- Ros Edwards
Spotlight on Ten Top Festivals in Cornwall - Cultural, Craft and Culinary.
Updated: Feb 23
Throughout the year Cornwall hosts a lot of festivals and celebrations, covering a diverse and varied subject range. Here is a compilation of our current favourite top ten to whet your appetite for your next visit to these sunny climes. There is never a shortage of things to do and see. Be ready to sample some of the best and make the most of your holiday!
Porthleven Food Festival in Cornwall
This Festival in Cornwall is near Helston - held annually in April in and around the stunning harbour of Porthleven
Expect all day cooking demos, with a national and international chef's theatre, food stalls and street food
Food and craft stalls surrounding the harbour, music, dancing, performances
Music, art and celebrity chefs cooking workshops
This festival in Cornwall began in 2007 as non-profit community organisation run by talented, committed and enthusiastic volunteers from the local community, now a well-established event on the Cornish festival calendar.
One of the largest 3-day events of its kind in the region.
Porthleven is the most southerly working port in the United Kingdom and boasts a picturesque harbour, it is a popular spot with surfers - but only those with lots of experience
Check out more details for the festival on www.porthlevenfoodfestival.
St Ives Food and Drink Festival in Cornwall
This festival in Cornwall held annually in Spring, is a celebration of the amazing food that Cornwall produces
Most of the daytime content is free with an entrance fee only charged for the evening music sessions
Set on the beach in the backdrop of St Ives beside the golden sands of Porthminster Beach, home to the Tate St Ives, where the beaches are golden, and the quality of light is an inspiration.
Pop-up art galleries in the beach huts on the right of the Porthminster beach as you look out to sea with artists from around Cornwall
If you love live music then there are bands playing all day as well as some pretty special acts for the Evenings Sessions
More information available at stivesfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk
Fal River Festival in Cornwall
this fantastic 10-day celebration is a not-for-profit community festival. Held annually in May.
Encompassing over 150 events varying from music & drama, the arts & heritage to gig racing, swimming, walking & lots more
The festival in Cornwall was established in 2006 and will be running for its 15th year in 2020
It's a chance to embrace the places, people, history, culture, sport & industry that are connected by this very Cornish river
With its diverse mix of events taking place at dozens of locations around the Fal River, the festival offers something for everyone and is the perfect opportunity to engage with life on the river and discover some of its fascinating history
Find out what’s on at this years festival www.falriverfestival.co.uk
Delamore Arts and Sculpture Exhibition
takes place annually, every day in May including Bank Holidays, 10.30 to 16.30.
Not a festival in Cornwall – but if feels like it!
This is a festival of Sculpture and paintings - pieces created by local, national, and international artists.
Presenting the largest collection of artists work in one place in the South West
Based at Cornwood near Ivybrige, Delamore is right on the edge of beautiful Dartmoor and makes for a fantastic day out
The imposing house and the gardens which are rarely open to the public were laid out in the 1800's with plantings of newly imported rhododendrons and magnificent trees. Seen at their best during May, they are an ideal backdrop for sculpture large and small
Why not browse and perhaps buy one of the many pieces created by local, national, and international artists, there is something for every budget
Works exhibited are from well-established to new and emerging artists.
The present Delamore, the fourth house to be built on the Estate, was built in 1859
Delamore has remained in the same family since 1688 and it is still a traditional agricultural Dartmoor estate
Two of the principal rooms in the house are used as galleries for hanging paintings. Immense windows provide excellent natural light and visitors have an opportunity to view the paintings at leisure within the atmosphere of this impressive country house.
The gardens provide a superb showcase for the sculpture and in this setting the visitor can view the works of leading artists set against the background of impressive parkland trees and well-tended flowerbeds.
There is a small cafe providing tea and coffee and a selection of homemade soups and freshly made rolls set in a pretty courtyard
More information available from www.delamore-art.co.uk
What a wonderful way to spend a day in May!
Charles Causley Festival in Cornwall
Celebrating the life, work and legacy of the town’s internationally acclaimed and well-loved poet.
