The Penryn Kemeneth Festival is the latest celebration to mark Penryn’s 800th anniversary year.

Penryn’s rich cultural history celebrated in special Arts festival

A unique event designed to celebrate Penryn’s rich cultural history is being supported by the University of Exeter.

The Cornish town is hosting an action-packed multi-arts festival, with events for all ages, on Saturday, October 8th.

The event, called ‘Kemeneth’ which is the Cornish word for community, is the latest celebration to mark Penryn’s 800th anniversary year.

The University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus is helping support the colourful celebration by donating £1,000 to the event organisers.

Professor Mark Goodwin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Innovation and External Engagement) said: “I am very proud that the University of Exeter is supporting such a fantastic event which aims to showcase the rich culture and history of Penryn.

“The Kemeneth festival promises to be an action-packed day with activities for children and adults alike. What a great way to celebrate our town’s 800th anniversary!”

Many of the activities for the event are themed on the mysterious Ordinalia – a series of plays created during the 13th Century at Glasney College, a major centre of learning and a hub of Cornish culture and at the time based in Penryn.

These medieval mysteries, skilfully revived by award winning Cornish writer and director Alan Kent, will be performed for the first time in centuries at the festival.

Alongside the street performances a procession of over 20 giant puppets, featuring many of the plays’ characters, will take to the streets.

There will also be a whole host of multi-cultural activities and a trading market to acknowledge Penryn’s rich trading history. This will include flamenco, gospel music, Indian dance and circus artists from Swamp Circus.

For more information, including a program of events, visit the Penryn Kemeneth website.

Date: 7 October 2016