We start the year with our Wassail at the end of January. This traditional celebration involves plenty of toasting the trees with cider from the previous year’s crop, including dipping pieces of toast in cider and hanging them in the trees. We sing wassail songs, dance around the tree, pour cider onto its roots and give the tree a blessing. Our musicians and Osses lead everyone in a merry dance around the Orchard, with pots, pans and drums to awaken the cider apple trees and encourage a good harvest for the coming year. Wassail means ‘Good Health’.
In spring we celebrate with Beltane usually at the beginning of May, after the town’s May Day celebrations. Beltane is an ancient Celtic festival associated with fertility and the arrival of summer. We get together to celebrate the spring blossoms, wildflowers and lengthening days, with maypole dancing, live music, seed and seedling swapping and flower crown making. We encourage everyone to dress up and get into the spirit of the event. Green or orange clothing can symbolise earth or fire, or you could wear a leafy headdress or flower crown.
In the summer we celebrate Summer Solstice usually around 21st June, the longest day of the year. It’s a more relaxed event, with music, dancing, food and a walk to the top of Penbeagle Hill Nature Reserve to watch the sun set over the sea. We invite people to bring their own food and drink, allowing our volunteers to enjoy the evening too, without having to do too much organising!
In Autumn we have Apple day, at the end of September. This is our annual celebration of apples, autumn, orchards and community. There’s usually lots of lovely live music, arts and crafts, kids activities, apple picking and juicing, apple games and an apple pie competition.
In the Winter we celebrate Winter Solstice, close to the shortest day of the year. This is usually a volunteers-plus-friends & family gathering, in The CORE with food, music and fairy lights. Sometimes we have an evening lantern walk and a fire outside. For a bit of mayhem and dancing we head to Penzance for Montol.
There are many other regular smaller events throughout the year, mostly held in the Core building. Film nights, feast nights, live music, singing groups etc. See dates for these events on our WHAT'S ON page. Keep updated: Sign up for our newsletter, follow us on Instagram or Facebook
