MARCH

CULTURAL EVENT: St Piran’s Day , 5 March

St Piran’s Day, the national day of Cornwall, is celebrated each year across the county on 5 March. Saint Piran was the patron saint of tin miners. Traditional ways of celebrating included parades and processions, with almost every community marking the day in some way. Bude, Falmouth, Bodmin, Perranporth, Launceston, Penzance, St Ives and Truro are among the bigger parades – check locally where you are if you want to watch one.

Don’t miss the Trelawny Shout, an annual tradition where the county unites in harmony to recite the Cornish national anthem, at 9pm on St Piran’s Day – look out for gatherings in pubs across the county.

APRIL

FLORAL: Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show, Wadebridge, 1- 2 April

The annual flower show at The Royal Cornwall Showground for an ever-more exuberant celebration of Cornwall’s early Spring with the largest horticultural show outside London, our ‘Chelsea of the South West’.

MUSIC: Rattler Fest 2023, Healeys Cider Farm, 21 – 22 April

Third annual adults-only music festival. Headliners for 2023 include Goldie Lookin Chain, Freshly Squeezed, Penny Eyes and Stone Roots.

FOODIE: Porthleven Food Festival, Porthleven, 21 – 23 April

The Porthleven Food Festival brings people together to enjoy eats and beats around the stunning harbour of Porthleven with a national and international chef’s theatre, food stalls, street food, music by day and night and entertainment for all.

FESTIVAL: Roseland Festival, 22 April – 5 May

A celebration of cultural events to appeal across the board including folk and jazz, history and art, films and photography, choirs and quartets, walks and talks.

EVENT: World Pilot Gig Championships, Isles of Scilly, 28 – 30 April

The 32nd Annual World Pilot Gig rowing competition is held as usual at the end of April.

CULTURAL EVENT: Trevithick Day, Camborne, 29 April

Trevithick day is part of Cornwall’s rich heritage and is day that the whole family will enjoy. The day celebrates Camborne town’s renowned industrial history. Join the town in their festivities admiring the magnificent steam engines, based on the life of local engineer Richard Trevithick who invented steam engines for the local and international mining industry. There will be dancing in the streets, a variety of music, an abundance of stalls and a fairground to entertain you throughout the day.

MAY

LAST CHANCE! ART EXHIBITION: Barbara Hepworth: Art and Life , Tate St Ives, ends May 2023

This landmark retrospective on the iconic British artist Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975) is not to be missed. Encompassing almost 50 sculptures, as well as rarely seen drawings, paintings and archival materials, Barbara Hepworth: Art & Life celebrates one of the most influential sculptors of the twentieth century and the special significance of St Ives on her work. Originally staged at The Hepworth Wakefield near the artist’s birthplace, Tate St Ives has collaborated with the gallery to reimagine the exhibition for the Cornish context in which Hepworth lived and worked.

CULTURAL EVENT: Padstow Obby Oss & St Ives May Day, 1 May

If you fancy seeing some traditional May Day celebrations, Padstow and St Ives will (hopefully) be making merry the old fashioned way. In usual years particularly keen revellers in Padstow can be seen singing in the streets from midnight on 30 Apr but the main Obby Oss celebrations begin the next morning with local people parading and dancing with their Obby Oss’ (hobby horses). St Ives’ May Day celebrations were revived relatively recently but involve choirs, brass brands, dancing round the may pole and the crowning of a May Queen and King.

CULTURAL EVENT: King Charles III Coronation, Sat 6 May

While The Coronation Ceremony itself will take place at Westminster Abbey, London, expect events to mark the occasion across the long weekend including 8 May which is designated as an additional bank holiday for 2023.

CULTURAL EVENT: Flora Day, Helston, 8 May

The people of Helston have been celebrating the ancient tradition of Flora Day for hundreds of years. It is a spring festival to mark the end of winter and arrival, vitality and fertility of spring. The shops and houses are decked out with bluebells, laurels, gorse and other greenery and the dancing begins from seven in the morning, continuing all day. Eighty couples dance through the streets – as well as several shops and houses – to drive out the darkness of winter and usher in the light of spring.

