Skip to content

Christmas in Cornwall

We’ve rounded up a few of our favourite upcoming Christmas events and activities:

Christmas markets

There are loads of Christmas markets and fairs to choose from over the coming weeks, including the Made in Cornwall Christmas fair in Truro from 28th November – 2nd December, Padstow Christmas Festival 6th – 9th December, Truro Winter Gift Fayre 12th – 20th December, and Perranporth’s very own Christmas Market with numerous stalls and musical entertainment on Sunday 9th December.

Festive theatre experiences

Throughout December Rogue Theatre presents its much loved Winter Wood in Tehidy Woods, near Portreath: a wild and exciting winter woodland adventure for children and adults who still believe! Experience Christmas stories from the forest and traditional tales from times gone by.

For a pantomime theatre experience, this year Aladdin will be playing at The Princess Pavilion in Falmouth from 7th December to 5th January. Following previous sell-out productions, Miracle Theatre are back with a new and not-to-be-missed family Christmas show.

Late night shopping and Christmas lights

Truro’s mid-winter City of Lights festival takes place on Wednesday 21st November this year when the streets will be lit up with processions of huge and impressive willow and paper lanterns. The parade this year will have the theme of remembrance as its inspiration. The following Wednesday 28th November, the start of late night shopping will be marked by a real reindeer parade through Truro and stalls lining the streets.

Perhaps the best-known Christmas light display in Cornwall is in the little fishing village of Mousehole, on the south coast. This year will mark the 55th year of their famous lights, which reflect prettily in the harbour. On Saturday 15th December the lights will be officially switched on at 6.30pm, accompanied by an open air Carolaire service and a silver band. The lights will then be on from 5pm – 11pm each evening until 4th January.

Local events

National Trust properties and gardens always put on fabulous Christmas events, and Trelissick is a particularly magical place at this time of year. During weekends from Friday 30th November, and then daily from Monday 17th December, the gardens of Trelissick will be seen in a new light as they become an illuminated wonderland. Visitors can also wrap up warm and meet reindeer in the stable yard on Saturdays throughout December.

Open now, until 24th February, The Eden Project’s ice rink – the only indoor rink in Cornwall – invites skaters to the ice once again for great family fun. Warm up afterwards with a hot chocolate rink-side, or perhaps a walk in the rainforest biome to get the feeling back in your fingers!

Nine Lessons and Carols

The famous Nine Lessons and Carols Service, held in Anglican churches at Christmas all the across the world, was originally devised by the first Bishop of Truro, Bishop Edward White Benson, in 1880 and has been held at Truro Cathedral every Christmas ever since. This year the service will be held on the 23rd and 24th December, with each one anticipated to be attended by audiences of approximately a thousand people.

Christmas in a Cornish cottage

If you’re looking for a Christmas cottage in Cornwall this year Duchy Holidays can help you find your ideal festive holiday home. All of our properties come with fully equipped kitchens, so you can cook up a Christmas feast and then relax in comfort in front of the fire, look out to the Atlantic swell, or enjoy an invigorating post-lunch walk along the beach.

Share this Story

Also of

Interest