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Cornish Events 2026
Don’s Miss Out!
FEBRUARY
St Ives Feast & Hurling of the Silver Ball
St Ives, 9th February
If you haven’t seen a crowd hurtling after a tiny silver ball through the streets and beaches of St Ives, have you really experienced Cornwall? This ancient Feast Day is wonderfully unique.
The morning starts calmly enough with a procession to St Ia’s Well… and then the Mayor launches the silver ball and all chaos breaks loose. Whoever’s still clutching it at midday wins a silver coin and serious bragging rights.
You don’t need to join the chase to enjoy it. Watching from the sidelines, coffee, pasty or pint in hand is just as entertaining. And if you’re walking into St Ives that day, even better. The sound of cheering drifting across the harbour is quite the welcome.
MARCH
Falmouth Spring Flower Show
Falmouth, March TBC
Falmouth Spring Flower Show is a real gem, and one of the oldest flower shows in the country.
For two colourful days, Falmouth fills with the scent of early blooms, exquisite floral displays and the kind of friendly competition only gardeners can muster. Expect dazzling arrangements, rare plants, expert talks and a wonderfully warm community atmosphere — all celebrating the moment Cornwall shakes off winter and bursts back into life.
And afterwards? Falmouth is the perfect place to linger. Grab a coffee by the harbour, wander through the town’s galleries, or simply enjoy that first real hint of spring in the air.
APRIL
Porthleven Food Festival
Porthleven, 24-26 April
Porthleven’s much‑loved food festival returns this spring, bringing with it a feast of flavours, live music and that unmistakable harbour‑side buzz. Over three vibrant days, the town transforms into a celebration of Cornwall’s culinary talent, with cooking demonstrations from some of the region’s finest chefs and streets lined with incredible local produce.
Expect tempting tasters at every turn, artisan stalls showcasing the best of Cornwall’s larder, and a lively programme of entertainment that keeps the festival atmosphere going long after the sun dips behind the harbour.
Featured in many of our favourite walking routes, Porthleven has firmly earned its reputation as one of Cornwall’s must‑visit dining destinations and this festival is the perfect excuse to experience it at its very best.
Click Here to view our local availability for the event.
MAY
Padstow May Day
Padstow, 1 May
Padstow’s legendary May Day celebrations need little introduction! This is one of Cornwall’s most iconic traditions, and the famous ‘Obby ‘Oss takes centre stage. As dusk falls on 30 April, the town is dressed in greenery, flags and flowers, ready for the festivities to begin. By morning, the red and blue ‘Obby ‘Osses burst from their stables, swirling through the streets to the sound of drums, accordions and the unmistakable chorus of white‑clad dancers.
It’s an extraordinary spectacle, part folklore, part festival and one that draws crowds from far and wide. Up to 30,000 people can pack into Padstow’s narrow lanes, creating an atmosphere that’s electric, joyful and wonderfully unique.
If you’re planning to join the celebrations, leave the car behind if you can. With the town so busy, walking into Padstow is by far the easiest (and most enjoyable) way to soak up the magic of May Day.
Helston Flora Day
Helston, 8 May
One of Cornwall’s oldest and most cherished celebrations, Helston Flora Day marks the arrival of spring with music, colour and centuries‑old tradition. The festivities begin bright and early at 7am with the Morning Dance, setting the tone for a day filled with rhythm and revelry. Soon after comes the Hal‑An‑Tow — a lively, ancient Mummers’ Play that brings Helston’s history to life through song, costume and storytelling.
As the morning unfolds, the town’s children take centre stage with their own joyful procession, filling the streets with flowers, ribbons and proud families looking on. Then, at midday, the famous Furry Dance sweeps through Helston — elegant, spirited and utterly unique. It’s a celebration that feels both timeless and full of heart.
With thousands of visitors flocking to the town, parking can be tricky. If you’re heading to Flora Day, walking into Helston is by far the easiest and most enjoyable way to soak up the atmosphere.
St Ives Food Festival
Porthminster Beach St Ives, 15-17 May
St Ives’ vibrant food scene needs little introduction, and this much‑loved two‑day festival is the perfect showcase. Set on the golden sands of Porthminster Beach, the event brings together an impressive line‑up of local chefs, producers and street‑food favourites — all celebrating the very best of Cornwall’s culinary creativity.
Wander between stalls piled high with fresh flavours, enjoy live cooking demonstrations, and soak up the festival atmosphere with music, fireworks and a bustling artisan market. With the sea as your backdrop, it’s a feast for all the senses.
Many of our walking routes pass through or begin in St Ives, so with a bit of luck, you might find yourself arriving just in time to join the festivities.
Check Out our St Ives accommodations!
JUNE
Tunes in the Dunes
Perranporth, 5-7 June
Set on the sweeping sands of Perranporth Beach, Tunes in the Dunes is three unforgettable days of live music, sea air and festival energy. As the UK’s biggest beach‑side music event, it attracts major national and international headline acts, all performing just metres from the shoreline.
This is a lively, popular event, so be prepared for a busy one — but if you love music with a coastal backdrop, it’s absolutely worth it.
Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival
Falmouth, 12-14 June
Europe’s largest free nautical music festival returns to Falmouth, filling the town with the sound of rousing sea shanties, lively performances and plenty of maritime mischief. Dozens of shanty groups from across Cornwall, the UK and beyond descend on the harbour, bringing with them harmonies that echo through pubs, quaysides and tucked‑away courtyards.