FOODIE: St Ives Food & Drink Festival, 12 – 14 May

Prepare for a weekend of culinary treats on the sands of beautiful Porthminster Beach – back now in the usual May spot. There’s always a great line-up of local and national chefs putting on demonstrations, which in previous years have included Tom Brown, Aine Carlin, Simon Hulstone, Jude Kereama, Hersha Patel, Chris Eden, and Ben Tunnicliffe. There’s usually a large selection of the best street food on offer plus plenty of traders with delicious produce for sale in the Artisan Tent.

MUSIC FESTIVAL: Tunes in the Dunes, Perranporth, 12- 14 May

The UK’s biggest festival on a beach held on the white sands of Perranporth has moved to the earlier weekend of mid-May. Headliners for 2023 are The Vaccines, Kaiser Chiefs and James Bay.

LITERARY: Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature, 12 – 20 May

The literary festival based in Daphne du Maurier’s beautiful hometown of Fowey, is back for its 25th time in 2023. Featuring a wide range of guest speakers with talks, panel debates, workshops and concerts – further details TBC.

CULTURAL FESTIVAL: Creative Scilly, 13 – 22 May

This cultural festival celebrates the islands’ culture and creativity on a scale beyond anything hosted on the islands before and includes music, theatre, poetry, storytelling, visual arts and island life. Building on the foundations of the long established and well-loved Art Scilly week, the Creative Scilly Festival will feature an eclectic mix of events and hands-on workshops, demonstrations, public art displays, performances, gallery openings and fun nights out across the five islands.

FESTIVAL: LostFest, Lostwithiel, 21 May

LostFest is a quirky one day free festival in Lostwithiel with something for everyone!

ART: Cornwall Open Studios, various locations across Cornwall, 27 May – 4 June

There are many galleries large and small across Cornwall, where you can see the work of local artists but during this special event, almost 300 Cornish-based artists will open their studios to visitors. Some of these artists may not show in Cornwall at all, giving a unique chance to see their work in their workspace and to meet and talk with working artists around the county. Many artists are also offering workshops throughout the week and if you are looking to buy a piece of art, this is a great opportunity to see a range of work or possibly commission something. Participating studios will display an orange ‘O’ outside, so you know you are welcome to pop in and say hi, though opening times vary, so check the catalogue before making a special visit.

FESTIVAL: SkyBar, Watergate Bay, 27 – 28 May

SkyBar takes the best of the aprés ski vibe and turns up the heat to create the highlight of your summer. Building on the amazing sell-out successes of recent years, with excellent music and plenty of drinks to compliment the awesome sunsets, in some beautiful South West locations.

JUNE

FESTIVAL: The Great Estate Festival, Scorrier, 2 – 4 June

“The most rambunctious Garden Fête!” Expect major international headline acts and a mix of comedy, theatre, music and the arts, all within the beautiful grounds of Scorrier Estate, with headliners Primal Scream announced so far. Look out for the vintage fairground, woodland silent disco, secret gin garden, The Whispering Woods, burlesque sessions, Madame Wong’s House of Wrong, classical corner, glamping, hot tubs, The Sanctuary and the Swamp Circus and much more.

MUSIC: Eden Sessions, The Eden Project, various June

Lionel Richie (7 June), Yungblud (10 June), The War on Drugs (18 June), Jack Johnson (23 June), Pet Shop Boys (28 June) and Kasabian (1 July) join the stellar line up of stars who have appeared on the fast becoming iconic Cornish stage.

ARTS: Penzance Arts Festival, June TBC

Celebrate Penzance as one of the most vibrant and innovative artistic towns in the country with exhibitions and events relating to 1000 of its local artists – no details announced for 2023 yet.

EVENT: Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge, 8 – 10 June

The big one in the country calendar, the Royal Cornwall Show has been hosted for more than two centuries, and the inset days of the summer term are timed round it, and even the then Prince of Wales attending in 2022. As you’d expect from a traditional country show there are animals, entertainment, a flower show, and competition classes of all kinds.

CULTURAL EVENT: Golowan & Mazey Day, Penzance, 16 – 25 June

Penzance really knows how to throw a street party and Golowan is the traditional celebration of midsummer, marked with music, serpent dances, fairs, greenery and banners. Expect fireworks on Mazey Eve or bring the family to Mazey Day to see the parade of incredible, giant sculptures.

