Cornwall’s 2020 Diary: What’s On This Year
Happy New Year! The arrival of 2020 sees a shiny new decade full of potential for exciting events across all of Cornwall. We’re focusing on the year ahead, and filling our empty diary pages up with some of Cornwall’s top things to do in 2020. Check out our guide to unmissable events this year.
8th February: WINTER GIN FESTIVAL, the greenbank, falmouth
Where: throughout the hotel
Toast to the end of ‘Dry January’ with our Winter Gin Festival this February. Our favourite gin suppliers will be setting up shop all throughout the hotel. With oodles of samples to taste, a free branded gin glass and lots of live music and informal seminars and masterclasses from distilleries, banish the winter blues at this gin-tastic event. Although our main focus will be on gin, there will be a vast range of other spirits available including local rums, vodkas and craft liqueurs. Tickets are now on sale here.
10th February: ST IVES FEAST DAY, st ives
Where: 50 minute drive from The Greenbank
Take part in an ancient 1000 year old tradition in the coastal town of St Ives. The Feast Day is a celebration of the anniversary of the consecration of the Parish Church of St Eia in 1434. The day starts with a civil procession through the town, which ends with a blessing by the Mayor at St la Well near Porthmeor Beach. The traditional hurling of the silver ball will then commence – one of Cornwall’s oldest sports. A giant silver ball is rolled around St Ives, and is quite a sight to behold on a winter’s afternoon.
23rd – 29th february: cornish pasty week 2020
Where: all throughout Cornwall
An icon in Cornish culture, the pasty takes centre stage in the last week of February. Across the county, locals will pay homage to the tasty pastry at Cornish Pasty Week 2020. A week of activities will commence on the 23rd February throughout Cornwall, concluding with the ‘Ogyy Oscars’, the ninth-annual World Pasty Championships hosted at The Eden Project. Bakers and crimpers across the county will be entering their homemade pasties hoping to take home the crown. Indulge in this local delicacy and give three cheers at one of the tastiest events in Cornwall for 2020!
5th March: St Piran’s Day
Where: all throughout Cornwall
Named after the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners, St Piran’s Day is a chance to wave the Cornish flag loud and proud as the county celebrates its rich heritage and fascinating history. Another excuse to munch on a Cornish pasty, head to your favourite Cornish coastline or learn something new about the culture of our corner of the map.
19th – 29th march: FALMOUTH SPRING FESTIVAL, falmouth
Where: throughout Falmouth
After a long winter, seize spring and bask in the change of the seasons at Falmouth’s Spring Festival. From painting the town yellow with blooming daffodils to spring clean days and Falmouth’s Flower Show, this 10 day festival will spring into action on the 19th March. There will also be free rockpooling sessions provided by The University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus, games and fitness workshops on the Moor, and professional guided walks to get out and about this March.
17th – 19th april: PORTHLEVEN FOOD FESTIVAL, porthleven
Where: 40 minute drive from The Greenbank
In its twelfth year, Porthleven Food Festival is definitely an event to mark in the calendar. The beautiful harbour is bursting with chef demos from national and international names in the culinary industry. Tuck into delicious street food and enjoy music and entertainment from day to night. Discover up-and-coming chefs, tasty Cornish products and fantastic flavours in the heart of picturesque Porthleven.
25th april: TREVITHICK DAY, camborne
Where: 30 minute drive from The Greenbank
Born in 1984, Camborne’s Trevithick Day has become an important date in the town’s calendar. Attracting thousands of people, Camborne celebrates its links with Richard Trevithick and the town’s rich industrial heritage. The streets and roads close on the 25th April for a fantastic carnival, complete with steam engines, street stalls, the maidens and miners parade, buskers, musicians and jugglers, indoor exhibitions and live music.
8th May: HELSTON FLORA DAY, helston
Where: 30 minute drive from The Greenbank
Every May the Cornish market town of Helston celebrates the arrival of spring with Flora Day. Wander through the streets and admire a town decorated with greenery and beautiful floral arrangements. Commencing at 7am, one strike of the big bass drum marks the beginning of the festivities. Nearly a hundred couples dance and prance through the streets, welcoming in the light of spring and banishing the dark of winter.
