It’s not all wall-to-wall Christmas events – although there are plenty of those, of course – Cornwall’s creative, artistic and food scene has plenty to offer this December too. Get your diary out, this list will see you through the last four weeks of the year in style.

CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS

Mousehole (above) are the most famous of the Cornish harbour lights with the town going all out – light up starts on 15 December. The current lights were started by Mousehole-based artist, Joan Gillchrest, 61 years ago. The whole village celebrates Tom Bawcock’s Eve on 23 December, when the fisherman Tom Bawcock saved the village from starvation by fishing in a dangerous storm. The story is immortalised in children’s favourite storybook, The Mousehole Cat.

Montol (Penzance, 21 Dec) is Cornwall’s traditional festival of midwinter at the Winter Solstice. Dancers in full disguise, called Guisers, parade the streets, accompanied by music from peccadillos, drumming and burning torches.

Cotehele (until 5 Jan) is celebrating once again by the making of its famed garland, made annually – a beloved Christmas tradition, which began in the 1950s. The first garland was a beautiful and simple affair, made from a bushy evergreen shrub called pittosporum, inspired by the decorative greenery and kissing boughs that the Tudors brought into their homes in the winter.

MUSIC

The ‘Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols’ services are a much loved and historic part of Christmas celebrations in Cornwall and the Bishop Benson, the first Bishop of Truro, devised the OG back in 1880. Adopted almost universally by every church of every denomination, the services in Truro are usually filled to capacity so arrive early to avoid disappointment. The first service on 23 Dec will be sung by the choir and the girl choristers, the second, on 24 Dec with its boy choristers – and live streamed on their YouTube channel if you can’t attend in person.

December is a lovely time for a choral concert, and also at the cathedral is the Three Spires performance of Handel’s Messiah (Sat 7 Dec), and A Grand Georgian Christmas (Tues 10 Dec) plus a whole of various carol services by different organisations. Being always a joy to attend a carol service, you’ll of course also find loads on locally too around the Duchy – including Wadebridge Choral Society’s in Egloshayle Church at 6pm on Sat 21 Dec.

Other musical items includes Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra: Christmas Fanfare at St Endellion Church, Mon 9 Dec, where they will be playing a festive concert.

FESTIVALS & WORKSHOPS

The Cornwall Harp & Gurdy Festival returns to Falmouth at The Cornish Bank, Sat 30 Nov and Sun 1 Dec, with a programme filled with live performances and events to explore and celebrate these two distinctive instruments. Bringing together local and national acts, alongside taster sessions and the opportunity to hear their influence on all types of music, this Festival for all ages will mean you will never view harps and hurdy-gurdies the same way again. You can experience and take part in beginner harp workshops, a hurdy-gurdy ceilidh, Stone Club DJ set, acclaimed harp player Anna McLuckie and more.

THEATRE, PANTO & COMEDY

Hall for Cornwall are performing Jack and the Beanstalk from Fri 6 Dec until Tues 31 Dec, starring once again everyone’s favourite Kernow King himself Edward Rowe, who bags his bucket list role of Dame Trott alongside a cast of homegrown heroes and West End wonders, Jack And the Beanstalk is perfect for children of all ages (grown-ups and grandparents, that means you as well!). Tickets from £15, look out for my review very soon!

See our feature here with a round-up of the rest of the festive theatre & panto.

FILM

Last chance to see Kerdroya, the Cornish Landscape Labyrinth short film at The Poly in Falmouth, Thur 12 Dec. In the middle of Bodmin Moor, Kerdroya entwines these two ancient cultural phenomena and weaves its meandering path into the future. With contributions from Cornish Hedgers young and old, gorgeous music from ‘Dalla Duo’ and sweeping drone shots of the Cornish landscape, Gemma Gilbert’s new film is a proper treat for the senses. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Artistic Director, Will Coleman, Film-maker, Gemma Gilbert and Cornish Hedger, Leighton Paull.

GET OUTSIDE

I can’t list them all because I’d be here until January but don’t forget to check Facebook or ask locally for your nearest Santa Runs and Christmas Day/ Boxing Day/ New Year’s Day swims. A Cornish Christmas wouldn’t be the same without them – you’ll find Santas dipping all along Cornwall’s coast.

ART & ART EXHIBITIONS

LAST CHANCE!

Not long left if you want to see multiple Rothko’s in Cornwall – they’ll be in situ until early Jan 2025 – 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.

ONGOING

Flora: 150 Years of Environmental Change in Cornwall sees Kurt Jackson working in collaboration with Penlee House Gallery & Museum to stage an exhibition about the flora of West Cornwall (until January 11th 2025). This thought-provoking show sees Kurt’s work juxtaposed with Victorian depictions of Cornwall to demonstrate the impact of 150 years of environmental change on the region’s flora, fauna, habitats and human experience. Read my review here.

Malgorzata Mirga-Tas at Tate St Ives October 2024

Discover the vibrant textile works of Romani artist Małgorzata Mirga-Tas at Tate St Ives. 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. Read my review here.

NEW

TEYR gallery in Bude is a new, pop-up gallery by three local female artists, until 11 January only.

ONE-OFF EVENTS

The Cornwall Garden Society’s (CGS) December lectures will be delivered by Stella Exley, an independent hardy plant nurserywoman who runs Hare Spring Cottage Plants, which was established in North Yorkshire but is now located within the rolling Devonshire countryside of the South Hams. Camassia, Chris, Chelsea and Chaos will be Stella’s subject on Tues 10 Dec at 7.30pm at The Alverton in Truro and All I Ever Wanted to Do is Grow Plants will be her theme on Weds 11 Dec at 2.30pm at Penventon Park Hotel in Redruth. Free for members, by donation for non-members.

Head to Polurrian on the Lizard for an 80s and 90s-themed, fancy-dress disco to celebrate the end of 2024. Kick off the festivities early with Happy Hour from 3-5pm and live DJ, the perfect warm-up to a night of throwback beats, big hair, and even bigger shoulder pads (Tues 31 Dec).

Ring in the New Year in at the Great Estate Cathedral Masquerade Ball, Truro Cathedral (Tues 31 Dec). Expect: theatrical performances, street food, champagne bar, welcome drinks and canapes. Live music (to be announced) and a Silent Disco too. Dress code is strictly Black Tie (Tuxedo / Smart Suit) and Ball Gowns / Cocktail Dress with a masquerade mask of your choosing.

FOODIE

Head to Mousehole for the Village Feast on Sat 7 Dec at 1pm at The Old Coastguard, followed by the Barbed Choir at 3pm, everyone generally joins in the singing. Also, if you’re inspired by Tom Bawcock’s Eve, the pub will be serving their take on Stargazey pie on Mon 23 Dec.

FESTIVE

owl lantern at Heligan Lights Trail 2024 RB image

Christmas and the lead up to it in Cornwall is just lovely – from lights trails to wreath workshops, visits to Santa, festive afternoon teas, Christmas markets and more, there’s plenty to do if you’re in a twinkly mood.

BOOK AHEAD FOR

Having taken some time off from the road after her marathon three-month autumn UK and USA tour, singer-songwriter Sarah McQuaid is kicking off 2025 with a short run of UK shows — starting in her adopted home town of Penzance, Cornwall — before heading across the channel for a five-week February-March tour in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany (Fri 17 Jan, The Acorn).

Welcome December! What’s on in Cornwall this month?

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