Top 5 festivals in Cornwall this summer

The festival circuit in Cornwall is growing every year and there is something to appeal to everyone, whether it be a day sampling the local food and drink or a weekend of back-to-back music. With great weather, a beautiful backdrop and lots of outdoor space, the county is an ideal place to visit for the festival season.

So what are our top 5 picks for events planned in Cornwall this summer?

Taking place at Mount Pleasant Eco Park in Porthtowan, Tropical Pressure is a laid-back family-friendly event that combines music from around the world with fantastic food and drink. Featuring live acts from Brazil, Kenya, Jamaica, Cuba and the UK, this festival really does have an international flavour and has onsite camping available, as well as Porthtowan beach just a short walk away.

Port Eliot Festival is now well established and a date in the diaries of those that want their chosen festival to include music, fashion, art, literature and food. Held in St Germans on the Port Eliot estate, this is another festival that appeals to all of the family, with many adventures available to smaller members such as survival masterclasses, model making with Aardman and wilderness play. Here you really can combine festival fun with learning, with workshops available on everything from SUP yoga to skateboard making to stargazing!

Located just down the road from Cornwall Airport Newquay, Boardmasters is now one of the better known festivals in the UK. Whilst the incredible beachfront location helps, it really is the great line up year-after-year that attracts festival goers from around the country. This year Wu-Tang Clan, Florence and the Machine and Foals are headlining, with Slaves, Dizzee Rascal, Razorlight, Sam Fender and Jorja Smith amongst the supporting line up.

Originally Boardmasters started as part of an addition to a surf competition and although it has long become a festival in its own right, the WSL Pro competitions are also still running at the same time. Sand and surf during the day, music at night…what isn’t to love?

The local sailing regatta dates back to 1837 but whilst Falmouth Week still focusses on the sailing week and race, there is plenty to do if sailing doesn’t float your boat! On Sunday 11^th, there is a Wurzels, hog roast and cider night (yes, the actual Wurzels!), Thursday 15^th sees a SKA night at Events Square and on Sunday 18^th Jethro and the Oggymen are performing. There will also be an air show, a comic-con event and an interactive science in the square day, so if you are coming for a week in Falmouth, make sure its that week!

Chef demos, live music, food and craft vendors are just some of the attractions that have visitors flocking to Cornwall in September for the Newquay Fish Festival. Located down in the harbour, the festival is often blessed with that late summer sunshine and is a great opportunity to taste some delicious local produce as well as some freshly caught fish. With many of the Cornish food festivals such as Rock Oyster Festival taking a break this year, this weekend is sure to be a busy one!