Never mind back-to-back beach days: there’s a profusion of local happenings to enliven a stay at Tom’s Cottage. Top or tailing days-out with a morning market, afternoon fete or evening brass band on the beach adds connection; deepens experience. Mingle and linger – the real fun comes with joining locals in fiesta-mode.
Some are family orientated; others lean more toward grown-up evenings. The majority are just highly entertaining (irrespective of age) and are unique. Watching gig crews row competitively in home waters is captivating, and the ice creams bought off the beach help float the boat – literally. When rowers hit the pub later with a thirst-on, merriment often leads to singing: shanty style.
Music runs through Cornish veins like the ore underground – even the tone-deaf (myself) sit spellbound through a male voice choir rendition. The song sheet helps of course: it’ll be stuffed with songs of Cornwall; or at the very least: sung to the Cornish tune.
High summer is also village season – shows, carnivals and fetes: community events that still hold fast hereabouts. Full of local character, good humour and totally uncommercialised. 100% authentic.
Then there's the biggies: recognisable as festivals in the conventional sense. Food, family fun and contemporary music on the banks of the Camel Estuary. Classical performances, acoustically enhanced in an ancient church, along with art exhibitions and fringe events.
Cornish culture is here, at grass roots level. Distinctive and best experienced first-hand; we’ve compiled a bucket full of memory-makers…
Summer events guide
Mid July – end August
Tuesday evenings St Minver Silver Band Polzeath beach
Thursday evenings St Breward Silver Band Port Isaac (on The Platt)
July
4th Stone Roots in the walled garden Pencarrow House 7pm
5th Wadebridge Choral Society ‘Little Jazz Mass’ Wadebridge Town Hall 6.30pm
6th *Port Isaac Rowing Club Regatta (Cornish gigs) Port Gaverne from 12 noon *Rescheduled for 6th September
9th–13th Music on the Moor (music/art/poetry) across Bodmin Moor various
12th Make Club: pop-up cards St Endellion Hall 10am-noon
12th Summer Party Sea View Farm Shop 7-11pm
19th St James Fete Trescobel, St Kew 2pm
19th ‘The Lady of Shallot’ St Endellion church 7pm
19th Wadebridge Carnival procession Wadebridge 7pm
19th–26th Delabole Carnival week, events everyday Delabole playing field evenings
20th Tretawn Farmers Market St Kew Highway 10am-12.30
23rd Beachcombing (Pol. Marine Conservation) Polzeath 10.30-11.30
24th Live music, barbq & cider Haywood Farm Cider from 6pm
24th Rockpool Ramble (Pol. Marine Conserv.) Polzeath 11.15-12.15
24th Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir Tintagel social hall 7.30pm
24th-27th Rock Oyster Festival
25th–27th St Teath Flower Festival St Teath church all day
26th Delabole Carnival procession Delabole 7pm
27th–2nd St Teath Carnival week, events everyday St Teath various
28th-2nd Cornwall Watercolour Society exhibition Port Isaac Church 10.30-5pm
29th Beachcombing (Pol. Marine Conservation) Polzeath 2.30-3.30
29th-8th Aug St Endellion Festival
August
2nd St Teath Carnival procession St Teath 6pm
2nd–3rd Summer Craft Fair Pencarrow House 11am-5pm
4th Cornwall V Somerset cricket match Wadebridge Cricket Club
6th Kids pop-up screening of Toy Story Pengenna Manor 11am & 4pm
7th Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir Tintagel social hall 7.30pm
8th Beachcombing (Pol. Marine Conservation) Polzeath 11am-12noon
9th Rockpool Ramble (Pol. Marine Conservation) Polzeath 11.45am-12.45
9th Family Fun Open Day Hallagenna Stables & rare breed farm 11am-8pm
10th Lifeboat Larks inc. Mischief the Mermaid Port Isaac harbour 11am-4pm
12th Beachcombing (Pol. Marine Conservation) Polzeath 2-3pm
12th Port Isaac fete St Endellion hall 2pm
13th Camelford Agricultural Show Marshgate, Camelford 8am-6pm
13th After Show Party with Johnny Cowling Show Marquee 8pm
14th Rockpool Ramble (Pol. Marine Cons.) Polzeath 3-4pm
16th Pop-up Flower Market, Tretawn Farm St Kew Highway 10am-noon
16th Delabole Village Show (in Methodist Chapel) Delabole early pm
17th Tretawn Farmers Market St Kew Highway 10am-12.30
17th Teddy Bear’s Picnic (BYO teddy!) Pencarrow House mid am-mid pm
20th Make Club: texture rubbing & collage w/shop St Endellion Hall 10am-noon
20th Proms at Pencarrow Washaway 7-9.30pm
21st Rockpool Ramble (Pol. Marine Conservation) Polzeath 10.30-11.30am
21st Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir Tintagel social hall 7.30pm
21st-25th Cornwall Folk Festival Wadebridge daily/eves
22nd Beachcombing (Pol. Marine Conservation) Polzeath 11am-midday
23rd-24th Antiques Fair Cornwall (RC Showground) Wadebridge daily
26th Beachcombing (Pol. Marine Conservation) Polzeath 1.30-2.30pm
28th Rockpool Ramble (Pol. Marine Conserv.) Polzeath 2.30-3.30pm
