New Year’s Day in Cornwall
Who can imagine a better way to spend New Year’s Day than in the crisp sunny outdoor air in...
Now that we have entered into 2023, it’s time to look ahead and see what events in Cornwall are happening this year!
Cornwall plays host to many festivals, concerts, events and fairs throughout the year. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from food and drink, to music and art.
So get those calendars out and getting marking down your favourite picks as we tell you all events in Cornwall you won’t want to miss!
Read on to discover festivals and events in Cornwall…
1 – 2 April
Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge
Featuring more than 40 nurseries from around Cornwall, the Spring Flower Show showcases the best of horticulture in the region.
Described as the “Chelsea of the South West”, this Cornwall event attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Those green-fingered among you will love browsing the many traders at the show. Pick up something new, whether adding to a window box or large garden.
Get inspired by the RHS Chelsea Gold medal winners showcased here, perfect if you missed out on visiting Chelsea.
Along with all things gardening and flowers, you can enjoy Cornish food and drink too.
Tickets are £10 if booked in advance, and £12 on the gate, and under 16s go free.
Find out more at Cornwall Garden Society website.
Throughout Summer
Cornwall has for a long time embraced Pride, but last year the South West region ramped up their events schedule.
To celebrate 50 years of Pride in the UK, Cornwall had 11 events take place across the county, rather than the usual singular Pride event in Newquay.
The added events were a complete success, with Pride bringing splashes of colour and LGBTQ+ joy to Falmouth, Camborne, St Austell, Saltash, St Ives, Bodmin, Bude, Penzance, Redruth, Newquay and Truro.
Find all the dates for 2023’s Pride events in Cornwall further below. Each location has a special theme, from ‘celebrating Celtic culture’ to ‘supporting human rights and trans Pride’.
To kickstart the celebrations, Cornwall’s very own Pride Bus will be setting off on Saturday 18th February to tour the Duchy promoting all the parades, and then again the following weekend.
29 April – Falmouth Pride
20 May – Camborne Pride
27 May – St Austell Pride
03 June – Saltash Pride
10 June – St Ives and Hayle Pride
17 June – Bodmin Pride
01 July – Bude Pride
08 July – Penzance Pride
15 July – Redruth Pride
22 July – Newquay Pride
26 August – Cornwall Pride (Truro)
Events in blue are Main Pride Events, whilst the rest are Community Pride Events.
None of these Pride events require tickets, however donations are very welcome.
Find more information at Cornwall Pride website.
8 – 10 June
Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge
This three-day agricultural show is a calendar staple when it comes to Cornwall events. It’s the county’s biggest annual event, and whilst its focus is on food and farming, there’s plenty to entertain as well!
One of the best bits of the show is the Royal Cornwall Food and Farming Pavilion, show-casing a huge range of Cornish-grown and produced food and drink.
There are over 1,000 trade stands across the show, so you can pick up some fantastic items whilst supporting local businesses.
Along with livestock shows, Cornwall Cider Championships, and a flower show, expect exciting things from the Main Ring Entertainment.
Find more information on Royal Cornwall Show website.
7, 18, 23 June – more TBA
Eden Project, near St Austell
Pair a unique, open-air setting, the magic of Cornwall, and your favourite musicians, what do you get? The Eden Sessions. With its debut concert back in 2002, Eden Sessions have become much anticipated dates in the Cornish calendar.
Rather than a typical festival format, Eden Sessions are individual concerts arranged during summer with some of the biggest performers.
In this former china clay enterprise, the two huge biomes turn into giant disco balls, lit up in vivid colours, adding even more wow factor to the occasion.
Former lineups have included the likes of Oasis, My Chemical Romance, Diana Ross and Elton John.
This year in 2023, Eden Sessions will welcome Lionel Richie (7 June), The War On Drugs (18June) and Jack Johnson (23 June), with still more to be announced.
For more information and tickets go to Eden Sessions website.
16 – 18 June
Venues across Falmouth
Cornwall plays host to a fair few sea shanty festivals throughout the year, but this one might just top them all. Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival brings singers, musicians and sea shanty lovers from all over the UK and the world to the shores of Cornwall.
Following last year’s 2022 return after two years off due to the pandemic, it’s back once again in 2023.
Last year there were more outdoor venues and larger stages than ever before, as well as more pop-up bars, activities, and performances.
The festival is totally free, and you can catch sea shanty performances in various venues across Falmouth.
The whole festival is a celebration of all things nautical, set in a town built on the industry of fishing and the sea.
If you’re not local to the area, enjoying a stay at a Falmouth cottage for the week or weekend is a great way to soak up the festival in full.
For more festival info, go to Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival website.
4 – 12 August
Various Falmouth locations
Falmouth Week is an annual event all about celebrating the town of Falmouth. Usually held in late July or early August, 2023 will see this year’s event begin on 4th August, running until the 12th.
