Across the second weekend of September, thousands came during one of September’s hottest weekends on record to celebrate the International Mining and Pasty Festival.
We kicked the festival off on Friday 8th September with a celebration dedicated to the men and women who worked the mines. Cobweb Tours lead a storytelling walk from the Miner statue in town to Wheal Uny mines. Along the way, some fascinating Redruth tales were told accompanied by music from the Redruth Festival band. Once at the mines, we were joined by some local miners who shared some stories about their experiences of being miners. Cobweb Tours paid tribute through music and dance before the evening culminated with the engine houses being smoked once again.
The festival continued on Saturday 9th September with a day filled with live music, street food, interactive stalls, pasty competitions, workshops, and a fun new addition to the festival – the Pasty Relay. We must give our friends at Rowe’s and the Cornish Pasty Association massive thanks for sponsoring this year’s festival. As a result of their generosity, we were able to make the Pasty Relay a reality as well as give out some fantastic pasty-themed prizes to all our competition winners. Redruth’s Youth Council were the winners of the first-ever Pasty Relay and were presented with a chocolate ‘Pasty’ cake baked by Rowe’s. The Why Don’t You Club and Redruth Library came in second and third respectively and received Cornish Hampers from Cornish Pasty Association member Prima Bakeries.
Concluding on Sunday 9th September with the Victoria Park Fun Day. Entertainment was provided by the Town Band and Redruth Record Club DJs from The Wooden Box and Lucky’s Record Bar whilst festival goers had fun playing games, checking out the stalls, grabbing a bite to eat, and getting their faces painted. Many also entered and watched the dog show which saw all kinds of dogs both big and small win rosettes in a variety of classes.
This was the first time the festival has been back with a full three-day programme since 2019 and it was fantastic to see so many people come out across the three days. A huge thank you to everyone involved and we look forward to the Redruth Light Switch On and beyond!