The first Festival in Cornwall was held in June 2010
Charles Causley CBE, Hon. D. Litt., FRSL, Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry
Born 24th August 1917, in Launceston; died 4th November 2003, in Launceston
This festival showcases the rich and varied cultural life of the town, the area and Cornwall as a whole
It is Launceston’s own literary festival, growing in popularity each year, spanning several days
The programme includes poetry readings and performances, theatre, music, the fine arts and film. In addition, there have been numerous talks— plus walks and tours
The events are held in many venues around the town and occasionally, across the wider locality
Audiences come from far and wide, numbers increase every year as its popularity increases. This will be its 11th year
More information from charlescausleyfestival.co.uk
Fowey Festival of Art & Literature
held annually in May.
The Festival is inspired by the famed author Daphne du Maurier, who spent a large part of her life in and around Fowey
The Festival continues to include a strand of du Maurier themed events from walks to book readings and debates
There are exhibitions, presentations, theatre, musical concerts, an Art trail, guided walks and river cruises to enjoy, inform, challenge and inspire the imagination
More information available from www.foweyfestival.com This website will be updated with more information about the Festival in Cornwall and events arranged outside of the main Festival programme along with the full line up.
Truro Food Festival in Cornwall
Held annually in September.
A city-wide celebration of Cornish food and drink is centred around Lemon Quay with pop-up events and activities taking place across the city
Daytime content includes chef’s demos
A local produce market, gourmet street food stalls, a local restaurant trail, workshops and live entertainment showcasing the best in local talent
The evening content includes a beer and cider festival and live music on all three nights
The Truro Food Festival in Cornwall is a FREE event, but tickets are needed for music evening events
More information and ticketed events available trurofoodfestival.com
English Country Garden Festival in Cornwall, well at least nearby!
What a weekend - what a show! Taking place annually in June
Held at Coombe Trenchard, a privately-owned home and a true Arts and Crafts gem with its own unique warmth and character
Located in the village of Lewtrenchard which lies in the heart of West Devon and has ever-changing splendid long reaching views towards Dartmoor
Sarah Marsh and her husband, the current owners of Coombe Trenchard, host the annual English Garden Festival in Cornwall in the extensive gardens that are laid out around the house
With 85+ exhibitors & stallholders handpicked from Devon & Cornwall
Plant specialists, garden products & furniture makers
Craft makers & artists, vintage home & garden treasures and artisan producers
Delicious range of lunches, wonderful homemade cakes, cream teas & foodie stalls
“We raise the flag for the makers & the growers whilst bringing together a very special collection of exhibitors and stall holders in the gardens and grounds of Coombe Trenchard to celebrate the start of our English Summer” ~ Sarah Marsh
For more information about Combe Trenchard and its wonders click here
The Royal Cornwall Show Festival in Cornwall
is held at Wadebridge, and is a significant event on the Cornish calendar
For three days each year the showground at is transformed, bustling with life, energy, agriculture, entertainment and trade
A fascinating glimpse into rural life, apart from the livestock judging, there is the famous flower tent
The main ring features a headline acts plus show jumping and a fast and furious inter-hunt relay
A full programme of entertainment and demonstrations in the countryside area
You’ll find busy marquees dedicated to goats and rare breeds, cage birds and poultry, bees and rabbits, there’s a major dog show, a traditional steam fair, the Cornwall Festival of Dance, forestry and if that’s not enough then there’s the motor fair, agricultural machinery and crafts
There are simply loads of stalls, you can browse the many trade stands
Listen to live music at this festival in Cornwall
The Royal Cornwall Show is regarded as one of the last true major agricultural shows in the UK.
Padstow Christmas Festival in Cornwall
held annually in December and hosted by Nathan Outlaw, Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth
It has become the go-to event for some of the country’s most talented and celebrated chefs
Demos are all free to attend and a unique opportunity for some of the country’s best chefs to share their recipes and cooking tips
There is a timetable on the Padstow Festival in Cornwall website so plan ahead padstowchristmasfestival.co.uk
You can get in the festive mood enjoying the various singers and entertainers who will be performing around the town
The harbour seems to come alive and is a perfect venue for the four-day Christmas party
You will have opportunity to see Arts and Craft Producers and find that special Christmas gift, or even treat yourself!
For full detail look at the blog
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