CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS

Running for over 40 years Lowender Celtic Festival is returning to Redruth this year (Fri 25 – Sun 27 Oct). Lowender is Kernewek for ‘celebration’ and the family friendly festival is a four day celebration of Cornish culture and our Celtic connections. Music, dance and Cornish language feature on the jam packed programme where there is something for one and all. Bring the whole family as kids go free!

300 performers will be taking part in the event with international acts featuring on the line up as well as free activities to involve the local community.

Lots going on this halloween too, head over to our guide to the best things in Cornwall for adults at halloween for more details.

MUSIC & FESTIVALS

Falmouth Reggae Festival sets forth on Fri 4 and Sat 5 Oct – catch it at Princess Pavilions.

Classical music more your thing? Book ahead for two concerts in November, or there’s plenty of organ and other recitals at Truro Cathedral. Don’t miss Wadebridge Choral Society‘s Autumn Concert (Sat 9 Nov) at St. Endellion Church. The choir and orchestra will be performing Duruflé’s Requiem and Bach Cantata 147 which includes Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring and an Orchestral piece; Strings, Organ, Trumpets and Timpani. The Christmas Orchestra is an enchanting NEW Christmas spectacle coming to Truro Cathedral. The 16-piece chamber orchestra tour in iconic settings, takes in 15 locations including Truro, and promises feel-good fun (27 November).

CINEMA, THEATRE & COMEDY

Down in Pendeen, Wildworks presents an ambitious staging of Stranger Beasts, written by Mydd Pharo and Mercedes Kemp. It tells the story of Belerion, a girl born of a cosmic mother and an earth-born fater, bound to change the destinies of her land and her people. The epic show has an acclaimed all-female cast and is being staged in the most dramatic setting – the rugged surrounds of an iconic tin mine on the far edge of Cornwall. Stranger Beasts runs until 7 October at Geevor Tin Mine just outside the village of Pendeen, near Penzance.

Hall for Cornwall has so much on that we can’t begin to list it all out here, but highlights include Dear Evan Hansen (8 – 12 Oct). Al Murray presents Guv Island (13 Oct and 2 Nov) and Ed Gamble is in town with his show Hot Diggity Dog (16 Oct).

Book ahead for Exhibition on Screen’s new film, Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers which comes to cinemas nationwide on 6^th November. The National Gallery’s “once-in-a-century” Van Gogh exhibition is taking the world by storm and rewriting the narrative of this beloved artist. Now, Exhibition on Screen will bring this stunning exhibition to the big screen, along with a deep dive into Van Gogh’s fascinating life and incredible skill. Focusing on his driving passions and unique creative process, the feature film explores the artist’s years in the south of France where he revolutionised his style and changed art forever. Various cinemas across Cornwall.

GET OUTSIDE

100 Hours Under One Sky is a project led by the International Astronomical Union (IAU)’s Office for Astronomy Outreach and they’re inviting people globally to join them from 2 – 5 October to try four simple stargazing challenges to win badges in their new UK 100 Hours event. Find star patterns and a planet in the night sky.

There is a New Moon on 3 October, so there will be very little moonlight. This will give a dark sky ideal for star-spotting. Look out for the crescent Moon to the left of sunset on 5 October — check out our feature on Cornwall’s dark skies here.

Silent Disco Beach Yoga, Fistral, Newquay, 26 Aug

Join National winners of Best Yoga Studio, Oceanflow Yoga, for their gorgeous pop-up Silent Disco Beach Yoga at Fistral, Newquay on 5 Oct. The Saturday 12.30pm session might be the last of the 2024 season outside. Practice Vinyasa yoga to Balearic beats whilst watching the sun drop down into the ocean. You will find them with our toes in the sand towards the north end of the beach (look for the tall flags) where there is ample space for everyone to practice together. Book in advance, £14pp, beginners welcome. You’ll be guided through the flow by Jen through the headphones, with demonstrators to follow too. You’ll need a mat or a towel to practice on. Just lovely!

Heligan Harvest, Lost Gardens of Heligan, 19 Oct – 3 Nov will celebrate all that Heligan makes, produces, and tends to – be that vegetables, animals, or woodlands. Expect an exciting array of displays, demonstrations and autumn inspired menus.

Cornwall’s biggest (and only!) outdoor ice-rink returns to the grounds of the Eden Project this October with plenty of space to practice your axels and spins from 19 Oct. The cafe is serving up sweet treats too, just don’t forget pre-booking online is essential, and you’ll need a locals pass, membership or day pass to access Eden itself too.

Speaking of the Eden Project, it is the Eden Marathon and Half Marathon on Sun 20 Oct, it is Cornwall’s biggest running event. Hundreds of T-shirts are either not collected or not worn after race events each year so once again Eden have taken the decision not to offer a T-shirt at this year’s event and instead, will be planting wildflower habitats at the Eden Project for every runner registered. Entry includes water, isotonic drink station, medal, pint and a pasty (!) and free entry to Eden for runners and accompanying family members and supporters on the day.