MUSIC: Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, 16 – 18 June

A busy and loud weekend of performances by shanty groups from across the UK, Brittany and beyond including Cornwall’s own groups including The Fishermen’s Friends, filling up pubs and stages across the town with often free performances.

FESTIVAL: 3 Wishes Fairy Festival, Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, 16 – 18 June

Family-friendly fairy festival with daily optional fancy dress themes featuring more magic than you can shake a fairy wand at. Find the Faerie Garden, village and market, workshops and a circus, plus music, and camping under the stars.

NAUTICAL: Falmouth Classics Week, 16 – 18 June

Nominally a sailing regatta for classic boats (yours truly has raced in it) but also lots of fun to be had at the accompanying events, as well as watching the parade of sail.

ART EXHIBITION: The Legend of King Arthur: A Pre-Raphaelite Love Story, Falmouth Art Gallery, 17 June – 30 Sept

Falmouth Art Gallery is hosting the Cornish leg of major new touring exhibition, The Legend of King Arthur: A Pre-Raphaelite Love Story, highlights of which will include the entire Lady of Shalott series of paintings, previously unseen as one collection.

MUSIC: Sam Ryder, Bands In The Sands, Perranporth, 23 June

Everyone’s favourite astronaut / Eurovision singer is playing at Perranporth’s Watering Hole.

JULY

LITERARY: Penzance LitFest, Penzance, 5 – 8 July

Plans are afoot for this annual festival, although no details yet beyond the theme, which is ‘arrival’. Expect talks, workshops and more from writers and authors from Cornwall and beyond.

MUSIC FESTIVAL: Tropical Pressure Festival, Mount Pleasant Eco Park, Porthtowan, 14 – 17 July

A small, family friendly festival with a global theme, celebrating the rich music, dance and food of 3 Tropical continents, in the beautiful Cornish countryside. Enjoy an incredible line up of music, free workshops and amazing food.

MUSIC FESTIVAL: Leopallooza, Nr Bude, 21 – 23 July

Described as the UK’s greatest house party in a field, the Leopallooza Festival (25 mins from Bude) is a cult festival that focuses on new and breaking bands, with the likes of Bastille, Kodaline, Everything Everything, Jamie Lawson and Izzy Bizu making appearances here in their early days – the line up this year is still tbc. Family friendly (my kids love the kids activities, like Muddy Award winning Rogue Theatre) and lots of camping options, Leo is the hottest festival ticket in Cornwall.

FESTIVAL: Rock Oyster Festival, Rock, 27 – 30 July

Celebrating the best of music and food, Rock Oyster Festival, held at Dinham House near Wadebridge, is a north coast favourite for everyone, including yours truly. Expect live music – including from headliners Nile Rogers and Chic, plus the long-awaited 2021’s Covid-postponed set from Sophie Ellis Bexter, circus acts, yoga and a chance to try some of the best oysters, mussels, and artisan produce around. This family-friendly event also offers lots of fun for kids and includes loads of wellbeing activities like SUP, surfing, yoga and hot-tubs taking in the gorgeous view of the Camel Estuary.

NAUTICAL: Charlestown Regatta, 29 July – 4 Aug

Regatta week includes parties, celebrations, competitions and plenty of music and entertainment alongside the sailing – with the week culminating in the finale, Regatta Rocks.

AUGUST

NAUTICAL: Falmouth Week, Falmouth, 4 – 13 Aug

Falmouth Week is a major attraction for locals and visitors alike. With its origins in a local sailing regatta dating back at least far as 1837, the Week has evolved into not only a major sailing competition in the SW but also an opportunity for sailors and landlubbers to enjoy the many daytime and evening attractions in the town.No details yet for 2023 but there is usually an annual Tall Ships Race parade of sail, fireworks and there’s often a visit by the Red Arrows, too.

MUSIC FESTIVAL: Boardmasters, Newquay, 9 – 13 Aug

Cornwall’s biggest one! Headliners for 2023 include Liam Gallagher and Florence & The Machine, with more to be announced. The live music and pro surfing on the stunning Cornish coast is hosted across two beautiful locations, and while it’s a must on the teenage bucket list, don’t let that put you off. The festival site sits on the cliff top at Watergate Bay, home to arguably the world’s best festival view. Expect twelve stages, with a collection of acts ranging from local acoustic talent, to mind-bending visual performers, to international headliners. Oh and over at Fistral there’s one or two things too … pro surf comps, skating, BMX, live music, the Surf Village and much more.

