Cornish Summer Festival’s

SUMMER FESTIVALS IN CORNWALL

Cornwall isn’t only famous for its beach life; it’s also becoming a festival hotspot where you can catch international headliners and dance with your toes in the sand. Boardmasters is the biggest event of the summer – and an easy stroll from King Coasteer HQ – but there are plenty of full-throttle summer parties to choose from.

ROCK OYSTER FESTIVAL, Padstow

6 – 7 July

Kicking off this weekend, the vibrant Rock Oyster Festival celebrates food, music and the coastal lifestyle. Named after the world-class oysters dredged from the estuary within view of the festival site, you don’t even have to like oysters to enjoy the smorgasbord of live music and artisan Cornish grub. A family favourite, there are loads of activities including archery, circus training, storytelling and bush crafts.

TROPICAL PRESSURE, Porthtowan

13 – 15 July

Celebrating the colourful cultures of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Tropical Pressure is a vibrant, family-friendly festival, held on an organic farm overlooking the sea on the north coast of Cornwall. Move your feet to live bands, DJs and world music, take part in dance, yoga, circus skills and craft workshops, and fuel up at the vegetarian World Street Food Market.

PORT ELIOT FESTIVAL, St Germans

26 – 29 July

Having started out as a quirky garden party and gathering of literati in a sprawling estate on the banks of the River Tamar, the Port Eliot Festival is now one of Cornwall’s biggest summer events. Expect a fun-packed line-up of words, comedy and music, alongside fine food, flamenco, trapeze shows and even river swimming with mermaids.

BOARDMASTERS, Watergate Bay

8 – 12 August

Brace yourself for five days of surfing competitions and a star-studded music line-up in the UK’s surfing capital. This year Catfish and the Bottlemen, George Ezra, The Chemical Brothers and Lily Allen are making appearances at our favourite local surf and music festival. By day international surf pros battle it out in the waves on Fistral Beach, while in the evening big-name bands and DJs take the stage overlooking Watergate Bay.

FALMOUTH WEEK, Falmouth

10 – 19 AUGUST

Whether or not you’re a yacht fanatic, don’t miss the chance to celebrate Falmouth’s buzzing maritime culture and catch live music sessions at the largest sailing regatta in the South West. What with family entertainment, food stalls, street theatre and the Red Arrows in the line-up, you don’t need to join the boating races to feel the wind in your sails.

LITTLE ORCHARD CYDER AND MUSIC FESTIVAL, Penhallow

14 – 16 September

Marking the culmination of the summer holidays in Cornwall, this fun little festival at Healey’s Cyder Farm is big on cider, sea shanties and live music. Get down to The Fratellis and The Wurzels, seek out the best emerging bands on the BBC Introducing stage, and take time out from the stages to enjoy tractor rides, hot tubs, secret cider walks and finger-licking feast nights.