2020 West Cornwall Festivals and Events

Porthleven Food Festival

Porthleven, 17-19 April

Now in it’s 11th year the ever popular food fest is back with more mouth-watering dishes, top notch chefs and quality bands. Expect cooking demonstrations from the region’s best chefs, streets packed with locally produced food and a few surprises too.

The lively harbour town, featured in many of our walking itineraries, has become one of Cornwall’s must-dine locations and rightly so.

Padstow May Day

Padstow, 1 May

Perhaps the most famous of Cornwall’s festivals, the ancient May Day celebrations can draw crowds of over 30, 000. A lot of music, a few pints of ale (Doom Bar any one?) and fantastically decorated streets provide the backdrop for the famous ‘Obby ‘Oss. One red, one blue, the ‘osses are released from their stables and twirl through the town accompanied by musicians and dancers dressed in white.

Yes it can be cramped in Padstow’s narrow streets but where else can you see an ‘oss, let alone two?

Helston Flora Day

Helston, 8 May

One of Cornwall’s most ancient living festivals, Helston Flora Day is a traditional celebration of spring. It starts early with the morning dance at 7am, followed by the traditional Hal-An-Tow, an old Mummers’ Play telling the town’s story. If you want a later start, you can catch the famous Furry Dance at midday – definitely worth seeing. The celebrations actually continue throughout the day and for some a good way into the night.

It can be a busy day and parking can be difficult so if you can, why not make your way their on foot?

St Ives Food Festival

Porthminster Beach St Ives, 15-17 May

Another opportunity to enjoy the region’s fantastic cuisine. St Ives boasts some of Cornwall’s top restaurants (not surprising considering it also one of the county’s most successful tourism hubs) and the town celebrates this on the stunning Porthminster Beach every May. Wirth cooking demonstrations from top chefs (seer the festival site for full details, stall after stall of tasty food, local artisan products and entertainment, this is one not to miss.

The majority of our walks start from St Ives and we can certainly recommend planning your holiday around this. Add a rest day to make the most of it.

Golowan Festival

Penzance, 19-28 June

Golowan is a mid-summer’s mad celebration of with added Penzance eccentricity. The revived ancient festival warms up over a week of art and enterntainment before reaching it’s crescendo on the final Saturday, Mazey Day. Expect a lot people, a lot of food and a lot of celebration.

If you are staying in Penzance ove rthis period you can’t miss the festival as it spreads right down to the coast path on Penzance promenade.

Lafrowda Festival

St Just, 3-18 July

Down in the far western corner of Cornwall, there is a thriving art’s scene. Painters, sculptors, photographers, weavers – you name it and you can probably find it around St Just. The lively Lafrowda celebrates this rich scene over two weeks, culminating in Lafrowda Day. With traditional and more modern entertainment, parades and plenty of opportunity to purchase some of the wonderful art and craft it is definitely worth popping in to St Just for a pint and a pasty.

Boardmasters

Fistral Beach Newquay, 5-9 August

If you’d like to catch this famous festival, you’ll need to plan well in advance – it’s not an event you can simply stumble upon. However, we couldn’t leave out Cornwall’s legendary beach party, with its combination of surf and music.

If Boardmasters isn’t your scene, we still recommend a walk that takes in Fistral Beach, where you can admire the surfing skills or simply have a spot of lunch…

St Ives September Festival

St Ives, 12-26 September

Just as the schools start back, St Ives keeps the season going with its arts festival. There is a real buzz to this event, offering everything from workshops to gallery viewing, fascinating local film to tours of the town. Expect some big name performers and some real local talent.

This also happens to be one of the best times of year for walking on the coast. The weather can be great, the heather is still colouring the moors and the crowds have thinned.

Falmouth Oyster Festival

Events Square Falmouth, 8-11 October

Unless you’ve had oysters and a pint of Betty Stogs in a tent, while a bunch of local blokes sing Trelawney at you, you haven’t experienced Cornwall. OK, this is a slight exaggeration; but honestly, the Falmouth Oyster Festival is a marvellous occasion. You don’t even have to like oysters.

Falmouth’s a welcoming place all year round; and our epic nine-day walk to the lively university town is a superb way to get to know West Cornwall.