NAUTICAL: Fowey Royal Regatta, 13 – 19 Aug

In addition to the sailing there is a carnival, procession, fireworks and music on the quayside.

KIDS: The Great Steam Engine Rally, Stithians Showground, 18 – 20 Aug

Family friendly weekend at Stithians to celebrate the West of England Steam Engine Society. Expect, well, Steam Engines and plenty of vintage vehicles, plus fairground and rural animals including shire horses, plus a dog show.

MUSIC: Cornwall Folk Festival, Wadebridge, 24-28 Aug

The bank holiday weekend is all about folk music in Wadebridge, with four nights and three days of concerts, sessions, folk clubs, dancing, workshops, craft fairs and children’s events in the beautiful market town.

MUSIC: Tunes in the Park, Port Eliot, 25 – 27 Aug

The Kooks, Sam Ryder and Tom Walker headline this festival in St Germans, which used to host Port Eliot fest.

EVENT: Cornwall Pride, Newquay, TBC, usually August bank holiday weekend

Cornwall Pride is a celebration of diversity in Cornwall. This traditional Pride event includes a colourful and vibrant parade from Towan Beach, Rainbow Fest with an afternoon of live music at Newquay’s Killacourt and a ticketed evening ‘Moonbow’ party.

EVENT: Unicorn Derby, Jubilee Pool, Penzance, TBC

The Jubilee Pool’s famous unicorn derby is always a fun day at the end of August with inflatable races across the pool, unicorn fancy dress and entertainment. Win swimming passes, cafe vouchers and more. All inflatables can take part but only unicorns can win in life!

FESTIVAL: SkyBar, St Agnes, 26 – 28 August

SkyBar takes the best of the aprés ski vibe and turns up the heat to create the highlight of your summer. Building on the amazing sell-out successes of recent years, with excellent music and plenty of drinks to compliment the awesome sunsets, in some beautiful South West locations.

SEPTEMBER

HISTORY: Heritage Open Days, various locations, 9 – 18 Sept

Expect open days at various unique or interesting historic buildings and land across the Duchy, all free. Details TBC.

ARTS and MUSIC: St Ives September Festival, St Ives, 9 – 23 Sept

With the summer rush of holidaymakers over, St Ives draws down art and music lovers from all over the country for a whole host of exhibitions and cultural events.

MUSIC: Little Orchard Cider and Music Festival, 11 Sept

Catch Ocean Colour Scene, Wille and the Bandits, The Wurzels and Hayseed Dixie for a little 90s nostalgia.

LITERARY: North Cornwall Book Festival, St Endellion, 21 – 24 Sept

North Cornwall Book Festival brings together readers and writers (and a few choice musicians) for a half term holiday of literature, narrative, craft, workshops and concerts in a site of outstanding beauty, between the holiday resort of Polzeath and the fishing community of Port Isaac. Events are yet to be announced but watch this space – booking opens 1 July.

OCTOBER

FOODIE: Falmouth Oyster Festival, Falmouth, 12 – 15 Oct

Falmouth’s Events Square will again play host to one of Cornwall’s biggest and best loved specialist food events, The Falmouth Oyster Festival. 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.

CULTURAL EVENT: Lowender Peran 2023, Redruth, 21 – 23 Oct

Celebrating Cornish music, full programme of events TBC.

EVENT: Bikelights, Wadebridge, Bude & Bodmin, TBC

2022’s parades were bigger and better than ever – with more than 700 bikes and a host of newly commissioned artists’ – featuring magnificent illuminated creations of all shapes and sizes. This is the most enormous fun, not only do you get to create brilliant illuminated bikes, but you also get to go on an unforgettable bike ride in the dark with your family, surrounded by the most enchanting glittering lights and laughter.

DECEMBER

FOODIE: Padstow Christmas Festival, TBC

Part food festival, part Christmas party and annual fireworks display, the Padstow Christmas Festival sets off the Cornish festive season, with all the traders carefully hand-picked, so you can look forward to finding an extensive collection of handmade, locally produced gifts, arts and craft as well as some of the region’s finest locally produced food and drink.

