Christmas in Cornwall

Running from November 22nd to December 24th on Truro's Lemon Quay, this festive market is a must-visit for Christmas shoppers. It features local food, drink, arts, and crafts from Cornwall’s finest traders. Wander through the alpine-style wooden cabins, enjoy festive street food, sip mulled wine, and take a photo in the giant snow globe. With a rotating selection of stalls, it’s worth returning on Wednesdays for extended markets during Truro's Late Night Shopping.

Every Wednesday from November 27th until Christmas, Truro’s shops stay open until 9pm, offering the perfect opportunity to get your Christmas shopping done after work. Wander through the beautifully lit streets, enjoy live entertainment, and browse the festive market stalls. With local food, drinks, and crafts on offer, it’s an ideal way to soak up the holiday spirit while ticking items off your gift list.

Have a Nadelik Lowen at Trelissick this December with Father Christmas, local choirs and decorations inspired by a Cornish Christmas. We'll be celebrating Christmas at Trelissick daily from 7 December 2024 until 5 January 2025 (closing at 2pm on Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day).

The house will be decorated beautifully and inspired by a Cornish Christmas, with performances from local choirs and visits from Father Christmas at weekends and in the build up to Christmas.

There'll be plenty of festive gifts in the shop as well as the perfect winter warmers in the barn café and house tearoom.

Join Jingle the Elf and Father Christmas at Truro’s Royal Cornwall Museum for a magical festive experience! Running for eight dates from Saturday, 7th December, this enchanting event features storytelling and a chance for little ones to meet Father Christmas himself at his Kernow office.

Children can enjoy the heart-warming tale of Jim the Cornish Knocker, who dreams of becoming a North Pole Christmas Elf—perhaps you can help make his dream come true! Each child will receive a small gift, and the will be time for photos with Father Christmas.

Booking is required, and step-free access is available.

Treat yourself this Christmas with a festive afternoon tea at The Alverton. Cozy up by the roaring fire and enjoy a seasonal selection of sandwiches, Christmassy cakes, scones, and sweet delights—all paired with a glass of piping hot mulled wine and tea or coffee for £27 per person.

Bring the children along too! They can indulge in festive treats with a scrumptious hot chocolate. Available throughout December and on New Year's Day between 12pm-5pm, and on Sundays from 3pm-5pm.

This Christmas, savour unforgettable cuisine at The Alverton with a three-course festive lunch packed with winter flavors and creative twists on traditional dishes. Whether it’s a festive family gathering, a catch-up with friends, or a celebration with colleagues, The Alverton is the perfect place to toast the season in style.

In the lead up to Christmas you can join us twice a week on Boscawen Street as part of the Truro Christmas Market programme. From Saturday November the 23rd you'll find us every Saturday and late night shopping Wednesday right up until the Saturday before Christmas day (21st of December) brought to the city with the support of Truro BID and Visit Truro. Our festoon lit street market will be showcasing the very best locally created and curated seasonal gifts, contemporary craft, art & design, sustainable home & lifestyle wares, vintage finds and artisan food & drink from the award winning Truro Farmers Market all alongside a streetfood quarter, community connections and great live music.

Join us for a wonderful 3 course Christmas dinner, live disco entertainment from the award winning team at DJ in Cornwall and an overnight stay at our beautiful hotel. Bring your dancing shoes and get Christmas started! Our Christmas Party Nights are inclusive of a 3 course dinner, party, overnight accommodation and breakfast and includes free use of the golf and leisure facilities. Standard rooms £110 per person
Signature rooms £140 per person
Based on two people sharing

Gather your friends, family, colleagues or club pals and join us for a wonderful lunch in the run up to Christmas. We have 2 course and 3 course options … all served up with crackers, decorations and coffee after! We do recommend early booking because these lunches are very popular and get very booked up.

3 Course Christmas Lunch £35
2 Course Christmas Lunch £30
Children's Christmas Lunch £21
(11 years old and younger)

Both 2 and 3 course options also come with coffee after.

Join us this December and make your own Christmas Wreath with local artist Fiona Pullen. Create your wreath using a natural theme, traditional Christmas or modern asymmetrical design … all using locally made willow bases. There will be plenty of foliage and seasonal embellishments to choose from. On Tuesday lunchtime arrive early and enjoy lunch in our lounges or on Thursday stay on for a full traditional Christmas lunch in our hotel’s main restaurant.

Dates: Tuesday 10th December 2pm to 4.30pm | 7pm to 9.30pm Thursday 12th December 10am to 12.30pm | 7pm to 9.30pm

Discover unique festive gifts and meet the talented makers behind them at the Makers Cornwall Christmas Fair at Falmouth & Exeter Universities' Penryn Campus.

Get ahead of the Christmas rush and enjoy cocktails and live music on the opening Friday night—time to glam up and celebrate! With food stands, a cozy café, free entry, and free parking, it's a perfect festive outing. Come for an evening on Friday or make a day of it over the weekend!

This year, the fair is excited to collaborate with The Guild of Ten and support Penryn and Falmouth Food Bank with collections and a charity tombola. Attendees are encouraged to help reduce single-use plastics for a sustainable event.

Get ready for winter magic with Duffy and the Stiltskin, Miracle Theatre’s new twist on an ancient Cornish folk tale. Join young Duffy on a fantastical journey where she discovers that some offers are too good to be true. Expect a delightful mix of comedy, music, physical theatre, and sharp writing—all trademarks of Miracle Theatre.

