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 2024 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. While the Christmas festival in one of our local towns no longer has a festival, there are others in the county worth experiencing.
Falmouth Festive Weekend
The first full weekend of December 2024 sees Falmouth’s Festive Weekend return for 2024. It features rides, live music, a snowglobe, 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: 7th – 8th December 2024
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 exact schedule for 2024 is yet to be announced, but proceedings tend to start from around 2:30pm. Expect folklore, fire performances, ‘obby ‘osses, carol singers,musicians, dancers, stallholders and plenty of masks.
Location: Penzance | Date: 21st December 2024
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 a 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 2024 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 9th November – 15th December 2024
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.
Location: Fowey | Date: Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th November 2024
Christmas lights and light switch on events
Nothing says the start of Christmas quite like a light switch on or illumination event. These are some of our festive favourites.
Padstow Christmas light switch on
Padstow’s Christmas lights are particularly good ones, and this year the switch on happens on 30th 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, as well as the Tree of Lights, a Christmas tree on the bandstand near the harbour with a surrounding display covered in messages and dedications from the local community.
Location: Padstow, North Cornwall | Date: 30th November 2024
Truro Christmas light switch on (Festive Friday)
In mid Cornwall, the city of Truro is also hosting its light switch on in late November. Termed ‘Festive Friday’, there will be special entertainment on stage organised by Hall for Cornwall, as well as the main event as the city’s illuminations are brought to life for the season.
Location: Truro, Mid Cornwall | Date: 22nd November 2024
Charlestown Tunnel of Lights: Last Christmas
Light tunnels have grown in popularity over recent years, and the Shipwreck Treasure Museum in Charlestown brings one to our county as they transform the entire museum into a Christmas experience. Claiming to be the most festive place in Cornwall, their immersive twinkling tunnels are covered in hundreds of thousands of lights, and guests can enjoy festive food and drink on site as part of their visit. 2024 is the final year this event will run, so make sure to go along if you don’t want to miss it!
Location: Shipwreck Treasure Museum, Charlestown | Date: 6th – 31st December 2024
Christmas Lights at Trengwainton
The National Trust’s celebrated Trengwainton garden near Penzance is adorned with a festive light display for this magical winter experience on selected dates in December. The walled garden and orchards are lit with fairy lights, as well as lanterns made by local schools and artists. Food vendors will be selling tasty treats and drinks, and you can hang a bauble on the wishing tree to make a Christmas wish.
Location: Trengwainton Garden, Madron (West Cornwall) | Date: Selected dates between 29th November and 15th December 2024
Immersive Christmas Lights Experience at The Eden Project
Christmas lights combine with nature at an all-new lights and soundscape experience at The Eden Project, which happens from 5-8pm 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 surprises promised around every corner, with a new interactive outdoor experience also being introduced for this year.
Location: The Eden Project | Date: Selected dates between 22nd November 2024 and 5th January 2025
City of Lights Parade
Once a classic festive event in the county but paused for the past few years, the City of Lights Parade returns to Truro once again for 2024. This well-loved parade will light up the cobbled streets of the city in late November with giant (and very impressive) lanterns. Local organisations, community groups, schools and artists come together to create this event, and it’s a real spectacle – not one to miss.
Location: Truro | Date: 24th November 2024
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 2024.
Santa Specials with Bodmin Railway
Bodmin and Wenford Railway are bringing back their Santa by Steam event for 2024; Santa and his elves board train at Bodmin General Station, and travels 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 soft toy gift. When the train ride is over, there is the opportunity to capture the moment in photos and take part in festive arts and crafts activities. The station is adorned in decorations for the occasion, and local brass bands will be present to play carols.
NEW for 2024: this year the railway is also introducing Private Santa Train Rides, giving you the opportunity to ride the track with your family and Santa only!
Location: Bodmin General Station | Date: Every weekend in December plus 23rd and 24th December 2024. Private Santa Train Rides are available on 11th, 17th and 18th 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 are running between 10:15am and 3:30pm each day that the event is on, with additional sessions at 4:15pm closer to Christmas.
Location: Trelissick (near Truro) | Date: 7th-8th December, 14th-15th December, 19th – 23rd December 2024
Truro Cathedral Choir Christmas Concert
If it’s music that you’re after, you can’t go far wrong with Rejoice and Be Merry at Truro Cathedral, the resident choir’s Christmas concert. Set in the city’s most iconic building, this renowned choir performance promises a spectacular concert of festive music, including pieces from centuries past as well as modern day classics – and the promise of being able to join in for a few of the carols!
Location: Truro Cathedral | Date: 14th December 2024
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 a special log cabin for a behind the scenes look at where the Christmas magic happens, with every child getting the chance to meet the man in red as well as go away with a gift. It’s worth noting that you need pre-booked tickets to see Father Christmas as well as a valid form admission to The Eden Project in order to attend.
Location: The Eden Project | Date: 22nd – 24th November, 29th November – 1st December, 5th – 8th December and 12th – 24th December 2024
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: 15th November 2024 – 4th January 2025
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. Adults and children both 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: Selected dates from 30th November – 24th December
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 Florals Painting Workshop 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 Christmas events each year. For visitors looking to get creative, two painting workshops focused on winter florals will be hosted by local artist Lucy Innes Williams on 9th and 10th December, with all materials provided. Attendees will be encouraged to draw and create freely before producing a final study of a seasonal posy chosen by the group, using gouache, acryla gouache, oil pastel, pencil and pen.
If painting isn’t your thing, they are also running a festive print workshop on 19th November and festive wreath making workshops between 29th November and 3rd December.
Location: Trebah Garden | Date: 9th and 10th December 2024
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 bee keeper at historic National Trust property Godolphin House will guide you through making beeswax candles in a festive workshop on two dates in December. The wax is harvested from her hives, and there will also be a demonstration on other making other beeswax products that can be made at home.
Location: Godolphin House | Date: 3rd and 10th December 2024
Living Succulent Christmas Wreath Workshop
In West Cornwall you can spend a morning making a living wreath of Cornish succulents at the Minack Theatre. This three hour workshop begins with a guided tour of the Minack garden to learn about the plants you will be using, before you are are guided through the process of creating your wreath using moss, ivy and succulents.
Location: Minack Theatre | Date: 7th and 14th December 2024
Ready to spend time in Cornwall this Christmas? If you’re planning a festive stay and looking for holiday homes in Cornwall, we’re sure we can help.
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