Get your Christmas shopping off to a relaxed and early start by attending the enjoyable Trereife Christmas Fair on the fourth weekend in November each year.
Trereife House is situated just outside Penzance in Cornwall and is one of its most beautiful landmark historic homes. Parts of the manor house date back to the reign of Elizabeth I and the present owners have gone to great lengths to ensure that any restoration work to the house and gardens is sympathetic and in keeping with the original building, which is no mean feat.
Restoration work of this nature comes at a price so the owners now offer weddings, function rooms and a horse-breeding stable. It has become a highly regarded location for hosting various festivals and events throughout the year to raise much needed income to maintain this lovely Queen Anne-style family home and estate.
Extra activities at the Trereife Christmas Fair
Unusually, there is an admission fee to the Trereife Christmas Fair of £3 for adults and £1 for children. However, this includes access to some of the historic rooms in Trereife Manor where visitors can admire the furnishings and learn about the history of the Trereife estate and the LeGrice family.
For children, there is a free Christmas Crafts Workshop, a fairground carousel and a magician so there's no chance for them to be bored. With seasonal food demonstrations, blacksmithing, wood carving demos and basket making, this is a fun day out for all the family.
Trereife Christmas Fair starts with a Lantern Parade
There are many Christmas Fairs held around the county in the run-up to Christmas but the Trereife Christmas Fair is particularly special. It is held in the grounds of Queen Anne Manor House has been in the same family for seven generations. The minute your drive through the gates you can appreciate the homely atmosphere and friendly welcome extended by the resident LeGrice family.
Trereife Christmas Fair takes place on three days over the fourth weekend in November. The fun starts on the Friday evening at 5pm with a traditional Lantern Parade. Festive coloured lights illuminate both the house and the surrounding park for the weekend, which results in an effect which can only be described as magical.
The local school choirs perform Christmas carols with other entertainment provided courtesy of a brass band and various local artists which all goes to create a wonderful festive atmosphere.
Heated marquees accommodate Trereife Christmas Fair
The Christmas Fair itself takes place in a number of marquees. They are all heated so even if it is showery, cold and wintry outside you will be able to shop in comfort. On the Saturday and Sunday the Christmas Fair at Trereife is open from 10am until 5pm but to really savour the Christmas spirit it would be well worth visiting on the Friday night to coincide with the Lantern Parade and fundraising celebrations.
On the Friday the fair is open from 5pm until 8pm and is the perfect time to browse the stalls and get the best pick of handmade gifts, artwork, crafts and local foods in a wonderful atmosphere. The marquees are placed directly in front of the house and the local food producers in particular really push the boat out in terms of what they have to offer.
Start your visit to Trereife with a warming glass of mulled wine and just spend a few minutes taking it all in. Quality is definitely the watch word at this particular fair. Both the local crafts and food products are not the type that you would find at your local street market. Rather, this is the perfect place to pick up some uniquely individual Christmas presents which are sure to be appreciated by the lucky recipients.
Do you know of any other Christmas markets in Cornwall where the organisers have gone to great lengths to make it a little bit more special than most people may be used to?
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.