November and December might be out of season for tourism in Cornwall, but they’re undeniably full of Christmas cheer – and when it comes to festive events, there’s plenty going on in most corners of the county.
Whether you’re visiting Cornwall for Christmas time or you’re very much at home here but looking for something different to do this year, we’ve rounded up our favourite Cornwall Christmas events for 2025 to get you in the festive spirit.
Christmas festivals
For those who like to see a town come alive during the festive season, with multiple activities and attractions all wrapped into one event, a Christmas festival is likely your ideal choice of event.
Falmouth Festive Weekend
The first full weekend of December 2025 sees Falmouth’s Festive Weekend return for 2025. It features rides, live music, a snowglobe, a curling lane, a Christmas market, and an artificial ice rink. Held from 11am until 5pm each day throughout Falmouth, the event has a festive land train taking passengers between the main sites of the festival. For great photo opportunities, get off at Church Street, where snow machines will be turning the thoroughfare into a winter wonderland.
Location: Falmouth | Date: 6th – 7th December 2025
Montol Festival
Run by the Cornish Culture Association, this event is a reinterpretation of traditional Cornish midwinter and Christmas customs, brought into the modern day. Happening annually during the winter solstice on 21st December, Montol Festival tends to be family-friendly during the day and early evening and more adult-oriented as the later hours arrive.
The day’s schedule is packed, starting at 2pm and ending long after 10:30pm, full of dancing, singing, parades, and revelry. Expect folklore, fire performances, ‘obby ‘osses, carol singers, musicians, stallholders, and plenty of masks.
Location: Penzance | Date: 21st December 2025
Padstow Christmas Fayre
The Padstow Christmas Fayre event is an evolution of Padstow’s previously adored Christmas Festival, and we couldn’t be happier that it has returned in this new form. For four days, Padstow will be lit up by this community-led event, celebrating food, drink, and Christmas joy. 50 chefs, including Paul Ainsworth and Rick Stein, will host free live demos and ticketed masterclasses. Visitors will love the artisan market, lantern parade, live music, carols, and a grand firework display, all in this beautiful Cornish town.
Location: Padstow | Date: 4th – 7th December 2025
Christmas markets
If it’s Christmas shopping that you’re focused on, a Christmas market is likely high on your agenda. While many of the Christmas festivals and events will include a market to some degree, there are some excellent Christmas markets to make a beeline for if you’re looking to pick up locally-made products and gifts.
Healeys Christmas market
Back once again for 2025 across six weekends, Healeys Christmas market features a schedule of activities for all the family alongside Christmas shopping all day while the event is on. Tick some presents off your list, enjoy songs and crafts, taste hearty festive food, and of course, sample delicious mulled cyder in the heart of the Cornish countryside.
Location: Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm | Date: Every weekend from 8th November – 14th December 2025
Fowey Christmas market
The festive market at Fowey comprises almost 100 Cornish traders offering everything from artisan cheeses and wines, to handmade jewellery, gifts and Christmas decorations. Running for three days around Fowey Town Quay, Albert Quay and Webb Street, there will also be live music and street performers, keeping shoppers entertained and adding to the festive fun. The festivities can be enjoyed from 5:30pm on Friday until 8:30pm, 10am until 5:30pm on Saturday, and 10am until 4pm on Sunday.
Location: Fowey | Date: Friday 14th – Sunday 16th November 2025
Christmas lights and light switch on events
Nothing says the start of Christmas quite like a light switch on or an illumination event. These are some of our festive favourites.
Padstow Christmas lights switch on
This year, the Padstow Christmas Lights switch on happens on 29th November. Nadelik Lowen, a community Christmas celebration, is held on the same day around Duke Street and Market Place. The Christmas light switch on will form part of the festivities, including free fairground rides and local stalls, as well as the Tree of Lights. This is a Christmas tree on the bandstand near the harbour with a surrounding display covered in messages and dedications from the local community.
