Festival Diary 2011
Photographers are naturally drawn to colorful subjects and events, and festivals are just that. There are colourful floats, costumes, crafts, food, and merchandise, and you will also find many colorful characters. Give one ago this year!
| Date | Event | Details |
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18th April - 25th September |
Cornwall's open air theatre in spectacular surroundings. Pack a picnic and see a show. |
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26th June - 2nd July |
This week-long festival dates back to 1754 and celebrates the 'Feast of St Peter' with events for everyone. Fish Feast day features exhibitions, demonstrations, live music and lots of fish dishes to eat. Other events include choirs and bands, flora dances, children's enterntainment and competitions, plus colourful parades, boat and raft races, a fete and huge firework display. |
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1st - 16th July |
Lafrowda is a 2 week celebration of the arts and entertainment in St Just with something for everyone. The theme of this year's festival is 'Look East'. The festival culminates in Lawfrowda day a 12 hour feast of fun and entertainment with community parades, live music stages and a fantastic selection of street entertainment. |
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2nd July |
Bodmin Riding and Heritage Day
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The event celebrates the history of Bodmin and the legend of the Beast of Bodmin... with the scary hairy beast chased through town, captured and brought to trial by the Ragadaziow. Join the processions, enjoy the Children's Riding, dancing, local bands and traditional costumes. Plus street traders, morris dancing, model railway and engines, fairground and more! |
3rd July
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A great family day out! Join us for our 6th annual community celebration including over 20 community and craft stalls, affordable local food, games and activities for all ages plus live music from up and coming local bands and a range of exciting performances and much more! |
9th-10th July |
Saltash Regatta and Waterside Festival
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Saltash hosts one of Cornwall's largest regattas with over 100 team competing. Live music, street entertainers, a vibrant street market and numerous food stalls offer something of everyone. Dress to suit this year's theme 'Pirates of the Tamar' and enjoy the treasure hunt and children's rides. Each day from 10am. |
9th - 10th July
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Looe Festival by the Sea and RNLI Raft Race
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Looe Festival by the sea is very much a home grown celebration of all things Cornish. It combines local history, culture and traditions, food, drink and local produce, music, dance and entertainment, fishing, boating and sailing. The festival suits all age groups and includes the Great Cornish Raft Race on the Sunday. Come and enjoy the best of Looe and support the Looe RNLI. |
10th July |
Bude Lifeboat Station Open Day |
A great opportunity for kids and adults to visit Bude lifeboat station and meet the crew on Sunday 10 July from 10am – 4pm. A demonstration of the lifeboat in action and of the crews’ skills will be taking place at 12 noon, a BBQ and various stalls will also be available throughout the day. Contact: Bude Lifeboat Station 01288 352971 or Lisa Tame 01288 359965 E-mail:lisatame@hotmail.co.uk |
21st - 24th July |
A festival of arts and literature on the Port Eliot Estate near St Germans offering an eclectic mix of big names and local talent. |
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24th July
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Marazion Carnival
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Come along to Marazion for free fun and entertainment from 12 to 6pm. Enjoy the live music, dancers, magic, Punch & Judy, cookery demonstrations, games, a tug-of-war competition, a barbeque, cream teas and lots of stalls as well as a noisy and colourful procession through the town. |
| 24th July | The Grand Day Out |
Celebrate the start of the Big Summer Break ! On Sunday 24th July Cornwall Hospice Care presents ‘The Grand Day Out’, at the Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge 10am – 5pm. Come and join our great family fundraising fun day which will include an antiques, Cornish Craft & local produce fair, vintage market, car show, children’s activity area, licenced bar and a large ‘It’s a Knockout’ team challenge. Something for all the family to enjoy, Advance tickets available now! £4 Advance Family Pass now available for admission for up to 5 people in 1 vehicle. Call 01726 66868 for more information. |
26th July - 5th August |
A world-class classical music festival at St.Endellion near Port Isaac. |
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27th - 31st July
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Probably the friendliest and most inclusive literary festival in the country. Come and meet a galaxy of South-West-based authors and poets, as well as playwrights, publishers, story-tellers and speakers on the art and archaeology of West Cornwall. Its intimate venues, lively discussions, stimulating workshops and low admission charges will delight anyone who enjoys the written and spoken word. |
| 30th - 31st July | Davidstow Airfield and Cornwall at War Museum War Machines Weekend |
From 10am-5pm Davidstow Airfield and Cornwall at War Museum will be hosting a War Machines Weekend with military vehicles and displays. |
30th July - 5th August |
There'll be a wide range of events to enjoy both on the water and around the harbour. |
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3rd - 4th August
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Big Play at Malpas Park
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Come out to play! Interactive fun for children and families of all ages. Circus, dance, bands, stalls, healthy food, workshops, displays, walkabout clowns and circus shows. Local youth groups, sports and community artistes. Free entry. |
3rd - 6th August
