What’s on in Cornwall 2020
January 31, 2020
Get the low down on our favourite events in Cornwall…
World Pasty Championships, Eden Project, St Austell, 29 February
Celebrate the traditional Cornish pasty recipe, as well as some more unusual varieties. From the Americas to Australia, pasties derived from recipes passed down by Cornish emigrants over centuries, eaten and enjoyed by many millions of people around the world.
Mexican Friday The Beach Hut, Watergate Bay 20 March
Feast on a two-course meze with dessert as you watch the Atlantic waves crash beneath you.
watergatebay.co.uk/gather/events
Cornwall Spring Flower Show Royal Cornwall Showground, 4-5 April
Explore flower displays and over 120 horticultural trade stands, with various activities to keep young ones entertained.
Boscastle Walking Week, 19-24
April Enjoy a week of walking the Cornish coast and countryside with local guides in one of Cornwall’s most spectacularly scenic areas.
Obby Oss Padstow, 1 May
Padstow at its best and good old Cornish culture by the bucket-load. Watch the Obby Oss make their way through the town.
Tunes in the Dunes, Perranporth, 1-3 May
Set on the beautiful golden sands of Perranporth beach, experience live music with a backdrop of scenic cliffs and sand dunes.
English Nationals surf competition Watergate Bay, 1-3 May
The English Nationals surf competition returns to Watergate Bay for 2020. Spectators are welcome to watch the competitors battle it out for national titles.
watergatebay.co.uk/gather/event
Fal River Festival Falmouth, 22-31 May
A 10-day festival with something for everyone. From music, drama, arts and heritage, to gig racing, swimming, walking and more.
The Great Estate Festival Scorrier, 29-31 May
The most rambunctious Garden Fête! Expect major international The most rambunctious Garden Fête! Expect major international headline acts, a mix of comedy, theatre, music and the arts, all within the headline acts, a mix of comedy, theatre, music and the arts, all within the beautiful grounds of Scorrier Estate. Look out for the vintage fairground, beautiful grounds of Scorrier Estate. Look out for the vintage fairground, woodland silent disco, secret gin garden and more. woodland silent disco, secret gin garden and more.
Royal Cornwall Show Wadebridge, 4-6 June
The county’s biggest annual event filled to the brim with exhibits, activities, competitions, food and drink, and shopping.
Lusty Glaze Sundowner Sessions,weekly from 17 June
For endless evenings, relaxation and music, head to Lusty Glaze for weekly music sessions within a picturesque oceanfront setting.
lustyglaze.co.uk/sundowner-sessions
Golowan Festival Penzance, 19-28 June
Enjoy a packed programme of artists in celebration of music, performing arts and theatre. Events include a fireworks display on the prom, Mazey Day and spectacular parades through the streets.
Lobster Friday The Beach Hut, Watergate Bay, 26 June
How does a four-course lobster feast sound to you? Let The Beach Hut take you on a tour of the lobster; a night to celebrate the king crustacean in all its delectable glory.
watergatebay.co.uk/gather/events
Mevagissey Feast Week, 28 June-4 July
The week-long event features exhibitions, demonstrations, live music and lots of fish dishes to eat.
Lafrowda Festival St Just, 3-18 July
From hip hop to harmony, folk to funk, there are hours of free entertainment to suit every taste, alongwith street performers, stalls, refreshments, bouncy castles and, of course, spectacular processions.
Rock 2 Rock, Let’s Rock Watergate Bay, 18 July
Join visitors and locals alike at Watergate Bay’s music festival and sunset beach (2km or 5km) run. The night finishes off with fireworks.
St Endellion Summer Music Festival Near Port Isaac, 28 July-8 August
See the beautiful church of St Endellion become a concert venue for some of the most prestigious soloists and musicians in the UK.
Charlestown Regatta Week, Charlestown, 1-7 August
Regatta week is an annual tradition bringing together the local community and visitors alike to enjoy a variety of live music, competitions, pasty demonstrations, craft stalls, raft races and more.