Location: Padstow | Date: 29th November 2025
The Christmas Lights Experience at The Eden Project
Christmas lights combine with nature at an otherworldly lights and soundscape experience at The Eden Project, which happens from 4-8pm on selected dates over the festive period (and is included in your admission ticket!). Visitors will experience an immersive soundscape and light installation in their impressive Biomes, with splendour and cheer promised around every corner.
Location: The Eden Project | Date: Selected dates between 21st November 2025 and 4th January 2026
Newquay Christmas lights switch on
Newquay’s Christmas lights event takes place on 28th November 2025, and is sure to delight the whole family. The afternoon and evening are full of festive activities, including live music, Christmas carols, dancing, and a Christmas market selling gifts and homeware, along with delicious food and drink. To top it all off, the Christmas lights will be switched on, and visitors will get to enjoy Newquay’s grand fireworks display.
Location: Newquay | Date: 28th November 2025
Falmouth Christmas lights switch on
The streets of Falmouth will be full of festivities on 27th November for the 2025 Christmas lights switch on. This event kicks off the festive season in Falmouth, so this town puts their all into the evening! Falmouth is illuminated at 7pm by a nominee that the town votes for as local school children sing carols and Christmas songs. After, a bright and colourful parade will stroll through town to complete this magical evening.
Location: Newquay | Date: 27th November 2025
St Ives Christmas lights switch on
Head down to St Ives for their unique Christmas lights switch on, which includes Father Christmas arriving by lifeboat! Santa himself will do the honours and switch on the town’s lights in the Royal Square. As well as meeting this much-anticipated special guest, visitors will enjoy carol singing, dancing, the town band, and plenty of mulled wine to warm hearts and cheeks.
Location: St Ives | Date: 5th November 2025
Mousehole Christmas lights switch on
Famous across all of Cornwall as one of the most feel-good Christmassy events in the county, the Mousehole Harbour Christmas lights switch on draws locals and visitors alike. This beautiful little town lights up in the most spectacular way over the festive period, including twinkling boats bobbing in the harbour.
Location: Mousehole | Date: 11th December 2025
Christmas experience events
From family activities and visiting Santa in Cornwall to winter concerts and outdoor adventures, the region is buzzing with Christmas experience events for 2025.
Santa Specials with Bodmin Railway
Bodmin and Wenford Railway are bringing back their Santa by Steam event for 2025; Santa and his elves board the train at Bodmin General Station and travel with passengers to Bodmin Parkway and back. Along the way, he’ll be chatting with families and giving out presents, with each child’s ticket including a gift and an activity sheet. When the train ride is over, there is the opportunity to capture the moment in photos and enjoy festive food and drink. The station is adorned in decorations for the occasion to provide a wonderful Christmas experience for all.
Location: Bodmin General Station | Date: Every weekend in December, plus 22nd, 23rd and 24th December 2025. Quiet Santa Train for those who may find traditional festive events overwhelming takes place at 10am, 7th and 21st December.
An Audience with Father Christmas
For a great Father Christmas event that isn’t a Santa’s Grotto, try this group family experience in the stable yard at Trelissick. The event is a storytelling session where Father Christmas tells the tale of a Cornish Christmas – and there’s a gift for each child too. Several storytelling sessions run between 10:15am and 2:45pm each day that the event is on, with additional sessions at 3:30pm closer to Christmas.
Location: Trelissick (near Truro) | Date: 6th-7th December, 13th-14th December, 18th – 23rd December 2025
Truro Cathedral Choir Christmas Concert
If it’s Christmas music that you’re after, you can’t go far wrong with Peace on Earth at Truro Cathedral, performed by the resident choir. Set in the city’s most iconic building, this renowned choir performance promises a spectacular concert of festive music, including hymns from centuries past as well as modern-day classics.
Location: Truro Cathedral | Date: 20th December 2025
Father Christmas at The Eden Project
Santa’s Grotto meets performance in this interactive theatrical experience that allows families to enjoy a magical encounter with Father Christmas and his elves. Visitors to The Eden Project are invited to step into the vault of Christmas magic for a behind-the-scenes look at where the Christmas wonder happens, with every child getting the chance to meet the man in red as well as go away with a keepsake. It’s worth noting that you need pre-booked tickets to see Father Christmas as well as a valid form of admission to The Eden Project, in order to attend.
