The most famous Furry Dance takes place in Helston, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is one of the oldest British customs still practised today. The earliest mention seems to be in a letter to the Gentleman's Magazine for 1790 where the writer says "At Helstone, a genteel and populus borough town in Cornwall, it is customary to dedicate the 8th May to revelry. It is called Furry Day". The dance is very well attended every year and people travel from all over the world to see it: Helston Town Band play all the music for the dances.
The Midday Dance, Flora Day, Helston, 1993
Coinagehall Street, Helston, 2009
The Hal-an-Tow in Coinagehall Street
Helston is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated at the northern end of the Lizard Peninsula approximately 12 miles (19 km) east of Penzance and 9 miles (14 km) south-west of Falmouth. Helston is the most southerly town on the island of Great Britain and is around 1.5 miles (2.4 km) farther south than Penzance. The population in 2011 was 11,700.
Coinagehall Street is the main street of Helston. The Guildhall flies a flag
The borough boundary stone at Nansloe
The Guildhall, built in 1839. It contains the council chamber, mayor's offices, and a function room, and is the starting point for the dances on Flora Day.
The Hal an Tow celebration