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The festival began in 2001 as a celebration of regeneration works in the village and features exhibitions, competitions, musical entertainment, local history, art and needlework. Local public houses put on a variety of events each evening and there's an abundance of stalls and sideshows plus a programme of entertainment in the square on the Saturday afternoon, |
5th - 7th August
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Holifair, now in its 6th year is held annually at the Holifield Farm Project, Gweek near Helston. It is a family friendly three day festival with live music showcasing great local acts and top quality bands, there are also workshops, activities and fun for all. |
6th August
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The beautiful village of Goldsithney near St.Michael's Mount celebrates its 860 year old traditional village fair on St.Sithney's Day with a glorious festival of local music and the arts. This all day event features street theatre, morris dancers, battling knights, marching bands, children's games, Cornish wrestling, food stalls an all day music festival, a magic show and our famous dog show. |
6th - 7th August |
With large marquees of art and craft on the tennis lawn, a selection of fine food stalls in the cobbled stable area of the house, plus a variety of carnival-style musical entertainment, visitors can expect a wide array of attractions to suit all the family. Spend the day wandering the woods, relaxing on the lawn, or picnicking in the walled garden. One of the main attractions of the weekend is sure to be the carnival style musical entertainment featuring colourful samba bands, singer-songwriters and traditional dance groups where the public are given the opportunity to join in. The Fair also includes craft demonstrations, a horse drawn carriage ride and a variety of children’s activities. 10am-5pm at Trereife Park near Newlyn. |
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6th - 14th August |
One of the South West's premier sailing events. A programme of shore side events also takes place with a carnival, family fun and fireworks. |
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6th - 7th August |
Newlyn East Wartime Weekend |
Starting 10.30am on the Saturday. Wartime Vehicles, displays, including static aircraft, vintage stalls, music, 1940's Dance in the Hall on the Saturday night. Parade on the Sunday morning. Join in and dress the part! Please email libellule1uk@hotmail.co.uk or call Liz on 01326 574200 if you would like to book a vintage stall or bring a wartime vehicle. Proceeds jointly shared by Royal British Legion and Village organisations. |
7th August
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Two days of music, entertainment, stalls and vintage and classic vehicles featuring Cornish folk groups, jazz and brass bands, clowns, magicians and Mr Punch along with WWII military vehicles, steam engines, classic cars and motorbikes. Stall holders will include Cornish food and drink producers, craft-makers and special interest groups including the Trevithick Society. |
10th - 14th August |
Europe's largest surf, skate and music festival held in Newquay |
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19th - 21 August
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West of England Steam Engine Society Steam Rally
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Over 60 steam engines, 50 minature steam engines, vintage cars, tractors, bikes, fun fair, crafts and models - this show at Sithians Showground has something for everyone. This year, for anyone who ever played with a tractor, large or small, a special exhibition celebrates the history of John Deere Tractors. |
20th-21st August |
The Cornwall Design Fair in association with Hidden Art will return to the glorious setting of Trereife House from 20-21 August. 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 over 80 designer-makers. The Hidden Art Fair will present a wide range of contemporary design, with furniture, interior products, ceramics, glass, lighting, jewellery, textiles and fashion accessories for sale. Design-led workshops will be a feature of the weekend as well the chance to wander the historic house where chosen work by a number of designers will be shown. 11am - 6pm at Trereife Park near Newlyn. |
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26th - 29th August
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An internationally known Folk Festival established in 1972 with main headliners acts supported by a wealth of Cornish artists and bands. Events include main hall concerts, folk clubs, workshops, ceilidhs, sessions, children's festival, street entertainment, craft fair, along with local food produce, Cornish real ales and ciders all on offer. Festival camping, hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation available. |
27th August |
A range of attractions will give the event the atmosphere of a traditional country fayre, with a companion dog show, heavy shire horses, and a parade of hounds. 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 rare breeds. 10am-5pm at Trereife Park near Newlyn. |
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27th August - 2nd September |
Jazz festival with a wide range of events taking place around the town of Bude. |
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28th August |
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. £8 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 |
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29th August |
Celebrating Cornish fish and shellfish with Cooking Demonstrations, Fish Auctions, Open Vessels, Craft stalls together with a full programme of Music and Harbour Entertainments including Gig Racing, Helicopters, The Penlee Lifeboat, great music and much more! |
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31st August - 4th September |
Esedhvos Kernow is a celebration of Cornish culture with at its heart the colourful ceremony of the Cornish Gorsedh on the first Sunday of September. The Esedhvos moves to a different town in Cornwall each year with a programme of ceilidhs, walks, markets and other activities. The flavour of the event changes with its location and in 2011 it will be Helston that provides the setting.