Location: The Eden Project | Date: 22nd – 23rd November, 29th – 30th November, 6th – 7th December and 13th – 24th December 2025
Heligan Night Garden
A brilliant outdoor experience that is sure to bring festive cheer is the Heligan Night Garden, a garden walk full of lights and festivities at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, not far from Mevagissey. The event allows you to explore their gardens and woodlands aglow with light installations and lanterns, as well as toast marshmallows over fire bowls. The full route takes around an hour to walk through, and when you’ve finished, you can enjoy festive food and drink from food vendors.
Location: Lost Gardens of Heligan | Date: every weekend in November 2025, 5th – 7th December, 12th – 14th December, 17th – 23rd December 2025, 26th December – 3rd January 2026
Father Christmas at Lappa Valley
Lappa Valley, Cornwall’s world of play and trains, is always a favourite with little ones, so they are sure to love the opportunity to combine it with a visit to Father Christmas and his elves. Board the train and delight in the Christmas music while the kids write letters to Father Christmas and enjoy their activity book. Adults receive a complimentary refreshment, with every child receiving a present too. Enjoy festive music from the traditional fairground organ as well as the classic rides and soft play that the attraction does so well.
Location: Lappa Valley, near Newquay | Date: 29th – 30th November 2025, 6th – 7th December, 13th – 14th December, 19th – 24th December 2025. Trains tailored to those with special education needs and disabilities will occur on 6th December at 2:30pm and 3:30pm
Christmas craft events
For an experience that’s as creative as it is festive, there are a number of craft events and workshops going on around the county this Christmas season.
Winter Workshops at Trebah Garden
The sub-tropical garden of Trebah in Mawnan, south Cornwall, is well worth a visit in its own right as well as playing host to several creative Christmas events each year.
- Christmas Decoration Casting Workshop – Guests will create their own seasonally-inspired, eco resin cast decorations with Hazel Oliver. Date: 20th November 2025
- Wooden Wreath Painting Workshops – Guests will practice and paint their own beautiful wooden wreaths under the guidance of Lucy Innes Williams. Date: 23rd November 2025, 9th December 2025
- Botanical Christmas Decoration Workshop – Guests will create their own beautiful Christmas decorations using the foliage collected from Trebah Garden by our gardeners. Date: 27th November 2025
- Festive Wreath Making Workshops – Guests will craft their own beautiful Christmas wreath using freshly cut foliage from Trebah Garden, along with dried fruits and other festive accessories. Date: 2nd – 4th December 2025
Location: Trebah Garden | Date: Multiple dates across November and December 2025
Christmas Candle Making Workshop at Godolphin
An ideal opportunity to enjoy an experience and make a gift (or a treat for yourself) at the same time, the resident beekeeper at historic National Trust property Godolphin House will guide you through making beeswax candles and lip balm in a festive workshop on two dates in December. The wax is harvested from her hives, and there will also be a demonstration on how to make other beeswax products at home.
Location: Godolphin House | Date: 10th and 17th December 2025
Christmas Wreath Workshop at The Cornish Arms
Help at Rick Stein’s pub, The Cornish Arms in St Merryn near Trevone and Padstow, this Christmas wreath-making workshop will leave you feeling utterly festive. Under the guidance of Home Nansledan’s talented florists, you’ll create a fresh wreath to take home before enjoying a cheese and wine supper, included in the ticket price.
Location: The Cornish Arms | Date: 29th November 2025
Where to stay in Cornwall
Ready to spend time in Cornwall this Christmas? If you’re planning a festive stay and looking for holiday homes in Cornwall, we’re here to help. Our beautiful homes across North Cornwall are perfectly suited for a Christmas season getaway. Get in touch with our friendly local team or take a look through the holiday homes on our website to find the best places to stay in Cornwall this Christmas.