22nd – 31st may: THE GREENBANK FAL RIVER FESTIVAL, falmouth
Where: throughout Falmouth
We are once again proud sponsors of the Fal River Festival, a 10-day event that encompasses music, drama, gig racing, swimming, walking and art. The River Fal is at the heart of Falmouth’s maritime heritage, and our hotel overlooks its magnificent beauty all year-round. Lots of events are hosted throughout the town, including our private quay. Once again we will be part of the Fal River Beer Fleet on Friday 22nd May, complete with Cornish pasties and local tipples. The Working Boat will also be hosting their annual Mini Beer Festival on Saturday 23rd May, the perfect way to celebrate the bank holiday by the riverside.
4th – 6th june: ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW, wadebridge
Where: 1 hour drive from The Greenbank
One of the best family-friendly events in Cornwall for 2020. The Royal Cornwall Show is the county’s biggest annual agricultural show. Expect oodles of animals from poultry and cattle to birds, bees and dogs, lots of local food and entertainment. Tickets are now on sale for this unmissable date in Cornwall’s calendar.
12th – 14th june: FALMOUTH INTERNATIONAL SEA SHANTY FESTIVAL, falmouth
Where: throughout Falmouth
Celebrate the songs of the sea as Falmouth hosts the International Sea Shanty Festival in June. Singers and groups from all over the globe head to Falmouth to fill the seaside town with shanties and Cornish cheer. We are proud to be an official venue for the festival once again, with our events marquee on the private quay. We expect 2020’s Sea Shanty Festival to be even bigger and better! Read more here about what went on last year.
17th June – 15th july: EDEN SESSIONS, the eden project, st austell
Where: 1 hour drive from The Greenbank
Eden Sessions tickets are already on sale for the summer. A whole line up of fantastic live bands and musicians are performing at the Cornish venue this year. Previous names to take to the stage at The Eden Project include Kylie Minogue, Gary Barlow, Jack Johnson, Tom Jones, Foals, Jess Glynne and many more fantastic, global performers. So far The Script and Lionel Richie have been confirmed for 2020, so keep your eyes peeled for more dates.
13th july: STITHIANS SHOW, stithians
Where: 15 minute drive from The Greenbank
Stithians Show is Cornwall’s biggest one day agricultural show. Expect live cattle competitions, displays and demonstrations, live music, food and drink, steam engines and vintage shows, local craft workshops, shopping stalls and a fairground. Get outdoors and celebrate Cornwall’s farming heritage this July.
5th – 9th august: BOARDMASTERS, newquay
Where: 45 minute drive from The Greenbank
Camp out and dance from day to night to fantastic bands and artists. This UK festival is the perfect event for surfers, with professional surf competitions and surfing lessons for beginners. Festival events in Cornwall for 2020 don’t get much better than this epic party on the cliffs of Newquay’s coastline. Attracting huge crowds and big names in the music and surfing industry, tickets are now available to order for 2020 here.
7th – 16th august: FALMOUTH WEEK, falmouth
Where: all throughout Falmouth
One of our favourite events in Cornwall for 2020, Falmouth Week happens every August and celebrates our maritime town. Events Square is packed full of events in the tent, including the famous Pink Wig Party, The Wurzels Hog Roast and the 80s v. 90s Extravaganza. As well as Events Square, the town is bustling with activity and live music, including our private events marquee. Last year we had the fantastic Falmouth Soul Sensation, as well as our new Chefs on the Quay charity feast night. Read more about Falmouth Week 2019 here, for a taste of what to look forward to this year!
8th – 11th october: FALMOUTH OYSTER FESTIVAL, falmouth
Where: throughout Falmouth
Oysters are a Cornish delicacy, and October marks the start of the dredging season with the Falmouth Oyster Festival. Last year our very own Executive Chef Nick Hodges gave a fantastic demo on the stage at the festival, alongside other talented Cornish chefs. Enjoy local beers, tasty seafood and live music at Falmouth’s busiest autumn event.
12th november: murder on the nile, the greenbank
Where: in our Water’s Edge restaurant
After a successful murder mystery event last November at Gatsby’s Gamble, we’ll be hosting our third annual night of immersive dining and drama. We’ll be revealing the full details of our upcoming Murder on the Nile event later on in the year. For a flavour of what went on at our last two events, check out Gatsby’s Gamble in 2019 and the Titanic experience of 2018.
