A Diary of events held in Cornwall in 2012, shows, festivals and fairs etc.

To include your event organisers please email us at: daveuptonphoto@aol.com with details, inclusion is free of charge.

FEBRUARY 2012

Feb 2nd. Feast of Imbolc.
Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated among Gaelic peoples and some other Celtic cultures either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring. Most commonly it is celebrated on February 2nd, since this is the cross-quarter day on the solar calendar, halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere. Originally dedicated to the goddess Brigid, in the Christian period it was adopted as St Brigid's Day. In Scotland the festival is also known as Là Fhèill Brìghde, in Ireland as Lá Fhéile Bríde, and in Wales as Gwyl Ffraed.

Feb 5th. Snow Drop Sunday. A unique opportunity to see the Gardens of Pencarrow House before their official re-opening on 1st March. Come and see the snowdrops and primroses vying with the earliest camellias and rhododendrons around the house and surrounding woodland walks. Call in at the Peacock Cafe for piping hot soup with a roll, or simply tea, coffee and cakes. Admission by donation. Nr Bodmin.

Feb 6th The St Ives Feast is an ancient tradition that celebrates the anniversary of the consecration of the Parish Church of St Eia in 1434 and offers a rare chance to watch the game of Hurling the Silver Ball, a centuries’ old form of rugby.

Feb 14th.St Columb Hurling (Silver Ball),

MARCH 2012

Mar 5th. St. Piran's Day. Events held throughout Cornwall on the historical holiday to commemorate the patron saint of Cornwall.

March 17th Cornwall Music Festival, Truro Methodist Church

March 24th - 25th Falmouth Spring Flower Show

March 25th. British Summer Time Begins. (Clocks go forward at 1am GMT)

March 31st- April 1st.The Cornwall Spring Flower Show Boconnoc.

March 31st - April 8th Easter Music Festival, St Endelion nr Port Isaac

APRIL 2012

April 6th-9th.Trereife Easter Food and Craft Fair, Trereife Park, nr Newlyn, 10am- 5pm. Inspiring tours of Trereife House, a delectable selection of locally produced food and drink, exquisite art and crafts to browse and buy, children’s Easter Egg Hunt and live music performances…these are just a handful of the attractions to be found at Trereife’s Easter Fair.
At the top of every younger visitor’s list of things to do has to be the taking part in Trereife’s Grand Easter Egg Hunt. Taking place within the woods and around the walled garden, the Egg Hunt has become very popular with hundreds of happy children expected to be eagerly following the clues this year.

April 8th. Padstow Egg Rolling Annual Easter Egg rolling in aid of the RNLI. This takes place outside Cross House at the top of Duke Street. Bring your own hard boiled egg!

Apr 28th Camborne Trevithick Day.
Camborne Trevithick Day is an annual day of celebration for the town of Camborne in Cornwall, United Kingdom, on the last Saturday in April.
Attractions include: Model Exhibitions, Vintage Vehicles (Traction Engines), Local school children in the Bal Maidens and Miners Dance led by Camborne Town Band, Performances by Local Male Voice Choirs, Concerts by Camborne Town Band and other local bands and much more.

MAY 2012

EVERY SUNDAY IN MAY Boconnoc House & Gardens Open.
The Woodland Gardens and Boconnoc House are open for anyone to visit each Sunday in May for different charities. We welcome everybody, especially families with children given all the space there is for them to run around and you are welcome to bring dogs. Gates open from 2 – 5pm. £4.50 per person. Children under 12 free.

May 1st. Padstow 'Obby'Oss Day with hobby horse dances through streets.

May 4th-7th. 23rd World Pilot Gig Championships, Scilly

May 4th - 7th. Dive Fest - Pentewan Sands Holiday Park.
Building on the success of last years event and once again taking place at Pentewan Sands Holiday Park this promises to be the UK’s biggest diving event of the year.

May 5th-6th. Saltash Lions May Fair. The festivities this year will be centred at Warfelton Field, Callington Road.

