LAFROWDA FESTIVAL 2024

St Just-in-Penwith’s much loved Lafrowda Festival returns this July with the theme“Going Underground”. Started in 1996, Lafrowda returned last year after a 3-year hiatus with a joyful celebration of community and the arts. This year’s festival week begins on Sunday 14th July with the traditional ceilidh, followed by a week of performances and workshops covering different art forms in various community buildings around the town. Danny Frost’s “Botallack O’Clock” will be performed at the Old Town Hall on the Monday evening, and Awen Productions are holding an evening of specially selected short documentaries, animations and archive films at the W.I. Hall on the Tuesday. For theatre lovers, Miracle Theatre return to the Plen-an-Gwarry with their production of Love Riot, and Cape Players are putting a show at the Old Town Hall. Workshops include pottery, lino-cutting and singing, and community venues such as the library, Geevor Tin Mine and the Skate Park are all holding events during the week that are open to all. The ever-popular willow workshops run for two weeks from 6th July in the Drill Hall. Individuals, families and friends are welcome to drop in and make lanterns and withy sculptures for the upcoming parades all assisted by professional artists, so no experience is necessary, just lots of imagination! Lafrowda also welcomes outstanding musician and storyteller Marion Kenny as resident artist of St. Just during Lafrowda week in July 2024. Marion, a brummy living in Edinburgh, will explore Lafrowda’s theme ‘Going Underground’ for her performances. During her week she will perform at local nursery, primary and secondary schools plus provision for older people, including the Benoni Nursing Home. Her open public performance will be at St. Just Miners Chapel on Wednesday 17th July. The Plen-an-Gwarry is a designated family area during the daytime on Lafrowda Day (Saturday 20th July), with a café, facepainting, pottery and other family-friendly activities. The Plen stage features school choirs, ukeleles and the wonderful John Brolly telling his magical stories. Live music starts in the Market Square on Lafrowda Eve (Friday 19th July), then covers both the Market Square and the Plen stages plus venues around the town on Lafrowda Day and evening, with something to suit everyone. The Disappointments are headlining in the Square on Saturday night and the brilliant Daisy Rickman is playing in the Church during the afternoon.
For more information on the events during Lafrowda please visit www.lafrowda.co.uk, follow Lafrowda on social media or pick up a programme from local businesses nearer the time. See you underground!