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Mining Villages Festival set for spectacular second year.


In its second year the Mining Villages Festival promises to be as varied and fascinating as last year’s event, which saw hundreds of visitors exploring these historic communities.

Running from Saturday 1st to Sunday 9th of August the festival features over 20 different events in seven villages: St Day, Portreath, Carharrack, Lanner, Brea, Troon and Carnkie. There is something for everyone, whether they are interested in history, mining, flowers, books, music or art, or simply having fun with the family, enjoying a walk or a cream tea.

The 2009 Mining Villages Festival starts off in spectacular period style with Portreath’s bicentenary celebration of its plate tramway followed by the every popular Harbour Fun Day. For those who want to know more about mining and the tramroads there are exhibitions throughout the week in Portreath, at King Edward Mine and in Carnkie where the focus will be on family history and migration.

St Day is launching a new guide to circular walks from the village and everyone is invited to join in with the groups who will be following these routes at various times during the week culminating in a Sunday picnic walk up Carnmarth. Guided history walks are also taking place in Lanner, Troon, Carnkie and from King Edward Mine.

Following the success of last year’s exhibition local artists will again be showing their in St Day Old Church, this year with the theme of ‘Echo’, and anyone can have a go themselves at the family sketching afternoon at Marshall’s Shaft in Troon.

Traditional village shows and summer fairs will be taking place in Brea, Carharrack and St Day and for those who enjoy music in the open-air there is Brass on the Grass in Carharrack and Songs of Praise at Gwennap Pit. A new event this year is a blessing service for pets in St Day Old Church.

Event co-ordinator Lesley Trotter said; “We are delighted that so many villages have wanted to get involved with the festival. It is a wonderful way of celebrating just how much these communities have to offer both to residents and visitors.”