Redruth will come alive on September 20 and 21 as the International Mining & Pasty Festival returns.

This annual event celebrates the perfection that is the Cornish Pasty and honours the legacy of all those who worked in Cornwall’s mines in the past, as well as celebrating those working in the industry today. 2024 is also the 200th anniversary of the first emigration of Cornish miners to Mexico; an event which will be marked during the festival.  

There is a packed programme of events planned for the festival, which begins on Friday, September 20 with a storytelling walk from the town centre to Wheal Uny. The evening will end with the chimneys of the old engine houses being smoked in colours of the Mexican flag. Festival-goers can then head to Redruth Wesley for a Gala Concert featuring Mexican guitarist Raul Salvador Ruiz Rangel.  

Saturday is Pasty Day. The town centre will host a pasty-making tent for under 16s, run by the Cornish Pasty Association, who can come and make their own pasties which will then be baked ready for collection later in the day.

There’ll also be a competitive element to the day as the Pasty Competitions return – local bakers can enter their best traditional or non-traditional pasties and crafters have a Best Crafty Pasty category all for themselves. A Mexican shrine workshop will be in the Mexican Quarter on Alma Place which will be decorated with Papel Picado bunting.  

Elsewhere in town, there will be a market with stalls up and down Fore Street, live music, street food, entertainment, a special Cornish Diaspora exhibition in the Civic Centre that tells the story of the Cornish mining around the world and a block car race at Redruth Wesley organised by Redruth & District Chamber of Commerce.  

Redruth Town Council has received sponsorship from Abbotts Event Hire, Rowe’s Bakery, the Cornish Pasty Association, Tesco Tolgus and Penventon Park Hotel which has helped support some elements of the festival weekend.  

Alice Lamming, events & marketing manager at Redruth Town Council said: “It’s taken a lot of work to organise but now it’s nearly here, we’re getting really excited about the Mining & Pasty Festival. We can’t wait to see all the children making their own pasties and to enjoy the festive spirit in town. We’re also looking forward to welcoming our special guests from Mexico who are coming to Redruth specially for the festival.” 

Cllr Stephen Barnes, mayor of Redruth said: “Redruth International Mining & Pasty Festival is one of my favourite weekends of the year in town. I’m really looking forward to the coming weekend especially judging the competitions with the experts from Rowe’s Bakery which is a big responsibility as people put so much hard work and passion into their pasties.” 

The events on September 20 start at 4.30pm when the walk sets off from The Miner Statue and the chimney smoke will be lit at approximately 6pm. The Pasty Festival on September 21 starts at 10am and runs until 4pm, with pasty making on Green Lane happening all day.

More information on all the weekend’s activities can be found at https://discoverredruth.co.uk/pasty-festival/ where the festival guide can also be downloaded.