This status is only given to areas of the world that are considered important to the history of the world. Cornwall's mining landscape was chosen to be a World Heritage Site because of the important part it played in the Industrial Revolution.
The three days of the festival have different themes. The first day is known as Mining Day and marks the long association between the town of Redruth and the tin mining industry. The second is known as Pasty Day and celebrates Cornwall's most famous food, the Cornish pasty. During the day there are a selection of pasties for sale and chances to find out how to make your own. The day after Pasty Day is Miners’ Memorial Day, which honours the memory of those involved in the mining industry. Tin mining was once a very dangerous job and injuries to miners were common.