A Guide to What's on in Cornwall this Christmas
With Christmas adverts already taking over our screens, and a heightened sense of expectation for this year's festivities, it's never too early to start planning which Cornish Christmas markets you'll be visiting; deciding which seaside town has the best Christmas lights, and finding out where you can get your hands on the best mulled wine in Cornwall. To avoid missing out on any Christmas activities check out the Padstow Breaks guide to Christmas in Cornwall.
Fowey Christmas Market, 2021
Unfortunately, the incredibly popular Padstow Christmas market has been cancelled for 2021, but fear not, it is set to return in 2022. Until then, you can get your fix of festive local foods and seasonal goods in the harbour town of Fowey. The perfect place to stock up on Christmas essentials ready for the big day, and jammed full of Christmas gifts and unique ideas for presents, a trip to Fowey Christmas market is a chance to get ahead of the game with this year's Christmas shopping, allowing you to enjoy the run-up to Christmas at a more relaxed pace.
Fowey Christmas Market 2021 Opening Times and Dates
- Friday 26th November 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm
- Saturday 27th November 10 am to 5.30 pm
- Sunday 28th November 10 am to 4 pm
Ice Skating at the Eden Project
The Eden Project is a magical place to visit at Christmas. Beautiful all year round, the domes really come to life when lit up in traditionally festive reds and greens. And for a truly enchanting experience, a session on the ice rink followed by hot chocolate and mulled wine is sure to get even the most sceptical members of the family feeling alive with the Christmas spirit.
Christmas with the National Trust
Cornwall is blessed with a wide selection of country houses and picturesque estates, and many of them come alive at Christmas when the 20-foot tree is once again installed into the grand entrance hall. Each property has its own Christmas calendar, so visit the National Trust website to see exactly what's going on in each location.
A couple of highlights to look out for:
- Christmas at Trelissick House and gardens is especially magical, with carols around the Christmas tree an annual highlight.
- Trerice Manor just outside Newquay is one of the smaller properties but what it lacks in size it makes up for in atmosphere; this year they have a Percy the Park Keeper winter trail weaving through its pristine gardens.
- And Cotehele Park in the north of the county goes the extra mile when it comes to decorations. This Tudor house is magnificently decked out in fresh foliage and flowers, a tradition dating back more than 60 years.
Trebah Garden Festival of Lights
With many of the county's lantern parades cancelled again this year, Trebah Gardens are perhaps the best place to experience a magical lantern procession as the warm glow of handmade lanterns weaves its way through the intimate surroundings. This year's pilot event is exploring the possibility of a winter festival of light for Cornwall, so they will sure to be pulling out all the stops in the hope of making it an annual event. Their ambition is to build a festival giving hope in the dark winter months; celebrating the uniqueness of Cornwall's landscape and developing an opportunity to bring One and All together, sharing contemporary Cornish culture.
Santa Special at Bodmin & Wenford Railway
For years this has been one of Cornwall's favourite Christmas traditions, so book up early to make sure you don't miss out. Visitors to the station will be met by Santa's elves welcoming guests onto the iconic locomotive. Whilst aboard the steam train there's an opportunity to write to Father Christmas before heading back to Bodmin General. On arrival at the main station, children will explore a range of Christmas themed activities before they go and visit Santa Claus in his magical Victorian coach.
Christmas Shopping
Of course, no festive holiday is complete without a bit of Christmas shopping. And that experience is often a bit unique in Cornwall. For your traditional high street experience, Truro has everything you could need and runs late night shopping throughout December. But we prefer to make the whole experience a bit more intimate and spend our time exploring the beautiful boutiques and shops filling the cobbled streets of Padstow. For a taste of what to expect, why not read our blog on the best shops in Padstow?
So we think that's Christmas in Padstow covered. Whether you decide to try one or all of these festive activities you're sure to have a magical Cornish Christmas. If you're looking for luxury accommodation in Padstow this December, or any other time of year, be sure to check out the Padstow Breaks homepage.