Across the weekend, Falmouth comes alive with music, laughter and a warm, welcoming festival spirit. It’s a celebration that captures the town’s seafaring heritage perfectly, energetic, heartfelt and impossible not to get swept up in.
photo credits: Falmouth Town Team
Golowan Festival
Penzance, 19-28 June
We have a real soft spot for this one. Every June, Penzance bursts into joyful, slightly bonkers brilliance as the Golowan Festival takes over the town. Recently revived but rooted in centuries‑old tradition, it’s a week filled with music, colour and community spirit, all building towards the much‑loved Mazey Day on the final Saturday.
Mazey Day is the heart of it all – vibrant parades winding through the streets, stalls selling everything from local crafts to delicious treats, and entertainment popping up on every corner. Throughout the week you’ll also find live music, performances and a funfair set up along the Prom.
And for walkers, here’s a fun detail, the fair technically sits right on the South West Coast Path, making it an unexpected (and rather delightful) stop along the way
JULY
Lafrowda Festival
St Just, 11-19 July
St Just comes alive each July with the vibrant, creative spirit of the Lafrowda Festival. A joyful celebration of West Cornwall’s thriving arts scene. What begins as a fortnight of workshops, performances and community events builds towards the much‑anticipated Lafrowda Day, when the town bursts into colour, music and movement.
Expect imaginative parades, a magical torchlit procession, and a full programme of entertainment at the Plain‑An‑Gwarry, St Just’s historic open‑air theatre and a truly special setting for live performance. The whole festival feels wonderfully grassroots, full of local talent and community pride.
If you’re walking anywhere in West Cornwall during the first half of July, there’s a good chance you’ll stumble upon a Lafrowda event and it’s well worth pausing to soak up the atmosphere.
AUGUST
Boardmasters
Watergate Bay, Newquay, 5-9 August
If you’re hoping to experience Boardmasters, you’ll want to plan ahead. This is one festival you definitely won’t just wander into by chance. But we couldn’t possibly leave out Cornwall’s legendary beach party, where world‑class surf competitions meet an impressive line‑up of live music.
Set across Fistral Beach and the clifftops at Watergate Bay, Boardmasters blends coastal adventure with festival atmosphere in a way that’s uniquely Cornish. Expect big crowds, big acts and that unmistakable summer buzz rolling in with the Atlantic waves.
SEPTEMBER
St Ives September Festival
St Ives, 13-27 September
September sees us heading back down West for St Ives’ flagship arts festival. A two‑week celebration packed with gigs, exhibitions, film, poetry, open studios and hands‑on workshops. The programme is wonderfully varied, but if you can, make time for one of the talks or guided tours exploring the town’s rich artistic and maritime history. They’re genuinely fascinating, and many are completely free.
It also happens to be one of the best times of year for a walking holiday in St Ives. The festival brings a lovely buzz, the weather is usually kind, the sea has finally warmed up (a little), and the summer crowds have drifted away. Perfect conditions for exploring the coast path before settling in for an evening of arts and entertainment.
Penzance Food Festival
Penzance, 18-20 September
Held in the much‑loved Penlee Park, this thoughtful, sustainably minded festival celebrates Penzance’s culture, community and coastal heritage in the most delicious way. The setting itself is part of the charm, a leafy green space where the focus is firmly on protecting the natural surroundings while bringing people together.
Across the weekend, you’ll find the very best of Cornish food and drink: live‑fire cooking, talented local chefs, artisan producers, craft drinks and plenty of tempting treats to graze your way through. It’s relaxed, welcoming and full of flavour, a perfect reflection of Penzance itself.
OCTOBER
Falmouth Oyster Festival
Events Square Falmouth, 8-11 October
If you haven’t eaten oysters and sipped a pint of Betty Stogs in a tent while a group of local lads belt out Trelawney, have you truly experienced Cornwall? Perhaps that’s a slight exaggeration, but the Falmouth Oyster Festival really is something special. And the best part? You don’t even need to like oysters to enjoy it.
Across four lively days, Events Square fills with chef demos, local produce, live music and a warm, unmistakably Cornish atmosphere. It’s a celebration of Falmouth’s maritime heritage, its working waters and its vibrant food scene.
Falmouth is a welcoming place at any time of year, but arriving on foot makes it even better. Our epic nine‑day walk into this lively university town is a brilliant way to soak up the landscapes, stories and flavours of West Cornwall before diving into the festivities
NOVEMBER
Heligan Night Garden
Lost Gardens of Heligan, Month Long
As November settles in and the evenings draw close, Heligan transforms into something truly enchanting. The Night Garden glows to life with lanterns, light sculptures and winding illuminated trails that make the historic estate feel almost otherworldly.
It’s the kind of event that makes you slow down. Families wander beneath glowing canopies, children race ahead to spot the next lantern creature, and the gardens usually so familiar in daylight feel completely reimagined. Every corner reveals something new: gentle pools of colour, sculptural silhouettes, and pockets of soft light that make the whole place feel like a storybook brought to life.
It’s a beautiful way to welcome winter, and a reminder that even the darkest months have their own kind of magic.
DECEMBER
Mousehole Harbour Lights
Mousehole, 2nd week of December into January
There’s something undeniably special about visiting Mousehole in December. As the nights draw in, the village begins to glow, not just with lights, but with that unmistakable Cornish warmth that makes you slow down, breathe in the sea air, and feel part of something timeless.
For locals and visitors alike, the Mousehole lights are more than decoration. They’re a celebration of togetherness, creativity, and the enduring spirit of a village that knows how to shine, even in the darkest months.
Whether you’re sipping mulled wine by the harbour or watching reflections ripple across the water, the Mousehole lights offer a moment of magic. A reminder that even the smallest spark, like a string of bulbs in 1963, can grow into something extraordinary.
