So, what is the Gathering?

For Montol, traditionally groups of friends get together to help each other to make costumes and masks and devise their contribution to the Revels – songs, games, satire whatever you want.

On the 1st December we look forward to meeting you all – new guilds, old guilds, musicians, dancers and mummers, new peeps and old hands – so you can sign the Ancient Montol Ledger – a record stretching back into the mists of time (all the way back to 2023 in fact).

Join the Cornmarket Revellers, the ‘Gyptians, Raffidy Dumitz Band, the Physicians, the Turks, the Peccadilloes, the Scaleybacks, the Frolicking Fishy Folk, the Radical Ramblers, the Coddiwomplers, the Hwymm Hwamm Hyggas, the Hedgerows, the Tatty Mummers and the Sticklers – registered in The Ledger

Montol is all about taking part, dressing up, disguising yourself, dancing and singing.
And we will be offering workshops, in traditional dancing, costume, mask-making and Cornish bunches in December, to help you on your way.

Together we help make it the magical happening that it is.

Remember – everyone is welcome – even if you aren’t registering a guild or group – come along anyway – there will be mischief, merriment and music, gossip and news and, possibly, Mahogany!

Come to The Gathering – where you can be recruited or recruit … or just come along and scope us out.

Sunday 1st December – 7.30 onwards
upstairs at The Union Hotel

Just a quick update from Team Montol …

Road closures in – and in – and in again – but seem to be finalised now.
Fire Service charmed and on board – brilliant again.
Bus companies on board – they’ve been lovely.
Insurance is done.
Marshaling is almost sorted.
Workshops are arranged.
New venues are set but … still a few things to iron out – more on that later.
New Instagram account is up and going – I know there’s not a lot of overlap with FB but, if you’re interested, you can find us here – please follow –
https://www.instagram.com/montol_festival/
Special Guest Stars falling into place – more on that later.
I know the wider team are all frantically busy – making, sewing, rehearsing – to make this the best Montol ever.
Remember – it’s never too early to look to your costumes and masks! There is reason in those bizarre anxiety dreams!
Oh, and the new website will be ready soon!

Of course there are lots of other things in development – we’ll keep you in the loop.

And all this by Allantide – sheesh!

Up before the Beak – Penzance Council Finance and General Purposes Committee.

I really hate these things.
Not good at being grilled. My instinctive response to authority is a dangerous mix of belligerence and blind panic.
But we all prepared and thanks to Nicole’s scribbled notes and Paul’s carefully constructed arguments, and the forbearance of some of the councillors, we weathered the night.
We won’t be able to tell you how things went until it’s ratified, or not, by full council on 11th November.

But we did our best.

Hold your breath.

Woah! What a fabulous evening.
Golowan is done, the year has turned.
So good to get the tribe together and slip into Montol mood.

Raffidy got every one in the spirit and then Alex led the dancing with Tros an Treys – and loved the audio headset so she could talk to the crowd and keep us all on track.

Kasak Nos and Pen Hood couldn’t resist and almost cleared the floor.

And then Keskorra took us out on a high – ready for Montol season.

Thanks to the Acorn for being such generous hosts – and to you all for coming, joining in and giving us your hard-earned – cheers.