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10th - 24th September |
The St Ives September festival is a highlight in Cornwall's cultural calendar, providing fifteen days of music, arts and literature in the town. Recent festivals have been more ambitious than ever, reaching out to all ages and interests, in various venues around the town. St Ives is a special place and this festival captures the spirit of the town and of the diverse community. |
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9th - 11th September |
Newquay Fish Festival, in Newquay Harbour, is an annual event in its 9th year and celebrates one of Newquay's hidden gems and the produce that is landed in Newquay. The event is packed full of family entertainment, with cookery demonstrations from local chefs, live bands and entertainment, stalls offering Cornish produce, children's entertainment and much more. |
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16th - 24th September
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Newlyn Arts Festival
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Newlyn Arts Festival celebrates the arts from music to drama to literature and poetry and not least art and crafts. Newlyn will be abuzz with theatrical and musical performances, workshops, exhibitions and open studios in various venues throughout the town. |
17th - 25th September
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South East Cornwall Walking Festival
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A chance to explore the stunning countryside of South East Cornwall with knowledgeable guides including National Trust wardens, World Heritage Site guides and experts from Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Walks cover themes including social history, local writers, wildlife and industrial history, the Celtic landscape and prehistoric sites. |
23rd- 25th September
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Making Waves - Looe Music Festival
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Make Waves with the first Looe Music Festival a wide spectrum of music, dance, workshops, competitions and entertainment on 3 covered stages. There will be rock, pop, hip hop, salsa, jazz, brass bands and choirs, all with a Cornish flavour - even an award winning steel band. Plus dance classes, demonstrations and a tea dance. Kicks off with a 'Make Some Noise' procession. |
19th - 23rd September
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Lowender Peran - Cornwall's Celtic Festival
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Music and dance festival celebrating Cornwall's distinctive Cornish and Celtic heritage. Wednesday night offers free entry to the festival warm up followed by Thursday night's concerts by KAN featuring Aidan O'Rourke and Brian Finnegan - Radio 2 'Folk Musician of the Year' nominee. Rounded off by sessions, ceilidhs, concerts and workshops throughout the weekend and street dancing in Perranporth on the Saturday and Sunday. |
4th - 6th November
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The Cornwall Film Festival will be celebrating its 10th Birthday in style this year at Newquay's brand new state-of-the-art Lighthouse Cinema. Join us for this unique celebration of Cornish and international film making. With an assortment of spectacular film screenings, inclusive filmmaking workshops, networking and professional development opportunities, parties, live entertainment and a whole lot more - there's something for everyone! |
18th - 20th November |
The weekend events begin off on the evening of Friday 18th with a Lantern fundraiser for the BBC Children In Need. The park and house will be lit by the Newlyn Harbour lights creating a magical atmosphere, whilst a local school choir, singer songwriters and a brass band provide the entertainment. The weekend is set to offer a fantastic evening shopping atmosphere with great food, designer crafts and mulled wine. Throughout the weekend the Craft Fair will take place all under cover in heated marquees where visitors may browse a range of quality art and craft. A selection of local food producer 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. |
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19th November
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St.Austell Torchlight Carnival
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On 19 November St.Austell will again be filled with music, lights and magic. Throughout the day the whole family can enjoy free entertainment in the town, culminating in the spectacular Torchlight Carnival procession leaving John Keay House at 6pm, winding its way through the town to the One Stop Shop for prize giving. Everyone is invited to join the fun. |
3rd December
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Liskeard Lights Up
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A joyful winter carnival in Liskeard. Large willow circus puppets and small circus themed lanterns built by the local community parade through the streets as a prelude to the turning on of the Christmas lights. Music, entertainment and circus activities throughout the day followed by a spectacular firework display one the lights are on. |
21st December
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Montol is a festival of revived local traditions of midwinter. Come in disguise, masks and costume, tatters or mock formal, carry your lantern, wend your way to the ancient Lescudjack Hillfort, experience the Turkey Rhubarb Band and the lighting of the great beacon to celebrate the coming of the light on the darkest day of the year. |