Open Studios Cornwall - May/June

Throughout late May and early June, as spring blooms in Cornwall, artists across the county open their studio doors and welcome the general public in. Talented artists of all practices invite visitors to take a look around their workspaces, ranging from sculptors, glass fusers and ceramicists, to designers, illustrators and photographers, with some hosting one-on-one and group workshops to share their expertise too. Each studio will have different opening times, and visitors are recommended to check these on the website before they go. 

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Padstow May Day - May

Also know as ‘Obby Oss’ to local residents, Padstow May Day is one of the biggest events in Padstow’s calendar, held on the first day of May and drawing crowds of up to 30,000 people. The event dates back centuries and its origins are rather mysterious, some claiming it was a way of fending off the possibility of a French invasion, while others suspect it began as a fertility or rain dance. On the morning of the festivities, flowers, flags and blossoming tree branches are tied to the town’s lampposts before the local townspeople parade through the streets, singing songs and playing music on instruments whilst a ‘Teaser’ chases two ‘Obby ’Osses (hobby horses) out of The Golden Lion Pub and through the town.

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Royal Cornwall Show - June

The Royal Cornwall Show is one of the leading agricultural shows in the country, drawing visitors from all over the UK to the three-day long event in June each year, celebrating the best that Cornwall has to offer. Not only can visitors see the finest breeds of animals, birds and flowers in the country, there are also plentiful theatre and live music performances to watch, a fun fair for children to enjoy, and ample opportunity to sample the county’s finest food and drink.

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St. Piran's Day - March

Each year on 5th March, Cornwall dedicates the whole day to its patron saint, Piran. Events take place all across the county, including parades, music, pasty competitions, and creative workshops, while the self-proclaimed Cornish national anthem, Trelawny, echoes up and down the coast. 

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Rock Oyster Festival - July

Held each July just up the estuary, Rock Oyster Festival is a fun-filled weekend of food, crafts and entertainment, with a colourful line-up of musicians and well-known chefs. Parents will find plenty of activities to keep the children occupied, along with wellness activities and watersports, and pop-up versions of some of Cornwall’s top restaurants.

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Padstow Christmas Festival - December

The largest festive event in Cornwall’s calendar, Padstow Christmas Festival is a family favourite which usually takes place in the first or second weekend of December. The four-day event celebrates the south west’s finest craft, food, and drink producers, with some of the top chefs in the country demonstrating how to make their favourite dishes, including Rick Stein, Nathan Outlaw and Paul Ainsworth.

Each year visitors are treated to an impressive firework display which lights up the sky above Padstow, as well as local music acts to truly get visitors into the festive spirit.

Sadly this event has been cancelled for 2024.

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