Devon & Cornwall offer a year-round calendar of fantastic events and festivals to suit all ages and tastes. We’ll help you make the most of your time when holidaying in the south west of England.
On your marks… get set… for joining in a Santa Fun Run near you! It’s all in a good cause as participants get their own free Santa suit and run, jog or walk the 1-2 mile course raising funds for the Cornwall Hospice Care.
These seasonal Santa Fun Runs are taking place in 2014 in 6 different towns across Cornwall. Sign up and join in or cheer the runners and make this another success.
Folk music lovers will definitely want to visit Okehampton on the last weekend in October and participate in the unique Baring-Gould Folk Weekend. Organised by Wren Music, this Folk Festival is packed with concerts, workshops, a Feast and a Ceilidh.
Keen singers may want to stay on the following week and join the Song School to develop their skills and delve into the Baring-Gould collection of folk songs.
Walkers, hikers and ramblers will not want to miss the Great South West Walks event which aims to raise funds to maintain and improve the South West Coast Path. With over 100 circular walks to choose from, you may want to do more than one!
Read more about how you can participate in the Great South West Walks in Devon and meet new friends on this fun 9-day event.
Once a year, national monuments, private properties, historic schools and former hospital buildings in Devon open their doors to the public for free admittance. These Heritage Open Days take place in mid-September and are well worth a visit.
Read about Devon’s 25 properties that will be open for the Heritage Open Days event then book your place on a special behind-the-scenes heritage tour.
What better time to visit the Scilly Isles than in September when the Tresco and Bryher Food Festival gets underway? Sample Bryher crab, St Martin’s wine and St Agnes ice cream in a culinary festival fit for a king.
Learn more about this gourmet food festival and find out the best way to reach the Scilly Isles in < a href="https://holidaycottagesindevonandcornwall.co.uk/cross-the-sea-to-sample-the-tresco-and-bryher-food-festival" title="Cross the sea to sample the Tresco and Bryher Food Festival">this informative article.
Walk into Stithians Showground for the Cornish Steam and Country Fair and you might as well turn back time 50 years! See vintage vehicles, working traction engines and rural skills that are more in keeping with the last century than this one!
Discover what fun a visit to the Cornish Steam and Country Fair can be, and look forward to visiting this 3-day cultural event.
Join in a day of old-fashioned family fun at the Shaldon Water Carnival. Applaud the Water Carnival Queen and her attendees and admire the flotilla of decorated boats at this colourful water-based carnival just a ferry-ride from Teignmouth.
There are plenty of stalls, food and water-themed activities at the Shaldon Water Carnival so come on down, join the fun and expect to get your feet wet!
On your marks, get set… for the annual Rotary Pedal Car Grand Prix which takes place each year in Torquay. Watch teams propel their pedal cars to the limit around the circuit in pursuit of the coveted title and trophy.
This popular fundraiser includes a barbecue, bric-a-brac, arts and crafts, bouncy castle and more. Read on for full details about this spoof F1 raceday.
Celebrate the Summer Solstice weekend at the Gold Coast Oceanfest and enjoy a host of beach games, sports and live music. The festival includes the largest beach volleyball event in the UK plus Aquathon, surfing, paddleboarding, Frisbee and more.
If this sounds like your sort of event, read all about where to obtain your Gold Coast Oceanfest tickets and how to get to Croyde.
Murdoch Day celebrates Redruth’s most famous inventor with a full day of activities. Watch the Children’s Procession, browse the street market, ride the Old Tyme Fair and enjoy live music from brass bands to samba!
Learn about who William Murdoch was and plan to celebrate in style by attending the Murdoch Day celebrations this year.
Rivers and lakes in Dartmoor have been chosen to host the prestigious Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championship 2014. With world-class fishing for rainbow and brown trout, the event is sure to create a surge in interest with local anglers.
Read more about the history and planned locations for this international event, and perhaps be inspired to plan your own fishing holiday in Devon this year!
If you enjoy cooking and eating good food, the Dartington Food Fair has plenty to tempt you! With over 50 stalls selling Devon products, and several popular chef’s kitchens, this free event is well worth attending this May.