ART & ART EXHIBITIONS

LAST CHANCE

Naomi Frears: Night After Night, ends 2 November 2024, Kestle Barton is her third exhibition at Kestle Barton. The previous two shows foregrounded her work with film. This time we are presenting new paintings and works on paper made for Kestle Barton. A small selection of her films will also be shown in the Apple Store, upstairs and opposite the main gallery. Frears is based in the Porthmeor Studios in St Ives, Cornwall. Her practice includes work with film and video, as well as printmaking, painting, and collaborative curatorial projects.

NEW exhibitions in Cornwall

Małgorzata Mirga-Tas 'On the Journey' 2024. © Małgorzata Mirga-Tas. Courtesy of the artist and Krupa Art Foundation, Wrocław. Photo, Marek Gardulski

Opening on 19 October at Tate St Ives, discover the vibrant textile works of Romani artist Małgorzata Mirga-Tas. Małgorzata Mirga-Tas is a Romani visual artist, educator and activist. Born in 1978, she lives and works in Czarna Góra, a village at the foot of the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland.

Mirga-Tas is known for her textile collages created with materials and fabrics that are mainly gathered from family and friends. Her visual storytelling comes from a feminist perspective and challenges stereotypical representations of Roma people. Often working in collaboration with other women, she sews pieces of clothing, handkerchiefs, tablecloths, curtains and sheets together to create vivid portraits and scenes from everyday life.

Ongoing exhibitions in Cornwall

Crysede: Iconic Imagemakers at Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro (adults £7.50 for an annual pass, under 18s free) explores this influential Cornish fashion and textile company Cryséde, 100 years on from its creation, looking at the characters behind the brand and the artistic connections drawing from RCM’s rich archive supported by loans from Penlee House.

Over at The Eden Project a new exhibition presents a powerful and immersive film by internationally acclaimed British artist and Turner Prize nominee Cornelia Parker – THE FUTURE (Sixes and Sevens) (2023) offers a poignant exploration of the future through the eyes of primary school children, where six and seven-year-olds candidly share their hopes, fears, and visions for the future.

For the first time, five of Mark Rothko’s Seagram murals are being shown together at the Tate St Ives and you’ll find them as you exit the exhibition in a low contemplative light in gallery 10. The Seagram murals were donated by Rothko the Tate in 1969 after being completed by the artist in his studio in New York in 1958, where they were initially painted as a commission for the Four Seasons restaurant in the Seagram Building. Despite completing the work – and a second and then third version- to the space specification of the commission, after a visit to Europe and Cornwall in 1959 Rothko decided that the restaurant was not the right place for the installation and it was never completed. The works move away from his original brighter colours and are instead more red and black, inspired by visits to Florence. An exciting opportunity to see multiple Rothko’s in Cornwall – they’ll be in situ until Jan 2025!

Valency Valley, Kurt Jackson (Jackson Foundation Gallery, St Just until 22 Feb 2025). The three times Muddy Award winning gallery sees a return to his earliest artistic stomping ground, the Valency Valley, which meets the sea at Boscastle Harbour.

It was here that he cut his artistic teeth, and now, with 40 years of experience under his belt and the philosophy that ‘no man ever steps in the same river twice’, Jackson put nostalgia aside to paint the present and look to the future of a valley so formative in his journey.

FOODIE

Plenty of foodie action across the Duchy including a Harvest Feast, Barnabys at Trevibban Mill, Padstow (Thurs 3 Oct), where to celebrate the grape harvest along with harvest festival, Barnaby’s are putting on a cosy autumnal feast, served on shared tables, feasting style. Tickets are £75 pp and include a welcome drink. On Fri 11 Oct head to Heligan x The PIG Lost Suppers, an excellent collab where the teams will be dishing up a five-course tasting menu that’s packed full of flavour, and uses the freshest and finest Heligan ingredients. The supper will be prepared by Head Chef at THE PIG-at Harlyn Bay, Tom Holloway, alongside Heligan Chef, Alex Martin. Doors will open at 6:30pm with a welcome drink for all upon arrival. £80pp.

It’s currently sold out but worth stalking IG for last minute cancellations – Nathan Outlaw at Four Boys, Rock, (Sat 12 Oct) where Port Isaac based Nathan Outlaw is bringing Fish Kitchen to Four Boys for one night only. Expect seafood sharing plates, Fish Kitchen classics and a few of Nathan’s favourite dishes. £120pp.

Celebrate the season of harvest with an Autumn Feast at Carbis Bay (Fri 18 and Sat 19 October). With the turning of leaves comes the vibrant autumn colours and with the darkening nights, the warmth of a candle-lit glow. Join the team at Carbis Bay who will be serving autumn delights such as Cornish mulled cyder, butternut squash and rib of beef, and apple crumble with creamy custard. A live Cornish band will set the mood for an evening feasting and making merry. The evening will take place in The Orangery Restaurant located in The Main House, which will be tastefully dressed for Autumn for the whole of October. Tickets £55pp and include 6-courses with a welcome drink on arrival. All dietaries catered for.

