Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on Helston for its annual feast day of Flora Day tomorrow.

The colourful bunting has been up for the last two weeks and today greenery and flowers will be used to decorate the outside of businesses and houses.

As the bells of St Michael’s Parish Church ring out at 6.30am, Helstonians will begin pouring into the town centre to stand outside the Guildhall for the first dance of the day.

Follow live updates as the day progresses at thepacket.co.uk and watch the dances live on the Packet Newspapers Facebook page.

7am

With Helston Town Band gathered outside the Guildhall, a hush will fall as the town clock begins to strike 7am and with it the first boom of the bass drum, heralding the start of the Morning Dance.

This year the honour of kicking off the day’s dancing falls to Aaron Lander and Emma Stringer, followed by Ben Head and Natalie Bunt.

8.30am

The Hal-an-Tow pageant gets underway at St Johns Bridge 8.30am, before taking place at various locations around the town. It tells a number of stories, including that of St George slaying the dragon, Helston's patron saint St Michael killing the devil and St Piran arriving in Cornwall on a millstone, all set to song.

9.50am

There is a return to dancing with the Children's Dance, which this year returns to the slightly later start time of 9.50am. More than 1,500 children from the town’s three primary schools and secondary school line up in Wendron Street for the start of the Children’s Dance.

Dressed in white and wearing the colours of their schools in their ties and floral headdresses, the children from Nansloe, Parc Eglos, St Michael's primary schools and Helston Community College will follow the slightly shortened route of recent years, not stopping in the gardens of Lismore.

12 noon

All eyes will once again be on the Guildhall at noon, ready for the start of the Midday Dance. First out the door will be Sandra Laity and Andrew Wearne, replacing the injured Giles Clotworthy, followed by Mark and Rachel Eaton, who become only the sixth married couple since 1892 to be in the leading set of the dance together.

The couples will then swap positions during the break at Lismore Gardens, before returning back to the Guildhall.

5pm

The Morning Dance sets return to the Guildhall to begin the Evening Dance, finishing the day's official celebrations. They will follow a slightly shortened route that also includes a break at Lismore.