Boardmasters Watergate Bay and Fistral beach, 5-9 August
This world-famous surf and music festival is one of the coolest dates in This world-famous surf and music festival is one of the coolest dates in the Cornish festival calendar. By day international surf pros battle it out the Cornish festival calendar. By day international surf pros battle it out to be king of the waves, while in the evening big-name bands hit the to be king of the waves, while in the evening big-name bands hit the stages overlooking Watergate Bay. stages overlooking Watergate Bay.
Bude Carnival, 15 August
Expect dance displays, live music, stalls, fancy dress, awards and of course the main event of the procession itself.
Bude Jazz Festival, 1-5 September
Putting a swing in the step of the town each year, the lively four day Bude Jazz Festival features a great bill of both local and national jazz musicians.
Newquay Fish Festival, 18-20 September
Any trip to Newquay should include a seafood feast and trip to the historic harbour to Any trip to Newquay should include a seafood feast and trip to the historic harbour to see the fishermen landing fresh catch. If you’re here in September, celebrate the area’s see the fishermen landing fresh catch. If you’re here in September, celebrate the area’s fishing heritage and enjoy street bands, seafood cooking demos and, of course, plenty fishing heritage and enjoy street bands, seafood cooking demos and, of course, plenty of fresh fish dishes to sample. of fresh fish dishes to sample.
St Ives Food Festival, 12-26 September
See top chefs from Cornwall and beyond demonstrating mouthwatering dishes in the Chef’s Theatre, or head to the beach for street food, music and family fun.
stivesfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk
Speed Hillclimb Watergate Bay, 19-20 September
Now in its third year, Cornwall’s only motorsport event on a closed public road. Watch over 100 cars race 850 metres up the hill towards Newquay.
Cracking Crab at The Beach Hut, Watergate Bay, 25 September
Three-course celebration of the crab. Grab a drink, gather around the fire, and soak up the live music while chefs demo how to tackle a succulent feast of brown crab.
watergatebay.co.uk/gather/events
BSUPA British Standup Paddleboarding Championships Watergate Bay, 26-27 September
The British Stand Up Paddle Association National Championships return to the Bay.
watergatebay.co.uk/gather/events
Falmouth Oyster Festival, 8-11 October
The annual festivities celebrate the start of the oyster dredging season, the native Fal Oyster and the diversity of Cornish seafood, with four days of feasting, cooking demos, live music, food and craft stalls.
Bonfire night displays around Cornwall 5 November
Watch a colourful fireworks display from a Cornish clifftop on various nights throughout Bonfire week.
City of Lights Truro, November
Watch the breathtaking parade of lanterns in Cornwall’s city. Every year, large-scale lanterns tell a different story, set to the beat of percussion, music and dance.
Mousehole Christmas Lights, December
See the twinkling lights at Mousehole Harbour throughout the festive season. The harbour will be illuminated by pretty displays in the water and on old fishermens cottages.
Padstow Christmas Festival, 2-6 December
Lit up by fairy lights on the edge of Lit up by fairy lights on the edge of Padstow’s pretty harbour, Padstow’s Padstow’s pretty harbour, Padstow’s Christmas Festival is a veritable Christmas Festival is a veritable Christmassy outing for the whole family. Christmassy outing for the whole family. Not only can you get your hands on Not only can you get your hands on Cornwall’s finest artisan foodstuffs and Cornwall’s finest artisan foodstuffs and witness chef demos from the region’s witness chef demos from the region’s greats such as Stein, Outlaw and greats such as Stein, Outlaw and Ainsworth, you can blitz your Christmas shopping at stalls showcasing Ainsworth, you can blitz your Christmas shopping at stalls showcasing the handmade arts, textiles, toys and trinkets. the handmade arts, textiles, toys and trinkets.
padstowchristmasfestival.co.uk