Dig out your diary and make note of these Cornish events, we have chosen 12 of the best festivals in Cornwall this year…
1. The Great Estate, Scorrier House
Located in Redruth is Scorrier House, a family-run country house with beautiful gardens; head here on Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th June for The Great Estate. This year Scorrier will be welcoming the likes of Craig Charles, The Electric Swing Circus, Echo and the Bunnymen and more. Join in with the camel racing, give your taste buds a treat and visit the secret gin gardens and dance along to the woodland silent disco.
2.Rock Oyster Festival, Roskear Farm
Visit one of the top artisan food festivals in Cornwall, the Rock Oyster Festival near Wadebridge on the Friday 7th and Saturday 8th July. Although this is a food festival, there will also be musicians such as the Land of the Giants, Andy Quick and Echo Town to be enjoyed. Alongside the music and food there will be workshops like the didgeridoo for beginners, give it a try! Perhaps after a day of exploring the festival you’d like to cycle the picturesque Camel Trail?
3.Tropical Pressure Festival, Mount Pleasant Ecological Park
Visit Mount Pleasant Ecological Park from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th July and join in the celebration of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean cultures. This year, the festival will be welcoming the likes of Kondi Band, Philou Louzoloand Soljah Warriors as musical entertainment while you enjoy 100% vegetarian food from the stalls.
4. Port Eliot Festival, St Germans
Port Eliot has it all this summer from comedy to science to exhibitions and of course food! The village of St Germans will be hosting a range of workshops from story writing to life drawing, modern calligraphy and more. There will be appearances from Skinners Brewery and Sipsmith’s Gin Shop and not to mention live performances from Nick Lowe, Duke Garwood, The Bookshop Band and others from Friday 28th to Monday 31st July.
5. Boardmasters, Newquay
Back again for its 36th year is the ever popular Boardmasters music festival from Wednesday 9th to Sunday 13th August. This year Boardmasters is at Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay, both scenic coastal locations in North Cornwall. With a fantastic line-up again this year it would be a shame to miss it, with the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Newton Faulkner, Frank Turner and plenty more. The festival isn’t just for music, there will also be action sports taking place at Fistral Beach from surfing to skating and a BMX competition.
6. Little Orchard Cider & Music Festival, Penhallow
From Friday 8th to Sunday 10th September Healey’s Cider Farm will be hosting the Little Orchard Cider & Music Festival at the farm is where Scrumpy Rattler and cider whiskies began.
While at the festival why not stay in a shire hut’ or a luxury bell tent’ with friends so you can enjoy a tipple or two? Join in with the secret cider walks, indulge in the hot tub and dance around at the silent disco.
St Ives September Festival has been running for over 30 years now; this year the festival will be held Saturday 9th to Saturday 23rd September. Joining this year will be the group Show of Hands on the Sunday 10th September at The Guildhall; also Toploader will be making an appearance on the Sunday 17th September along with plenty of other talented acts. As well as music you’ll find poetry, theatre, exhibitions and much more.
8. Great Cornish Food Festival, Truro
Calling all foodies! Truro’s Lemon Quay will be hosting the Great Cornish Food Festival from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th September, a big celebration of Cornwall’s best food and drink. Opening the festival will be Michelin-starred Nathan Outlaw; there will be chance for you to sample, learn about and discover amazing Cornish food and drink from 60 exhibitors and you can even take part in the live cooking challenges.
Gather friends and enjoy a weekend of great live music from the likes of Lulu, Nine Below Zero, The Undertones and more on Friday 29th September to Sunday 1st October. Spend three days enjoying the beautiful South East coast of Cornwall, meeting like-minded people and having a blast!
Falmouth’s Oyster Festival is being hosted at Events Square from Thursday 12th to Sunday 15th October; this festival is a celebration of diverse Cornish seafood with food stalls and cookery demonstrations. Local celebrities Nick Howard from St Austell Brewery and Nick Hodges from The Greenbank Hotel are rumoured to be making appearances at this year’s festival.
11. Falmouth Beer Festival
This October, head to the coastal town of Falmouth for the Falmouth Beer Festival hosted by Cornwall CAMRA. You’ll be spoilt for choice with a range of over 200 real ales, ciders and perries at the Princess Pavilion from Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st October, all to be enjoyed with some classic pub grub!
12.Leopallooza, Week St Mary
Calling all music lovers! Visit Week St Mary from Friday 28th July to Sunday 30th July for Leopallooza, a multi award-winning independent festival now celebrating its 11th year! Bring friends and enjoy three days of live entertainment and delicious food. You can even camp for free at Lower Exe Farm.
There will be over 100 new and established music artists including solo acts, DJs and bands, such as Gabrielle Aplin, Clean Cut Kid, Kiah Victoria, Dagny and many more.
13.Penzance Literary Festival
Returning for its seventh year, the Penzance Literary Festival will take place from the 5th to the 8th July. The festival has a programme packed with talks, workshops and events that will get the people of Cornwall talking. Headlining this year’s festival will be award-winning novelist Tom Pears, Cyan Jones and Stella Duffy OBE. Alongside the local celebrities, there will be a centenary celebration of Cornish poet Charles Causley, a celebration of the life and works of David Bowie, book sales, cream teas and more.
Written by Georgia Atkins