May 5th.-12th..St Ives Literature Festival. There will be a host of events each day during the eight days of the festival - readings, talks, walks, workshops and performance.

May 2nd Midday start. May Horns, Trereife Park, nr Newlyn.
A traditional spring fair celebration with refreshments, music and dance. Free Entry.

May 7th. St Ives May Day. A celebration of spring rooted in the ancient customs of the town, culminating on May Day itself in parades, maypole dancing, the unique Pee Whip(!) and the choosing of the May King and Queen. There’s also a bustling harbour market,live theatre and brass band and choral concerts.

May 8th.Helston Flora Day,Cornwall.Colourful dancing through the streets. The Floral Dance always takes place on the 8th of May, except when that falls on a Sunday or Monday, when the dance is held on the previous Saturday. The first dance takes place at 7am. The Hal-An-Tow (a story and dance by costumed performers) takes place at 8.30am. A Children's Dance at 9am.The streets and houses of Helston are specially decorated for the day. For the Midday Dance the men wear top hats and morning suits while the women wear elegant long dresses. There is an Evening Dance at 5pm.

May 10th-19th.Daphne Du Maurier Festival. Fowey. Once again you can enjoy an entertaining and sparkling 10 days of Star Names, Drama, Music, Talks, Concerts, Guided Walks, local events and Free entertainment. Set in Fowey, overlooking the picturesque Fowey Estuary, and neighbouring towns, the Festival is one of the most popular of its kind in the UK. Drama, music, talks, concerts, guided walks, events, free music something for everyone!

May 15th-16th.Boconnoc Spring Fair - House, Garden, Food & Gifts As part of the Du Maurier Festival, the exotic and colourful Fair takes place in the beautiful interior of Boconnoc House with an interesting selection of innovative stalls selling attractive items for the house and garden, tempting gifts, clothes and food from Cornwall and the Orient. The glorious gardens will also be open for the two days.

JUNE 2012

June 1st -4th. Run to the Sun. One of the largest VW, Custom Car and music events of its kind, held at Trevelgue Holiday Park in glorious Newquay.

June 1st-5th. 6th Bude & Stratton Folk Festival
"Bude by the sea and Stratton full of history. These two towns, now virtually merged, offer a natural location for a folk festival. The ancient market town of Stratton with its narrow streets and historic connection with the Battle of Stamford Hill (1643) has great character ideally suited to folk festivities. Stratton’s Tree Inn (oak beams and inglenooks) has hosted folk music for many years and Landlord and champion piper Rob Semple and his wife Emma are delighted to develop this tradition into an annual festival. Tim Browning of Bude’s Falcon Hotel plays guitar and accordion with Bude Lifeboat Crew’s Friggin’ Riggin’ - regulars at the Falcon for the past ten years. Between both hostelries, it became inevitable that a festival would emerge, supported by the strong folk tradition of North Cornwall and nearby Devon. As a resort town, Bude offers plenty of accommodation, beautiful surfing beaches and the best view in the world from Compass Point to Lundy Island."

June 7th-9th.The Royal Cornwall Show Wadebridge.

June 16th-23rd.Polperro Festival. Enjoy nine fun-packed days of live music, arts and many other events!

June 16th-24th.Golowan Festival. Penzance is given over to Golowan, a week-long extravaganza blending midsummer tradition, world music and diverse entertainments. The streets are closed for the Mazey Day Parade (Sat 26th) with giant processional imagery created by local schools, followed by Quay Day (Sun 27th) when the focus shifts to the harbour. The Marquee is free during the day with ticketed events in the evening. Even the bulging programme doesn’t give all Golowan’s secrets away.

JULY 2012

July 13th-21st.Lafrowda Day, St Just. The roads are closed, the decorations go up and St Just gets into party mood for Lafrowda Day There's live music, street entertainers and three magnificent processions - the children at noon, big images in the afternoon and lanterns after dark. The highlight of a week-long community arts festival, the day is showcase for the Work of the Lafrowda Trust. Schools, community Groups and individuals get involved in a great day out for all the family.