Book a cottage in Falmouth during this week for non-stop entertainment and things to do. Fill your itinerary with live music, browsing street markets, watching competitions, watersports and more.
This Cornish event began as a local sailing regatta dating back as far as 1837. Since then it’s evolved into a celebration of this scenic seaside town.
Catch the marching carnival, the RNLI Fun Day and grown-ups can look forward to a packed night-time schedule put together by Southwest Bars and Events.
Find out more at Falmouth Week website.
9 – 13 August
Possibly the most well-known of Cornwall’s festivals is Boardmasters. This festival combines music, surfing, BMX and skateboarding to create the ultimate Cornish event.
Spanning 5 days over the second weekend of August, Boardmasters takes place in Newquay, the UK surf centre.
Catch amateur and professional surfing in the day, before enjoying a range of music acts, artists and DJs in the evening.
For 2023, the line up is as amazing as ever. Catch Liam Gallagher (Saturday 12) and Florence and the Machine (Sunday 13) headlining the festival. As well as Four Tet, Example, Little Simz and Ben Nicky, among hundreds more over the weekend, still to be announced.
Find out more on Boardmasters website.
13 – 19 August
Fowey Town Quay
Taking place in the historic town of Fowey is the Fowey Royal Regatta. This annual Cornwall event takes place over the course of a week in August, attracting thoasands of spectators.
Look forward to catching a full programme of sailing events, with races for troys, Fowey harbour boats, cruisers and more.
There’s also an open-water swim event and a stand-up paddleboard race!
There’s land-based events to entertain as well. A carnival procession, fireworks displays, and the Fowey Town Band will all be out in full swing, with live music every night on Town Quay. There’s even a Giant Pasty ceremony and a pasty-eating competiton – you can’t more Cornish than that!
Find out more at Fowey Royal Regatta website.
24 – 28 August
Wadebridge
The former Wadebridge, now Cornwall Folk Festival is enjoying its 50th year running in 2023! Running over 4 days in August, the festival plays host to a mix of local talent as well as acclaimed and seasoned folk artists.
Across several venues in Wadebridge, expect a family-friendly array of events taking place. Alongside the live music, there’s singing and instrument workshops, street entertainment, children’s games and face painting.
See the town of Wadebridge be completely taken over with all things folk festival. It’s the perfect excuse for any music lover to book a cottage in Wadebridge for the week!
Wadebridge is a gateway to plenty more attractions in North Cornwall too, from the Camel Trail to the Camel Creek Adventure Park.
Find out more on Cornwall Folk Festival website.
9 – 23 September
Venues across St Ives
St Ives September Festival celebrates art and music at this annual Cornwall event. Held across a range of venues throughout the picturesque town of St Ives, St Ives September Festival has a jam-packed programme.
Taking place over two weeks, the festival show-cases everything from theatre performances and art exhibitions, to live music and workshops.
For those who want to explore the more active side to St Ives, you can take part in the many activities put on during the festival, including surfing, sailing and fishing.
The festival welcomes all ages, and is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the Cornish culture.
Find out more about the festival at St Ives September Festival website.
TBC – likely a weekend in mid-December
Padstow waterfront
Christmas dreams do come true in Cornwall because every year, the annual Padstow Christmas Festival brings the magic!
This Cornwall event offers holiday entertainment with gourmet food at its core.
Inviting expert foodies and chefs from all over the world, this Christmas event will take place over a long weekend in December. Expect tons of delicious food and drink at your fingertips, and a host of top chefs in attendance.
2022 welcomed Rick Stein, Angela Hartnett, Michael Caines, Nathan Outlaw and Paul Ainsworth to name just a few.
Alongside all this festive food fun is the Padstow Christmas Market too. Hosting local Cornish businesses, you can buy beautiful items and locally made food products for your loved ones for Christmas 2023.
Enjoy the festival in full by staying in the area at a Padstow cottage; it’s the perfect time for a winter break before the Christmas chaos begins.
Find out more on Padstow Christmas Festival’s website.
Please keep in mind that the availability and details of these events may vary. We recommend checking with the event organisers via their websites or email for the most up to date information.
Now you have a great idea of what’s in store for Cornwall in 2023, start planning your trip! This gorgeous part of the UK is waiting to be celebrated and explored. And when it comes to finding the best holiday cottage for your trip, look no further than Cornish Cottage Holidays.
With a wide range of cottages to choose from, we have something for every taste and budget. Browse dog-friendly Cornish cottages, cottages in Cornwall with a hot tub, Cornwall cottages by the sea, and plenty more!
Book a property today with Cornish Cottage Holidays.
Take a look at our other blog posts…
Edward Webb – (CC BY 2.0); stiaslittlehelper – (CC BY-SA 2.0); Robert Pittman – (CC BY-ND 2.0); Raph_PH – (CC BY 2.0).
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