Perfect for all ages, this spellbinding story is full of heart, fun, and valuable lessons, ideal for warming up a chilly winter’s night. Running approximately 2 hours, including an interval.

Christmas and New Year … one of our favourite times here at Budock Vean. Expect the best of all celebrations with carols, choirs, Champagne and much more. Our chefs create wonderful feasts using the very best local and seasonal ingredients, our spa team will be on stand-by for treatments and we're stocking up our log pile. With golf, tennis, swimming and snooker there’s plenty to keep you active and log fires, comfy sofas and cosy corners means there is plenty of relaxing to be done.

Enys House welcomes you and your family to meet Father Christmas and his enchanted woodland helpers for a magical festive storytelling experience.

Enys House is once again transformed into a magical enchanted wonderland filled with festive cheer, family activities and a very special magical storytelling with Father Christmas himself. Suitable for all ages, a traditional heartfelt Christmas experience for one and all.

Book your tickets for Trengwainton’s Winter Lights, with lanterns made by local schools, community groups and artists in collaboration with Tough Dough CIC. Stroll through the walled garden and orchard lit by these creative lanterns, fairy lights and feature lighting by students from Falmouth University. Make a Christmas wish by hanging a bauble on the wishing tree or capture the moment with a festive photo with your loved ones. Warm up with locally sourced food and drink from CAST café’s outdoor stall or explore the shop and bookshop, where children can make a Christmas craft. Note: Assistance dogs only at this event.

Open for 11 nights over 3 weekends: 29 Nov-1 Dec, 5-8 Dec, 12-15 Dec. Timed entry slots available every 15 minutes from 4.30-7.00pm. Adult: £8.00, child £4.00. Booking essential.

Celebrate the Winter Solstice at the Montol Festival and experience a revival of traditional midwinter customs and Christmas traditions historically celebrated in and around the Penzance area. Expect an array of activities, including the famous "guise dancing" where participants dress in elaborate masks and costumes, parading through the streets with lanterns. The festival culminates in the spectacular "Rivers of Fire" procession, ending with the symbolic burning of the "Mock," a traditional Cornish Yule log. The Montol Festival beautifully intertwines fire, music, and Cornish folklore, providing a unique way to experience Cornwall's cultural heritage.

The Mousehole Harbour Lights are a beloved Christmas tradition in Cornwall, illuminating the picturesque fishing village with festive cheer from mid-December until early January. This event, which began in 1963, features over 7,000 bulbs and iconic displays, including a floating sea serpent and festive boats.

Celebrate the season with a Festive Afternoon Tea at the Harbour Loft on St Michael’s Mount. Whether you’re looking for a special outing with friends or a festive addition to your visit, this seasonal treat is the perfect way to indulge.

Head Chef Greg Milne has crafted a delicious winter menu, highlighting the best of Cornish produce. Enjoy seasonal flavours like blackberries, cranberries, nutmeg, squash and traditional hogs pudding. Pair with a pot of locally grown Tregothnan tea or a glass of Polgoon sparkling wine for a truly festive experience.

Take some time for Christmas shopping in the island shops, offering unique gifts created by local artists and makers. Explore the cobbled streets of the harbour village and visit the art gallery.

Escape the holiday rush to enjoy tempting treats and a warm welcome set against the stunning backdrop of St Michael’s Mount.

Welcoming visitors from 5th to the 8th of December, the brand-new Cornwall Gold Christmas Market invites you to a hassle-free festive experience near Portreath, just minutes off the A30. Enjoy free parking and entry as you explore the fascinating indoor Tolgus Mill exhibition—a Grade II listed treasure full of Cornish history.

Discover over 40 local stallholders offering crafts and gifts, as well as stunning jewellery in the Cornwall Gold showroom. Indulge in festive treats at The Pantry, including mince pies, mulled wine, and hot chocolates. Santa might even make an appearance—with reindeers too!

Redruth’s Christmas Lights Switch-On is a magical event held on the last Saturday of November. The day features a lively lantern parade, the traditional Redruth Wassail, and a Mummers Play, all leading up to the moment when the town’s Christmas lights illuminate the streets. With festive markets, live music, and a special appearance by Father Christmas, it’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Ride with Santa and his elves on a heritage steam train this Christmas! Enjoy festive decor at our 1950s station, participate in kids' crafts, and indulge in mulled beverages at our new station bar. Each child receives a soft plush toy from Santa. The ride lasts about 50 minutes to 1 hour, from Bodmin Parkway and back. Don’t miss the lights tunnel and photo booth—make this Christmas memorable at Bodmin Railway!

Quiet Train Departure
Saturday 7th December
The "Quiet Train" offers a reduced sensory experience with fewer lights, quieter dispatch, and limited capacity—perfect for those seeking a calm festive atmosphere. Tickets are limited for a more relaxed journey.

New for 2024! Ride in an exclusive Victorian Saloon with your family and Santa alone. Begin with gingerbread cookie decorating, followed by a 20-minute ride with Santa, and finish with taking home your decorated cookies. Limited to 8 people per family.

Join an exciting evening of mystery with Murder by Appointment SW. Step aboard for a festive sleuthing experience and see if you can solve the case! Storyline coming soon.

Create festive wreaths and centerpieces in our steam-heated coaches! Led by a local florist, all materials are provided, along with arrival fizz, a pasty, and a hot drink. The wreath event is on 29th November, and centerpiece making on 6th December.