June 16th - 17th. Saltash Regatta is not just about water sports, there is enough ashore to keep everyone in the family happy. There are myriad bands of all types, street entertainers and children’s rides and entertainment.

July 16th.Stithians Show. The largest one day show in Cornwall. The Showground, St Stithians, Truro, Cornwall, 01209 861073.

July 19th.-22nd.The Port Eliot Festival at the Port Eliot Estate, St Germans described by organisers as 'a magical setting at one of Cornwall's most romantic estates.'
Early Bird tickets can be purchased for £150 for an Adult Weekend and £75 for a Child Weekend. Kids under 8 are Free from http://www.porteliotfestival.com/ and by posting cheques to Port Eliot Festival, The Estate Office, St Germans, Saltash, Cornwall,

July 20th-22nd. Boconnoc Steam Fair. An old fashioned steam extravaganza in the magnificent grounds of the Boconnoc Estate near Lostwithiel. Vintage vehicles of all sorts and sizes.

July 28th.Wadebridge's Annual Carnival. Floats, visiting carnival queens, walkers. Fun for all. The procession leaves the Co-op car park at 7pm.

July 30th - Aug 5th Padstow Carnival Week, Padstow celebrate carnival week in style with activities, quiz, music and more. Fun for all!

July 31st.-Aug 10th. St Endellion Summer Music Festival, nr Port Isaac A classical music festival in the lovely old church at St Endellion near Port Isaac.

AUGUST 2012

Aug 17th-19th. The West of England Steam Engine Society at Stithians Showground

Aug 24th -27th Flower Festival Threemilestone Methodist Church.

Aug 25th-26th. Pentillie Festival of Speed a brand new motor sport event at Pentillie Castle! nr Saltash. A weekend of adrenalin-fuelled activities. This will showcase the very best in speed machines. Activities will include a competitive hill climb race as well as 4x4 off-roading opportunities.

Aug 27th.Newlyn Fish Festival. Newlyn Harbour. A festival to celebrate Newlyn as a major fishing port. The fish market is filled with stalls, cookery demonstrations, exhibitions, music, street entertainment and displays about the fishing industry past and present.

Aug 27th 11am-4-30pm Charity Bridal Fayre. Epiphany House Kenwyn Truro. Proceeds in aid of HELP for HEROES Plymouth Centre and SHELTER BOX.
Entry £2 per person children under 10 free.
For more details call Pauline 01872 275253 evenings only.

Aug 28th - Aug 31st. Bude Jazz, Bude the emphasis will revert to Traditional and New Orleans Jazz whilst holding on to the most popular of other styles from years gone past.

SEPTEMBER 2012

Sept 8th- 22nd.St Ives September Festival. St Ives plays host to St Ives September Festival, a major two week celebration of music and the arts, bringing together a range of international artists from around the world. Once again the festival covers a wide range of interests. African, Indian, ska, reggae, folk, rock, contemporary and classical music are all represented and there’s a wide variety of talks, films, poetry and literature plus open studios throughout the town. We have another great line-up following last year's successful festival - book early to avoid the festival blues!

OCTOBER 2012

Oct 6th-7th. Boscastle Food, Arts & Crafts Festival. Eight fabulous Cornish Chefs, including Nathan Outlaw & Paul Ainsworth. Stalls selling produce, original arts & crafts, refreshments & open gardens.

NOVEMBER 2012

Nov 25th-Jan 6th. Padstow's Christmas lights will illuminate Padstow Harbour throughout the Christmas Season. There are floating displays in the harbour as well as many on key buildings throughout the town.

DECEMBER 2012

Dec 17th - Jan 3rd. Mousehole Christmas Lights.

All dates are correct at time of being published, please confirm date and event details before making travel arrangements out of season. Events may be cancelled or event dates may be subject to alteration. Further information will be made available in the near future. We endeavour to include events from all areas but are grateful if event organisers can email us at: daveuptonphoto@aol.com with details, inclusion is free of charge.