About

Greetings!

Welcome to the official Dark Gathering website. This unique community event happens each year at Hallowtide in the Cornish town of Tintagel (now that it has moved from Boscastle). We hope you enjoy the experience!

This special event began in 2014, but such has been it’s popularity that a website was required in order to field all queries, and disseminate information to those who follow it’s progress. Apparently in the folk world nothing is considered to be a tradition until seven years have passed – so when we reach that time we will celebrate accordingly!

The Dark Gathering is celebrated on the Saturday before Halloween each year. This conveniently falls upon the half-term holiday so it enables families and children to attend which adds to the all important theme of ancestors at this time of year.

It is basically a seasonal festival with dynamic performances from Morris dancers, musicians and the all important meeting of the Welsh Mari Lwyds with our Cornish Oss, Penkevyll marking the end of Summer and the beginning of Winter. The main venue of these performances was outside the famous Museum of Witchcraft & Magic in the pretty village of Boscastle, Cornwall. It has now been moved to the beautiful historic town of Tintagel that has a unique magical energy of its own.

Enjoy browsing through our website where you will find the history to this event; fascinating information about hobby horses and other folkloric mast-beasts; many splendid images plus exciting footage from previous year’s Gatherings. We encourage and appreciate any queries or feedback from you.

Special thanks to Chris White for the Website Header Image