- Show off at the Royal Cornwall Show
- Go back in time at Penzance Golowan Festival
- Go underground at the Geevor Tin Mine
- Tuck in at Mevagissey Feast Week
- All aboard at Charles Causley Festival
- Sing up and dive in at Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival
- Tune up at Polperro Music Festival
- Make a splash!
- Head to the dunes for Tunes in the Dunes
- Hop it at The Great Estate
Show off!
The annual Royal Cornwall Show is the big event each year for farmers, growers and producers in the county. It runs for three days from the second Thursday in June. All the best livestock, rare breeds, high-tech equipment, Cornish food and drink is showcased with plenty of rosettes and trophies up for grabs. This agricultural show takes place at Wadebridge Showground and includes plenty of shopping, equestrian competitions, flower arrangements, great food at the WI tent, dog and duck displays, live music in the Main Ring and other exciting performances.
Go back in time
One of the weirdest and most unique midsummer festivals is the Golowan Festival hosted in Penzance on Mazey Day. Golowan celebrates the Feast of St John which takes place on a 10-day street party over the midsummer solstice. Steeped in ancient history and tradition, this cultural event includes a procession of giants led by a horse’s head (‘Obby ‘Oss) along streets lined with bunting. There’s a Serpent Dance to join in, the electing of the Mock Mayor for a day, a quayside fair and fireworks after dark on Mazey Day (23rd June). It has all the makings of a fun time for all!
Go underground
Cornwall has a history of tin mining and many of its engine houses, chimneys and industrial relics mark the UNESCO Heritage-listed landscape from Gunnislake to Land’s End. If you fancy experiencing life in a Cornish tin mine, take an underground tour at the Geevor Tin Mine. There’s a museum that explains the history of mining at this famous site which featured in the filming of Poldark TV series.
Tuck in!
If you’re visiting Mevagissey in late June, the popular Mevagissey Feast Week will be in full swing. The harbour is lined with stalls cooking up fresh fish dishes and seafood and there’s a Floral Dance to watch or join in around the narrow streets. Try your hand at crabbing, watch the boat races, cheer on the parade and join in square dancing at the Ceilidh. Mevagissey Feast Week ends with a spectacular fireworks display, so it’s worth staying late.
All aboard!
The historic town of Launceston remembers one of its most famous sons at the Charles Causley Festival on the second weekend in June. Inspired by the life and poetry of this 20th century writer, this festival of literature and the arts includes poetry readings, writers’ workshops, drama and street entertainment. Once you’re done with the festival, why not visit the castle and enjoy superb views all around, or perhaps ride the steam train through the countryside to Newmills.
Sing up and dive in!
Warm up your vocals before visiting the Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival as you’ll definitely find yourself singing along with some lively sea shanties. It takes place on the third weekend in June making it a great event for dads celebrating Father’s Day. This free nautical festival commemorates the long association that Falmouth has with the sea, having one of the deepest natural harbours in the world.
After enjoying the events and stalls lining the 17th century quay, stroll along to the National Maritime Museum and see boats, shipwrecks and exhibits relating to maritime history. There’s even an underwater viewing window for looking beneath the waves.
Tune up
The lively Polperro Music Festival fills the streets of this delightful fishing village with music for the nine-day festival that usually starts on the third weekend in June. It’s been going for over 25 years and includes a Mock Mayor Ceremony, Morris dancing and plenty of live music, choirs and talent competitions for budding professionals. It includes a bonfire on Midsummer’s Eve and plenty of good food and entertainment for all ages.
Make a splash!
June is warm enough to enjoy some wet and wild fun at one of the lidos, outdoor swimming pools and waterparks. Take your pick from the Jubilee pool and lido in Penzance or the tidal pool at Perranporth. There’s a superb natural saltwater pool on the beautiful beach at Bude. At 90m long and 45m wide, it’s bigger than your average swimming pool and there’s plenty of room for all! Treyarnon Bay has a natural rock pool for youngsters to play and there’s a tidal pool hidden in the rocks near Padstow.
Head to the dunes
Tunes in the Dunes is the UK’s biggest festival on the beach and is hosted on the white sands of Perranporth on the last weekend in June. Get ready for an exciting line-up of headline acts over the three-day event. With two stages, DJs, after parties, food vendors and a silent disco, the atmosphere is amazing.
Hop it!
The annual Great Estate at Scorrier House offers three days of family fun over the first weekend in June. This fabulous ticketed event is one of several events hosted over the summer at Scorrier near Redruth. Top performers are lined up along with a Vintage Fairground till late. Workshops, karaoke, tattoos, a peep show and rambunctious games are organised on the front lawn of the manor and there’s always something new. Past events have included sack races, croquet, a tug of war, egg and spoon and three-legged races to watch or join in.
See you soon in Cornwall
Where better to be than Cornwall in June? Best book your Cornish holiday cottage while there’s still availability!
What about next month? Here’s our guide to the top 10 things to do in Cornwall in July.
Born in Cheshire, Gillian Birch moved to Cornwall at her earliest opportunity and never looked back. After 20 years, her ongoing discovery of popular attractions, quiet footpaths and local eateries has made her a fount of knowledge as she entertains readers with her informative articles on the hidden gems of Devon & Cornwall from a local point-of-view.