Cornwall · What's on
The annual rhythm — Padstow's Obby Oss in May, Falmouth Sea Shanty in June, Boardmasters in August, Padstow Christmas Festival in December. The events that shape a Cornish year.
Photograph — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Annual rhythm
Cornwall has a strong calendar of recurring festivals, regattas, food events and traditional celebrations — most rooted in fishing, sailing, agriculture or folk tradition, all worth planning a visit around. Below is the annual rhythm by month, plus the year-round markets that anchor the food scene.
These events recur each year on broadly the same dates — most are tied to the calendar (1 May, 5 March, 23 December), saints' days (Helston Flora Day on 8 May, St Piran's Day on 5 March), or fixed weekends (Bank Holiday Mondays, mid-August regatta weeks). We list each by its typical timing rather than a specific date so this page stays useful year-on-year.
For an event's official dates and tickets, follow the source links where provided — and check directly closer to the time, since some events shift by a weekend or two each year.
The next twelve months are listed first, starting with the current month. Year-round markets follow at the foot of the page.
Three days of agricultural showcasing — livestock judging, food halls, machinery demos, equestrian events. Cornwall's biggest annual event by attendance, and a useful crossover for visitors who want to understand the working county.
Free, harbour-front, three days of sea shanty performances from groups across the UK and Europe. Family-friendly, properly weather-resistant, with the harbour pubs busy until late.
A village-scale arts and music festival in a south-coast fishing harbour — low-key compared to Falmouth but unmistakably Cornish in feel. Strong for traditional Cornish music.
The Golowan midsummer festival's centrepiece — a street parade with giant puppets, processional bands, and the whole town turned over to celebration. Free, vibrant, and the cultural opposite of Padstow's harbour-side restraint.
A smaller, north-coast counterpoint to Falmouth's shanty festival — harbour-front performances over a long weekend, with strong representation from local Padstow groups.
Three days of live music across the East Looe beach and town venues. Family-friendly, with a strong indie/folk lineup. Camping or B&B; book early.
Cornwall's biggest music festival — five days at Watergate Bay with surfing competitions at Fistral simultaneously. The town fills entirely; accommodation prices spike for the week.
Official siteEight days of yacht racing across the Carrick Roads, with the town turned over to maritime celebration. Final-day fireworks over the harbour are a serious event.
A week of sailing, gigs and harbour fireworks, with the Red Arrows usually flying. The town fills entirely — Polruan-side stays still get the view at a fraction of the price.
One day, harbour-front, chef demos and serious Cornish seafood from the country's largest fishing port. Sells out by mid-afternoon — go for the morning slot.
Traditional Cornish carnival week — fancy dress, fundraisers, the carnival queen, fireworks. Family-friendly and rooted in the town. Free, low-key, characterful.
Two weeks of arts, music, and food across the town's galleries and harbour-front. The serious post-summer event for visitors who want St Ives without the August crowds.
Four days of author talks across the Acorn Theatre and Penzance venues — strong on Cornish writing, nature writing, and historical fiction.
Four days of harbour-front oyster celebration marking the start of the oyster dredging season — chef demos, working oyster boats, food stalls. The serious October event for food-led Cornwall visitors.
Three days of independent film screenings, Cornish filmmaker showcases and industry events. Smaller than the big UK festivals but tightly focused.
A weekend of traditional and contemporary folk music — Cornish folk in particular features heavily. Indoor venues, family-friendly, properly local.
Four days of chef demos (Rick Stein, Paul Ainsworth and others), food stalls and festive markets across Padstow harbour. The serious December event for food-led visitors.
The harbour-front Mousehole lights are an iconic Cornish winter sight — illuminated boats, animals and Christmas scenes around the small harbour. Best seen from the South West Coast Path above.
One night a year, Mousehole serves Stargazy Pie at the Ship Inn — fish pie with pilchard heads poking through the pastry, commemorating Tom Bawcock who allegedly saved the village from famine. Folk procession through the harbour.
Cornwall's saint day — flag-waving processions, pasty feasts, and a county-wide reminder that Kernow has its own identity. Biggest events in Truro and on Perranporth beach (where St Piran traditionally washed ashore).
Steam engines parade through Camborne in tribute to the local inventor Richard Trevithick. Street food, brass bands, and the only day of the year the town smells of coal smoke.
The country's most extraordinary May Day celebration — a pre-Christian fertility rite involving two costumed Osses, accordion teams and white-clad dancers parading the harbour from dawn to midnight. Book accommodation a year ahead.
Six choreographed dances through the streets of Helston, marking the arrival of spring. The town shuts entirely; the Furry Dance through houses and gardens is the highlight.
A week of literary events, talks and walks across the Du Maurier landscape — Menabilly, Bodinnick, the Hall Walk to Polruan. Genuine literary festival rather than tourist veneer.
A weekend of food stalls and chef demonstrations across the harbour front and Porthminster Beach. The serious event for Cornish food makers ahead of the summer crowds.
The weekly markets that anchor the Cornish food scene — useful for self-catering stays, and a more honest source of provenance than supermarket "Cornish" labelling.
Cornwall's biggest weekly farmers market — Lemon Quay, mid-morning to mid-afternoon. The serious source for Cornish cheese, charcuterie, baked goods and seasonal vegetables direct from producer.
On Falmouth's Moor, Tuesdays. Smaller than Truro but with a strong Falmouth-area specialism — local fishmongers, the Penryn bakery, Cornish wine and cider.
St Ives Guildhall, Thursday mornings. Mid-sized but tightly Cornish — fresh fish from St Ives Bay, Penwith vegetables, baked goods. Useful for self-catering stays in town.
The AllCornwall letter
We send one short letter most weeks, including the events worth planning around, and what to expect at each season's edges.