The Mayor and the brave Knight Sir Constantine parade around the village (Photo: John Cryws-Williams).
When: 30th April – 1st May 2016
Where: St Agnes, Cornwall
£: Free
What is it?
This year’s St Agnes Bolster Pageant takes place on Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May 2016 in Cornwall. The Bolster Pageant is an annual event which takes place in St Agnes, with a lantern procession, bonfire, street theatre and pageant.
The festivities kick off on Saturday 30th April with the lantern procession at 8.15pm. Prior to the event local children make lanterns and clay houses at workshops which are used in the 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).
The Giant Bolster appears (Photo: John Cryws-Williams).
At about 8.30pm at The Beacon, a fire is lit, this is used to fire the clay houses that local children have made in the workshops. 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 is a mythical giant who was said to have treated his wife badly. The Giant Bolster is alleged to have fallen in love with St Agnes, who hatched a plan to get rid of the Giant.
The Bolster Pageant, based around this myth, will take place on Sunday 1st May. The Mayor, the brave Knight Sir Constantine and Mrs Bolster, parade around the local hostelries and the village. The trio can be seen at the Railway Inn, from 12.30pm, to gather support for defeating the Giant. Visitors should look out for the Mayor, Knight and Mrs Bolster around the village, along with local drummers during the afternoon.
At 4.30pm dancers, drummers and the life-sized puppets gather for the pageant at Chapel Porth beach to recreate the battle to get rid of the Giant. During the theatrical re-enactment, children scream, the Knight’s horse rears its head and battle commences!
More info: bolsterfestival.wordpress.com