FESTIVE EVENT: Christmas Lights in Mousehole & Angarrack

Yes, there are Christmas lights in towns all over Cornwall but these are the particularly special and famous ones. In Mousehole the harbour and town is lit up with everything from sea monsters to star gazey pie and Angarrack’s display depicts the twelve days of Christmas.

CULTURAL EVENT: Montol, Penzance, 21 Dec

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

EVENT: Cotehele’s annual Christmas garland, Cotehele

Made out of 30,000 dried flowers grown on the Cotehele Estate and painstakingly created by volunteers to create a 60-foot garland that hangs in the Tudor Hall, the garland truly is a sight to behold. Open daily (runs to 5 Jan).

CULTURAL EVENT: Tom Bawcock’s Eve, Mousehole, 23 Dec

We always spend an evening in Mousehole at Christmas time, to see the amazing light display but Tom Bawcock’s Eve is the biggest celebration. Every year, the school children and locals parade lanterns and sing the traditional song and Star Gazey Pie is served up in The Ship Inn on the harbour side. This is all in honour of Tom Bawcock, a fisherman who according to legend, risked his life to go out fishing and feed the hungry people of Mousehole, one especially stormy winter.

SADLY NOT ON IN 2023, look out for 2024 announcement

MUSIC: Bude Folk Festival, Bude, May bankholiday weekend

Bude & Stratton Folk Festival is a friendly festival by the sea in Bude, North Cornwall with the emphasis on enjoying & sharing traditional acoustic music – due to venues not being available the 2023 festival is cancelled, with announcements to follow for 2024.

MUSIC: Looe Live! Festival, Looe, Sept

Looe Live! Festival used to serve up three days of superb live music in a magical setting on the stunning Cornish coast. A ‘grown-up’ music festival where camping isn’t a prerequisite, 2022 was cancelled and there’s no news yet for 2023.

EVENT: City of Lights Parade, Truro, TBC

Sadly after being cancelled in 2020, 2021 and 2022 we don’t see this much loved event returning, but we will update if we have better news.

TOO LATE… JUST MISSED

JAN

LAST CHANCE! ART EXHIBITION: Fred Yates In Cornwall, Penlee House, Penzance, until 7 Jan

Penlee House is celebrating the centenary of artist Fred Yates’s birth with a retrospective considering his ample body of work – interestingly, most of his early work was painted outdoors on rough boards using household paints.

ART EXHIBITION: Penlee Inspired, Penlee House & Gallery, Penzance, 18 Jan – 22 April

Returning for a fifth season, this exhibition showcases artistic responses from the public to the Gallery’s collections of art and artefacts. From professional artists to total beginners, school children to retirees, the staff at Penlee have carefully selected pieces that show not just technical proficiency, but a direct link to the Gallery & Museum, its collections and exhibitions.

THEATRE: An Inspector Calls, Hall for Cornwall, Truro, 24 – 28 Jan

The National Theatre’s An Inspector Calls, directed by Stephen Daldry, heads to Cornwall. Winner of 19 Awards, this is a beloved theatre performance and a great chance to see it without heading out of the Duchy.

FEB

CULTURAL EVENT: St Ives Feast and Hurling, 6 Feb

The St Ives Feast is an ancient tradition celebrating the anniversary of the consecration of the Parish Church of St Eia in 1434 AD and is celebrated by St Ives with several traditions, including the St Ives Well procession and one of three remaining games of hurling (a sort of ancient game of rugby) a silver ball. The winner is the person that returns the ball to the mayor on the steps of St Ives Guildhall on the stroke of midday and receives a silver coin for their efforts. Find a spot in the town to watch the festivities which can include people diving into the water to retain the silver ball as well as traditional Cornish guisers dancing from pub to pub.

GET OUTSIDE: Snowdrop Weekend Pencarrow House, Wadebridge, 11 – 12 Feb

It’s snowdrops in abundance over at Pencarrow House with the white bloomer springing up across the site’s fifty acres. This Georgian pile is the family home of the Molesworth-St Aubyns and the season really gets going with the first of the wild garlic when the gardens properly open in April, with the bluebells.

BLOSSOM WATCH: Great Gardens of Cornwall, Feb TBC

Each year join the gardeners to monitor the magnolias bursting into bloom heralding the oncoming of spring. In 2022, this happened in the last couple of weeks of Feb.

Fast forward to fun! Fab things to do in Cornwall in 2023

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