CORNWALL EVENTS DIARY 2010
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 7th. 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.
Mar 5th. St. Piran's Day.
Events held throughout Cornwall on the historical holiday to commemorate the patron saint of Cornwall.
Mar 28th. British Summer Time Begins. (Clocks go forward at 1am GMT)
April 3rd - 5th. 10am-5pm. Trereife Easter Food and Craft Fair, Trereife Park, nr Newlyn.
Cookery demonstrations by local chefs, 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.
April 10th-11th.The Cornwall Spring Flower Show Boconnoc.
Apr 24th. 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.
Apr 30th.- May 3rd. Dive Fest 2010 - 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. http://www.divefest.co.uk/
Not this year: Tresco Marathon - Tresco.Isles of Scilly.
April 30th-May 3rd. May Day Festival St Ives - bands, stalls, Tug o war including may pole dancing, and May King and Queen.
May 1st: Padstow, 'Obby'Oss Day with hobby horse dances through streets.
May 1st-4th. 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 1st.-8th.St Ives Literature Festival. The festival is organised by poet and artist Bob Devereux in association with a number of Cornwall and West Country publishers - Etruscan Books, Fal Publications, Peterloo Poets and Oversteps. There will be a host of events each day during the eight days of the festival - readings, talks, walks, workshops and performance.
May 1st.10:00am - 5:00pm. Saltash May Fair.
Entertainment for all the family in Fore Street, Victoria Gardens and Longstone Park.
May 2nd Midday start. May Horns, Trereife Park, nr Newlyn.
A traditional spring fair celebration with refreshments, music and dance. Free Entry.
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 11th.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.
May 13th-22nd.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 28th-31st.4th 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."
May 28th-31st.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 10th-12th.The Royal Cornwall Show Wadebridge.
June 19th-26th.Polperro Festival. Enjoy nine fun-packed days of live music, arts and many other events!
June 19th-27th.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.
June 23rd-July 4th Mevagissey Feast week.
July 3rd-4th.Saltash Town Regatta.
July 10th.St Mawes Town Regatta.
July 12th.Stithians Show. The largest one day show in Cornwall. The Showground,St Stithians, Truro, Cornwall, 01209 861073.
July 15th.Launceston Agricultural Association Show.
July 17th.The Camborne Agricultural Show at Gwealavellan Farm.
July 18th.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.
July 23rd-25th Boconnoc Steam Fair. Boconnoc Estate. Lostwithiel. A Three day event spread over 40 acres of the beautiful Boconnoc Estate, Nr Liskeard. A thousand vintage mechanical exhibits. Free day-long trailer rides hauled by steam engines, free car parking. Model and Craft marquees. Trade Stands, traditional fun fair, beer tent and many other attractions. Boconnoc House also open for viewing.
July 23rd.-25th.Lit Fest returns to Port Eliot.
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 £85 each, for an adult weekend ticket, from http://www.porteliotfestival.com/ and by posting cheques to Port Eliot Festival, The Estate Office, St Germans, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 5ND.
July 24th. Falmouth Horse Show.Stithians Showground.
July 24th-Aug 1st. brings Heylfest, a long established festival which brings together the diverse community of this lively town. Rescued by the town’s band - Heyl Band - in 2003, this event brings local community groups together in a week long celebration. Events include a Children’s Day, the Rose and Cabbage Show, a community market, Lion’s Fun Day, St Julia’s Hospice Day, a parade through the town and of course brass band concerts featuring Heyl Band and guests Mount Charles, St Austell and St Stythians.
Aug 7th - 8th.10am-5pm.Summer Fine Food, Art and Craft Fair, Trereife Park, nr Newlyn.
With a large marquee of art and craft stalls on the tennis lawn, and a selection of fine food stalls in the cobbled stable area of the house, you can expect an array of attractions, plus a variety of entertainment for children, with craft workshops, traditional fair ground and donkey rides.
Spend the day wandering the woods, relaxing on the lawn, or picnicking in the walled garden, with home-made refreshments available including cakes, crepes, soups, tortilla wraps and local meat pasties, plus locally made ice-cream, fruit juice squeezed as you watch, and even a Cornish beer stall to tempt your taste buds. Remember to bring your picnic blanket, or if you prefer, take a seat in Trereife’s Poet’s Cafe. And should the weather prove temperamental, rest assured that the event will be undercover.
August 20th-22nd West of England Steam Engine Society - Show The Showground, Stithians, Truro, Cornwall, 01209 861073.
Aug 30th.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 21st-22nd. 10am-5pm.Design Fair. Trereife Park, Nr Newlyn, Cornwall.
We are delighted to announce that The Design Fair in association with Hidden Art will return to the glorious setting of Trereife House. The event is a true celebration of the quality and diversity of contemporary Cornish design and offers the public a fantastic chance to buy direct from the maker. The inaugural Design Fair in 2006 was a first for Cornwall, attracting over 3,000 visitors from across the country.
The Hidden Art Cornwall Design Fair will present contemporary design from over 100 designer-makers, with a wide range of furniture, interior products, ceramics, glass, lighting, jewellery, textiles and fashion accessories for sale.
Aug 28th. 10am-5pm. Cornish Country Fair. Trereife Park, nr Newlyn.
The spectacular backdrop of Trereife Park, near Penzance, will be the setting of a summer fayre. A range of attractions will give the event the atmosphere of a traditional country fayre with a special focus on Cornish Culture as well as a companion dog show, heavy shire horses. A range of classic cars will be on display and visitors will be welcome to browse an array of food, craft and trade stalls, while local Jazz bands provide the soundtrack.
Other star attractions, however, looks set to be the Falconry display, Cornish wrestling, as well as Ferret racing and magnificent Steam Engines.
Aug 30th. Party in the Park. Trereife Park,nr Newlyn,
This stunning venue is the setting for an annul music event. Party In The Park is all about the best local bands playing in front of the best crowd, all under one roof !
The event is being held under cover in marquees within the beautiful and historic grounds of Trereife Park, 1/2 mile west of Penzance on the A30 Lands End road.
£7 on the door.2pm to midnight. This is an ALL AGES event
More info on FREE buses from Penzance Greenmarket and times, etc call 01736 350984.
Sept 11th- 25th.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!
Nov 20th-21st.10am-5pm.Trereife Christmas Gifts Fair. Trereife House, nr Newlyn
The weekend kicks off in magical style with a series of demonstrations and a programme of entertainment, as well as an art exhibition in the Gallery.
The Craft Fair will take place all under cover in heated marquees and over the course of the weekend, visitors may browse a range of quality art and craft. A selection of local food suppliers will be on hand to tickle your taste buds, making it the perfect opportunity to stock up on an array of fine foods and drinks for the festive season. Poet’s Cafe will also be serving a selection of homemade refreshments.
Should you fancy a diversion from the Christmas gift buying and nibbles, Tim Le Grice will be conducting tours of his historic home, allowing visitors to absorb Trereife’s extensive history while supping on a glass of mulled wine.
Dec 13th-20th.Montol Festival. Montol is an arts and community festival brightening up the winter solstice. The festival will revive many traditional Cornish midwinter traditions formerly practiced in and around the Penzance area and is organised by the same team that brought you the revived Golowan Festival.
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.
