Cornwall’s famous Midsummer festival in Penzance is called Golowan.
The Golowan Festival is a week-long celebration held in Penzance, Cornwall, generally in late June. Its name comes from the Cornish word for midsummer and reflects the area’s Cornish cultural identity. The modern festival developed from older local traditions associated with the Feast of Saint John.
A major event is Mazey Day, a colorful procession and street celebration featuring music, performers, decorations, and community groups. The festival also includes the revived tradition of the Penglaz ‘Obby ‘Oss, a hobby-horse figure connected with Penzance customs.
Golowan is sometimes confused with Mazey Day because Mazey Day is its best-known centerpiece rather than the name of the entire festival. It is also distinct from Padstow’s ‘Obby ‘Oss celebrations, which are associated with May Day and take place in a different Cornish town.