession, bonfire, street theatre and a unique pageant.
The festival kicks off on Saturday 3rd May at 8.15pm with a lantern procession. The procession begins at the centre of the village and makes its way to The Beacon (the most prominent feature of the area’s coastline). At The Beacon a fire is lit, this is used to fire clay houses that local children have made in workshops prior to the event. The clay houses represent the houses of the villagers. After the procession the villagers venture to the local pubs to carry on the festival spirit.
The Giant Bolster appears (Photo: John Cryws-Williams).
The Giant Bolster is a mythical giant who was said to have treated his wife badly. The giant is alleged to have fallen in love with St Agnes, who hatched a plan to get rid of the giant. A pageant, based around this myth, takes place on 4th May. The Mayor, the brave Knight Sir Constantine and Mrs Bolster, parade around the local hostelries beginning at the Railway Inn at 12.30pm, to gather support for defeating the giant. At 4.30pm dancers, drummers and life-sized puppets gather for the pageant at Chapel Porth beach. The pageant recreates the battle to get rid of the giant.
More info: www.facebook.com/pages/St-Agnes-Bolster-Festival and bolsterfestival.wordpress.com.