Why not make a date and plan to visit this excellent Food Fair? It takes place on the riverside site of a former Cider Press in the beautiful Dart Valley.
Lemonfest hit the ground running when it took over the Newton Abbot Racecourse for the first ever event. It has now secured a spot as one of the UK’s top music festivals. This one-day music festival takes place on the late May bank holiday Saturday.
With five stages and a mega-lineup of talent, Lemonfest has something for everyone. Best book your earlybird ticket now to avoid disappointment!
Few May Day celebrations are more colourful or historic than the Black Prince Boat Procession that brings together the communities of Millbrook, Kingsand and Cawsand. Locals parade behind the flower decorated boat wearing traditional Cornish costume.
Don your best red ribbons and cloaks and head down to southeast Cornwall for this family-friendly event to launch the Black Prince Flower Boat.
BrixFest is a great excuse to visit the old fishing port of Brixham and celebrate its long association with the sea. Formerly known as Brixham Heritage Festival, BrixFest fills the town with visitors during the 5-day festival which takes place over the late May Bank Holiday from Saturday to the following Wednesday.
During BrixFest, you will find Brixham is a-buzz with activities relating to the town’s fishing culture and heritage. From regattas to sea food and fireworks to live music, there is plenty to keep you on your toes!
The prestigious Cornwall Garden Society puts on a wonderful event with the annual Cornwall Spring Flower Show which began in the late 19th century. There are over 160 classes of flowering plants, show gardens and trade stands.
Read more about this family-friendly event in Cornwall and learn about the Boconnoc Estate which has connections with two famous British Prime Ministers!
Trereife Estate near Penzance is the chosen venue for the Wed Show 2014. This beautiful grade 2 listed manor house makes a wonderful venue for the wedding show, and can even be booked as a wedding venue with B&B accommodation too!
Find out what the Wed magazine has to offer any bride-to-be and consider visiting the Wed Show at Trereife this April.
Grab your apron and head down to Westpoint in Exeter for the newest event on their calendar – the Big Cake Show. The event is designed to inspire bakers with all sorts of sales stands, talks, cook-offs, ingredients, demonstrations and more.
Find out more about what this fun event entails by reading on, then join stars, authors and chefs at this inspirational event for both amateur and pro bakers.
For a relaxed day out with an equestrian theme, the East Cornwall Hunt Point to Point Meeting has plenty to offer. With six races on the card and plenty of fences to sail over, it’s an exciting family-friendly event near Liskeard.
If you’ve never attended a Point to Point Meeting, read on to learn what it’s all about. Hopefully the weather will be kind for this Sunday afternoon event.
The Eden Project is ideal for winter visitors with plenty of events inside the tropical and Mediterranean biomes. Learn about weird animals and plants at the Freaky Nature Festival which takes place over February half term.
Edible bugs, creepy crawlies under the microscope and hands-on exhibits are all part of the event along with the Rainforest Aerial Walkway and the skating rink.
If you are wondering how to keep the kids amused during the February half-term holiday, the Lanhydrock Close Up event is just the thing. This photo treasure hunt will have everyone looking high and low as you explore the gardens near Bodmin.
There’s even a prize for completing the Close Up Trail, when well-earned refreshments in the Stable Café are the perfect end to the family-friendly event.
Set on the cliffs above the Fal River, Pendennis Castle is a well maintained structure that brings 450 years of English history vividly to life. Explore the tower and grounds as part of the family Half Term Trail at Pendennis Castle this February.
Discover what a visit to Pendennis Castle has to offer and then enjoy the educational fun day out by joining in the Half Term Trail.
If you are wondering where to celebrate Valentine’s Day, then the romantic Valentine’s Dinner at Trelissick is probably just what you are looking for. The evening of fine food and live entertainment has limited availability, so book early.
Read on to learn more about the lovely Trelissick Gardens near Truro and how the stately home is finally open to the public after almost 60 years.
Craft4Crafters is the largest crafting supplies event in the southwest. As well as stores there are demonstrations, talks, workshops and competitions providing a wealth of information, tips and ideas as well as craft supplies.
Discover what’s in store for you at the Craft4Crafters Show this year, then book your tickets online and join in this mega arts and crafts gathering.