The Kernewek Lowender is a Cornish-themed biennial festival held in the Copper Coast towns of Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo on Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.

'Kernewek Lowender' means 'Cornish happiness' in the Cornish language. It is held in the late autumn starting on the second Monday of May, every two years. The Kernewek Lowender claims to be the world’s largest Cornish Festival outside Cornwall.^[1]

The festival is held over seven days with the highlight being 'The Big Weekend'. 'The Big Weekend' features three large Fairs, the Village Green Fair Fer Kernewek and a Classic Cavalcade of Cars.^[2] Traditional Cornish food, such as Cornish pasties and Swanky beer is served during the Festival. Maypole performances, Furry Dancing and selection of a May Queen.^[3] The region typically hosts more than 30,000 visitors during the festival.^[4]

Contents 1 History 2 Festival dates 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] History

The Kernewek Lowender was instigated by local businessmen in the early 1970s as an initiative to boost the then economically-depressed Copper Coast. The original Cornish Festival committee chose the May long weekend for the festival.

The first festival went ahead in 1973 with the assistance of a AUD$1000 grant from the South Australian government and exceeded the organisers' expectations. The region hosted 20,000 visitors during the festival, with 11,000 attending the Fer Kernewek (Cornish Fair) in Moonta, 15,000 visiting the Moonta Mines Museum, and 8,000 Cornish pasties consumed.^[4]

Traditionally the festival culminated in a 3-day long weekend with events in each town for one day of the long weekend. However when the Adelaide Cup Day public holiday was moved,^[5] difficulties were experienced in scheduling events with only two days for the three towns, and concerns were raised over whether Wallaroo received enough focus.^[6]

[edit] Festival dates

• 2007: 14 May - 20 May
• 2009: 11 May - 17 May
• 2011: 9 May - 15 May^[7]

[edit] See also

• List of festivals in Australia
• Copper Coast
• Cornish emigration

[edit] References

1. ^ "Kernewek Lowender". http://www.kernewek.org/. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 
2. ^ "South Australia Kernewek Lowender". http://www.southaustralia.com/9008021.aspx. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
3. ^ "Kernewek Lowender 2009". http://www.about-australia.com/events/south-australia/yorke-peninsula/events/exhibition-show/kernewek-lowender-2009/. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Kernewek Lowender Official Site". http://www.kernewek.org/History.html. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
5. ^ "Holidays: Adelaide Cup in Australia". http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/australia/adelaide-cup. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
6. ^ "Kernewek Lowender... Was Wallaroo left out of the loop?". http://www.ypct.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5188. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
7. ^ "Kernewek Lowender evaluation positive". http://www.ypct.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5882&Itemid=71. Retrieved 2008-11-18. 

[edit] External links

• Kernewek Lowender website
• Yorke Peninsula website

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