TODAY is an important day for St Austell as one of the highlights of this summer in the town – the Community Fun Day — gets underway.

The free event is taking place in Aylmer Square in the town centre today (Thursday, August 15) from 10am to 3pm.

The day will feature music, dance, circus skills, face painting and more besides.

St Austell Town Council, St Austell BID (Business Improvement District) and the White River Place shopping centre are backing the day which will be raising money for Kernow Young Carers and Blue Light Services.

One of the first events during the big day will be an open mic competition with the chance to win a professional studio recording session. After this, Tango in the Night, a Fleetwood Mac tribute act, will be performing from noon.

Then from 1pm to 3pm there will be a huge danceathon led by Studio 4. Chaos Radio will be broadcasting live at the event, capturing the atmosphere from the day.

Mayor of St Austell Cllr Julian Young said: “We are all looking forward to the fun day which is taking place in St Austell town centre on Thursday, August 15, from 10am to 3pm. Among lots of stalls and activities, there will be a performance from Tango in the Night, an open mic competition and a danceathon led by Studio 4.”

A town council spokesperson said: “There will be lots of stalls and activities on the day. Among the organisations and groups taking part are the Rotary club, Climate Action St Austell, Kernow Young Carers, CN4C, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, the RNLI, Young People Cornwall, Devon and Cornwall Police, and Tango in the Night.

“Activities and attractions on the day will include a flower stall, face painting, a human fruit machine, storytelling, giant games, open mic performances, a tombola, a raffle and an auction.

“There is a short video clip promoting the event on YouTube – see https://youtu.be/H4TZ6enkkz4”

Schedule of events:

From 10am to 12pm, Chaos Radio will perform, including open mic sessions with the prize of a recording session at Par Studios.

Tango in the Night, from 12pm to 1pm, will be the penultimate performance as the band are splitting up in mid September.

At 12.30pm there will be an auction, with prizes including two day return trips to the Isles of Scilly, a bottomless brunch at Rocky's, £40 voucher for Street Burgers and a £30 voucher for Ghurka restaurant. There will also be a raffle to be drawn at 2.30pm, with some amazing prizes donated by local businesses, including vouchers from Costa, White River Cinema & the Turkish Barber, gifts from Boots, the Card Factory, Purnell’s.

There will be giant games, a sand pit, and story reading from Sheila Vanloo and the mayor’s wife Jenny. The police, fire brigade, Cornwall Air Ambulance, St John’s Ambulance and First Responders will be present throughout the day offering demonstrations and 'climb on' vehicle fun. The Sea Cadets will be doing a drill; there will be line dancing on stage and for one dance the mayor and deputy mayor will be showing everyone how it’s (not) done — Stetsons will be worn! 

The St Austell Mobile Library will be present as will St Austell Rotary with a barrel organ. The RNLI will be running a tombola, the Soroptomists will be running a cake and craft stall, and there will be various other stalls provided by local businesses — not forgetting a Danceathon, led by Studio 4. The mayor added: “And — almost best of all — we have a unicorn selling ice cream! It is the unicorn (and her owner's) first business experience since acquiring their peddler licence and we are delighted to be their host. 

“Our plan is to bring as many people as possible into the town to enjoy the day, for everybody to have a huge amount of fun, to raise a lot of money for Kernow Young Carers and Blue Light Services and to show St Austell in its best light as an open, inclusive, friendly and great town to visit!”

The town council and other stakeholders are committed to regenerating the town centre.