Festivals in Cornwall are very much part of the fabric of life. Throughout the year there are events to suit practically all music or literary tastes, every food preference, and plenty of options to keep the kids entertained. So why not pack your festival wellies and head down to experience the very best talent from the worlds of music, literature, food and more. This is the Kilden Mor guide to the very best festivals Padstow and North Cornwall has to offer in 2024.
North Cornwall food festivals 2024
Bude Food Festival
1 April & 11 August
Combining an artisan food market with mouth-watering street food vendors, this bi-annual event takes place in the historic setting of Bude Castle. Expect locally reared sausages, freshly baked bread, sumptuous sauces and even gourmet dining for your dog. Bude Food festival is free to enter.
Porthleven Food Festival
26-28 April
This hugely popular, non-profit community event celebrates the very best food and produce from around Cornwall, with a line-up of talented British chefs including Josh Eggleton, Jude Kereama and Kate Attlee. Head down to the picturesque harbour of Porthleven for inspiring demonstrations in the chef’s theatre and explore numerous food stalls and restaurants. There’s also live music, circus shows, workshops and a parade. The festival is free to attend with various ticketed events, individually priced on their website.
Cornwall Street Food Festival
24-27 May
If you love your street food but would prefer to eat it well away from the actual streets, then head down to Barrowfields cliffs, off Lusty Glaze Road, Newquay this May Bank Holiday weekend. Over 20 traders will be selling their mouth-watering wares in front of the soul enriching backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, with live music and DJs competing with the sound of crashing waves. Entry to this event is free, see their Instagram page for the latest details.
Rock Oyster Festival
25-28 July
Dinham House on the Camel Estuary is home to this event which has become a fixture in Cornwall’s foodie and musical calendars. While many music festivals now make a feature of their food offering, Rock Oyster is the only one where you’ll find chefs including Nathan Outlaw, Jack Stein and Thuy Diem Pham sharing a bill with the likes of Sugababes, Bombay Bicycle Club and Newton Faulkner. You’ll also be able to treat yourself to a little self-care thanks to the festival’s wellness programme, where you can enjoy breathwork, sound baths, yoga and mindfulness sessions. Adult weekend tickets cost £149 and can be purchased on their website.
Padstow Christmas Festival
December (date TBA) – now cancelled for 2024
Now in its 17th year, this local food festival has become the go-to event for some of the country’s most talented and celebrated chefs. The festival includes a market, food tastings and presentations from renowned celebrity chefs – past guests have included Paul Ainswirth, Rick Stein and Emily Scott. Plus, an unlimited supply of Christmas cheer! General entry to the market and stalls is free, but events such as the Sharp’s Chefs Theatre and the Big Cornish Breakfast are ticketed. Keep an eye on their website for dates, pricing and details as they’re announced.
North Cornwall music festivals 2024
St Endellion Easter Festival
30 March – 7 April
Now in its 51st year, this classical music festival takes place in the serene surroundings of the Collegiate Church of St Endellion, Port Isaac. There’s a range of choral and orchestral concerts to enjoy along with a traditional evensong performance on Easter Sunday. Other highlights include a late-night candlelit concert and an invitation to get involved at a ‘Come and Sing’ performance of Faure’s Requiem. Prices vary. A full programme and tickets can be found on the festival website.
Port Isaac Shanty Festival
19-21 April
Where better to experience the real music of the sea than the splendid harbour village of Port Isaac – home of legendary sea shanty singers, Fisherman’s Friends, the inspiration for the hit film series. More than 30 acts perform over this popular weekend at Port Isaac Playing Field and other venues across the village, with all gigs free to attend.
Eden Sessions
Throughout June and July
The Eden Project, near St Austell, is the place to go for a good time this summer, with the ultimate festival line up performing a series of headline concerts. Crowded House, Fatboy Slim, The National, Manic Street Preachers, Rick Astley, JLS and more massive names will perform against the backdrop of the Eden Project’s iconic biodomes. The shows have been described as ‘the nearest you can get to watching a gig on the moon.’
Get regular tickets or one of the VIP packages, which include exclusive viewing platforms, a Garden bar and options for a drinks reception before the show. There’s also the option to include a stay on site, with choices of accommodation including Airstreams, Landpods, bell tents and wild camping pitches.
Boardmasters
7-11 August
Over five days in August, Cornwall’s blockbuster music festival plays host to some of today’s biggest artists, including Stormzy, Chase & Status and Tom Odell. The event takes place at Watergate Bay in Newquay and has probably the best festival view in Britain. If surfing’s your thing, you can also head down to Fistral beach to watch the Boardmasters Open, the UK’s biggest surf competition – or why not booking your own surf lessons, coasteering adventure or SUP tour? Tickets are selling fast, so hurry to their website to avoid disappointment.
Cornwall Folk Festival
22-26 August
2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the much loved Wadebridge folk festival. This impressive achievement will be celebrated in venues across the village with a superb line up including Lady Maisery, Daphne’s Flight and The Trials of Cato. It all kicks off in fine style on Thursday evening with a ceilidh. Early bird tickets for this long weekend cost £75 and can be bought from the festival website.
Family-friendly festivals in North Cornwall 2024
Obby Oss Festival
1 May
One of Cornwall’s oldest and most spectacular festivals explodes onto the streets of Padstow each May Day Bank Holiday. Beginning at 10am, two Obby Osses (or hobby horses, to most of us!), one blue and one red, are driven through streets decorated with flags and flowers. A day of folk singing and dancing, accompanied by accordions and drums goes on until midnight, with thousands of people thronging the streets to follow the Obby Oss.
Bude Literary Festival
16-19 May
Kids are in for a treat at the Bude Literary festival, with big names from the world of children’s books including Roger McGough, Philip Reeve, Sarah McIntryre and Sophie Henn appearing alongside local authors and illustrators. There will be activities for families, competitions and a free Family Fun Day on the Sunday. Events take place around the town and prices vary, so visit the website to find out more.
Newquay’s Spooky Zombie Crawl
26 October
There’s a festival of the undead in Newquay this Halloween as the annual Zombie Crawl returns with a macabre procession through the town. All ages are welcome, so come dressed in your best ‘rotting corpse’ outfit! The fun, free family event includes ghastly face painting in the morning, followed by spooky costume making workshops and scary storytelling to get you in the mood. The parade begins at four, and limps to a close an hour later.