And then see out the month with a Supper Club, The Idle Rocks, St Mawes (Thurs 24 October, also Thurs 21 Nov). The hotel – and it has just been awarded one of the first Michelin Key’s in the UK – is inviting guests and locals once again to join them at the waterside restaurant for a relaxed evening and opportunity to try some wonderful seasonal dishes. Complete with a unique 3-course menu curated by the Head Chef, the evenings offer the chance to meet The Idle Rocks’ kitchen team and taste some of their newest creations. Large parties are also very welcome too; the chef’s’ table can accommodate up to 12 guests – perfect for a celebration with family or friends. £65pp and include a wonderful 3 course dinner, along with a welcome drink and coffee with petit fours. Repeats monthly throughout Autumn, Winter & Spring, until May 2025.

LITERARY

Featuring a dynamic line-up of authors, poets and storytellers, Falmouth Book Festival is back again for 2024 (various venues, Mon 14 – Sun 20 October). It takes place throughout the town and sets out to celebrate books, sharing ideas, and bringing people together. The line up includes David Baddiel, Rick Stein, Cathy Rentzenbrink, Rosie Holt, Nick Harkaway, Petroc Trelawny, Monique Roffey and more to be announced – tickets on sale in September. Look out for other related events too, like Read Between the Wines (Sat 19 Oct) who are hosting a reading and wine tasting event at Esspessrini at 7pm (£15).

FOR THE KIDS / HALLOWEEN

Kids trick or treat in Halloween costume. Children in colorful dress up with candy bucket on suburban street. Little girl trick or treating with pumpkin lantern. Autumn holiday fun.

31 Days of Halloween at Away Resorts is a month-long celebration filled with fun, thrills, and Halloween magic for the whole family. Selected parks (including St Ives Bay, Retallack Resorts and Newquay Bay in Cornwall) will be transformed with pumpkin patches, themed decorations, and #NotSoSpooky entertainment. There are plenty of new fang-tastic activities:

Trick or Treat Treasure Trail: Kids can grab their Trick or Treat bags and embark on a thrilling Halloween quest.
Potions & Spells: A brand new crafts activity where little witches and wizards can create enchanting potions.

Families can also enjoy spooky-themed pottery painting, tie-dye activities, and the Franken-SLIME Laboratory, while the Boo Crew leads the fun with The Halloween Jam-BOO-ree, featuring the Haunted House Party, Deadly Disco, and more.

Over at Heligan, October half-term (26th October – 3rd November) will see the return of traditional activities such as Corn Dolly workshops and apple pressing, offering children (young and old!) the chance to be hands-on and enjoy these harvest projects.

The full Harvest Programme will also include a Heritage Produce Display, showcasing the vibrant autumn colours of Heligan from parsnips to peppers, cabbages to chard, pumpkins to pears and everything in between.

SEE OUR FULL CORNWALL HALF TERM GUIDE HERE

BOOK AHEAD FOR

St Michaels Resort, Falmouth has been the proud sponsor of the Falmouth Oyster Festival for over twenty years – a tradition that runs deep in the local area. Sadly due to rising costs, it was announced that the festival was cancelled, but the team at St Michaels has confirmed that a community event will be held to fill the void at the resort. The weekend long event will celebrate the famed local delicacy, as well as the Falmouth community and will mark the beginning of the oyster dredging season this autumn, from 15 –17 November 2024.

St Michaels’ Oyster Weekend will incorporate live music, foodie demonstrations from some of Cornwall’s best chefs including Jude Kereama, James Strawbridge, Hylton Espey and Rupert Cooper, a street-food style gourmet offering and the chance to meet local oystermen and learn about their craft. A standout event during the revelry will be an oyster shucking competition and the event at St Michaels Resort will be the perfect opportunity to welcome friends from far and wide to Falmouth. Entry will be free until 6pm, and thereafter tickets can be purchased on the door or in advance for a £2 contribution to a local, Cornish charity.

The Jubilee Pool celebrates the end of a paw-some season in the cold pool with a dog day, with mutts-anticipated tickets selling quickly. It’s a day that people go barking mad for, and please fur-give (them) and me for the puns! This year’s event is on 3 November.

NOT ON THIS YEAR

Dave and Bird Porthleven - sculpture overlooking Porthleven harbour at twilight

Porthleven Arts Festival is taking a break for 2024 – last year was lots of fun with more than 60 events across the town including exhibitions, art, workshops, music, poetry and performance. No word as yet as to whether it will be returning for 2025, watch this space.

Also taking a break for 2024 is the Falmouth Oyster Festival, one of Cornwall’s biggest and best loved specialist food events. 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. BUT! Don’t despair, see above for St Michaels Resort’s community weekend instead.

Hello autumn! 30+ things to do in Cornwall this October

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