IN PICTURES: Helston decorates for Flora Day
It's Flora Eve in Helston and the excitement is palpable as the town prepares for its big day tomorrow.
With Flora Day 2025 less than 24 hours away, businesses and residents of the town are getting ready to show off Helston at its best.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on the town tomorrow (Thursday, May 8), to see the dancing and Hal-an-Tow.
Whirlwind Sports gets busy with bluebells (Image: Emma Ferguson/Helston Packet) In preparation for the festivities, the streets, shops and houses are being decorated with greenery and flowers, which was collected yesterday and again this morning.
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A team of helpers, made up of dancers, stewards and supporters, were at Tehidy and St Martin last night to cut down greenery with the permission of the landowners.
This was then taken back to Helston for collection by those decorating, with a further batch of greenery dropped this morning.
With the sun shining over Helston, the mood in town is high – and this year there are even more ways that people can share in the excitement, even if they are unable to attend in person tomorrow.
Don't Forget the Hamper and Cloud Nine Creations have a balloon arch ready for your Flora Day selfies (Image: Emma Ferguson/Helston Packet) The Packet will be bringing our usual live coverage of the start of each of the dances and Hal-an-Tow this year, on the Packet Newspapers Facebook page, with an article running throughout the day online at www.thepacket.co.uk with pictures and updates.
But this year that's not all, as the Flora Day livestream is returning this year, with three cameras set up opposite the Guildhall at the top of Coinagehall Street, in Meneage Street and facing the Grylls Monument at the bottom of Coinagehall Street.
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Installed by the team at Primary PC Solutions in Helston, with support from the Helston Flora Day Association, the livestream will be available to view from 6.30am on Flora Day via the following YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/live/CEu-CwR96EA
Ann Pascoe and her family decorate Manor Fashions (Image: Emma Ferguson/Helston Packet)
Dance details
The first dance of the day is the Morning Dance, which will leave the Guildhall at approximately 7am. However, before the dance proceeds, Helston Town Band will pause to play two refrains of the Flora Dance tune in memory of former bandmate Mark Williams, who sadly passed away.
This year, Ben Head, Natalie Bunt, Ben Autie, and Caroline Spencer are leading the Morning Dance this year.
Mel King decorates around the Fishermen's Mission joint Flora and VE Day window display (Image: Emma Ferguson/Helston Packet) After the Morning Dance finishes, the Hal-An-Tow will perform at several locations around the town, including St John's Bridge, St John's Road, Monument Road, Cross Street, and Meneage Street, before culminating outside the Guildhall.
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Next is the Children's Dance, led this year by Nansloe Academy students Demi, Charlie, Eloise, and Henry. This year,the Children's Dance will resume its traditional 10am start time instead of the recent 9.50am.
These two ladies from Rowe's have 30 years of working Flora Days between them (Image: Emma Ferguson/Helston Packet) Following the Children's Dance is the Midday Dance, which usually sees the largest crowds of the day.
Leading this year are Shane Orchard, Sarah Benney, John Barnett, and Leisa Songhurst. The dance will start slightly later at 12.02pm from the Guildhall, preceded by a two-minute silence at midday to honour VE Day and remember those who lost their lives in conflicts worldwide.
The council team decorate Helston Guildhall (Image: Emma Ferguson/Helston Packet) The Evening Dance begins at 5pm from the Guildhall, led by the same four dancers from the Morning Dance. The route for the Evening Dance is similar to the Midday Dance and includes dancing through several shops in the town, such as J C Williams and Tech Revive on Meneage Street.
All hands on deck to decorate Tech Revive (Image: Emma Ferguson/Helston Packet)
Steve and Kim decorate Fatty's Barbershop (Image: Emma Ferguson/Helston Packet) See coverage of all the events on the day online at www.thepacket.co.uk, where we will also bring you photo galleries afterwards and a 16-page photo supplement in next Wednesday's print edition of the Packet.
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