The greatest celebration of Cornwall’s gift to the world of food takes place at the Eden Project on Saturday March 5 with a fabulous day of pasty-related fun and top-class music and comedy.

For the first time, the World Pasty Championships are being officially supported by industry body the Cornish Pasty Association (CPA) and members are taking a big hand in activities on the day.

It is also the first time the Championships have fallen on St Piran’s Day, the national day of Cornwall, and the story of the Duchy’s favourite saint will feature during the day.

In a dedicated area within the Eden covered stage, the CPA is hosting three sessions where children under 12 make their own pasties under the expert tuition of a professional pasty maker.

There will be a masterclass from Brian Jones of flour millers Allied Mills, demonstrating the science and skills of perfect pastry making. Portreath Bakery will host the Grain Chain, featuring different grains, flour and milling.

Trewithen Dairy will show how to make that other Cornish delicacy, clotted cream.

Crimping for All invites visitors to walk up and learn the secrets of sealing a pasty the Cornish way from some of the finest crimpers in the world.

Members of the CPA will be on hand all day to answer any pasty-related questions and give advice from within the industry.

CPA chairman Jason Jobling said: “The World Pasty Championships at the Eden Project are now firmly established as the very finest celebration of Cornwall’s culinary gift to the world and the CPA is right behind it. We are looking forward to sharing our skills and passion for the not-so-humble pasty with thousands of visitors on the day.”

Alongside the charity and pasty-themed activity, the entertainment programme running through the day is the event’s strongest yet.

Legendary shanty singers Fisherman’s Friends, top comic Kernow King, folk star Seth Lakeman, Redruth rappers Hedluv and Passman and concertina maestro Geoff Lakeman are among the star performers.

The entertainment will close with a rousing rendition of Trelawny from the Fisherman’s Friends in advance of the Trelawny Shout singing of the Cornwall anthem in many places later in the evening.

At Eden the day closes with the eagerly-awaited Oggy Oscar ceremony, where the winners in the pasty-making categories are announced and a special award is made to the World Pasty Ambassador.

Marion Harrison, Eden Live Project Lead, said: “The fifth annual World Pasty Championships are shaping up as the best year yet. Entries for the competition are coming in from all points of the compass – from Camborne, to Chard, to Canada.

“The support from Jason and the Cornish Pasty Association is terrific and to have all the pasty-themed activities in one dedicated place on the day promises to be a winner with visitors. The entertainment bill is quite simply the finest we have ever had for this event.”

The event is also an established way of showcasing the work of charities and good causes. Eden, in partnership with the Cornwall Community Foundation, has invited Recycle and Renewing, The Cornwall Faith Forum, Creation Fest, Soroptimist International of St Austell & District, Wadebridge Foodbank & StoreHouse, Flashlight St. Ives, Cornwall Rural Community Charity, Cornwall Women’s Refuge Trust and SEEDS to attend the day and raise awareness of their good work.

The World Pasty Championships see amateur and professional bakers from around the world compete by baking traditional Cornish pasties or variations on the classic beef, onion, potato and turnip recipe.

Alongside the support of the CPA, individual classes within the competition have been sponsored by other organisations including Carters Packaging, Allied Mills, Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, Craft Bakers Association, Trewithen Dairy, St Austell Brewery and Mono Equipment.

Entries are invited for traditional and non-traditional pasty-makers, professional and amateur, with registration open until midday on March 4. To enter, go to www.edenproject.com.