Filipino community to celebrate Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan in Torquay

Members of the Filipino communities across Devon and Cornwall will gather in Torquay on Saturday, 10 May 2025, to celebrate Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan — traditional festivals rooted in Catholic faith and Filipino heritage.

The annual celebration, now in its 13th year in the region and returning to Torquay after first being held there in 2018, will begin with a vibrant street procession. Participants will walk from the Princess Gardens Pavilion, along Fleet Street and Abbey Road, before arriving at the Catholic Church of the Assumption of Our Lady.

The event will honour the Blessed Virgin Mary, with children offering flowers to a statue of Mary inside the church. Women and girls, some dressed to represent biblical figures, will take part in the colourful and ceremonial procession.

Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) is a long-standing tradition in the Philippines, celebrated throughout May in honour of the Virgin Mary. The Santacruzan, which typically concludes the month, commemorates the legend of Queen Helena and her discovery of the Holy Cross.

“This is a very popular and traditional festival that is celebrated in many parts of the world where Filipinos reside,” said the event organiser, who began the celebration in Cornwall in 2011. “It’s our great pleasure to share our religious and cultural heritage in this country.”

The festival has travelled across the South West in previous years, with past events held in Callington, Exeter, Plymouth, Truro, Falmouth, and Dorchester. The Diocese of Plymouth continues to support the event.

Residents are invited to attend and experience the pageantry and faith of one of the Philippines' most cherished traditions.