Ivey's Blog
Our favourite events to look forward to in Cornwall this year
Are we nearly there yet? You’re on holiday in the beautiful area surrounding Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park and you want something to entertain the family without spending hours in the car. Here are some great events to enjoy this summer, all within an hour of the holiday park…
8-10 June – Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge
This is a fantastic day out which celebrates the countryside and rural life. There are lots of animals on display and in competition, the Cornwall Food and Drink Pavilion where you can discover Cornish produce, rural crafts, a motor fair, fun fair and live music. There are plenty of traditional elements too – a blacksmith competition, flower show, steam fair, forestry and the WI.
24-25 June – St Merryn Steam and Vintage Rally
Where else could you see dancing diggers, vintage tractors, steam engines and classic cars? This fund-raising village rally looks at the importance of the agricultural machinery at the heart of rural life. There are trade stands and a car boot sale and on the Saturday you can see authentic Cornish wrestling.
9-13 August – Boardmasters, Newquay
This is an epic event marrying World Surf League Competitions on the waves with a great line-up of music on the beach. Think Glastonbury with swimsuits! The Fistral Beach site in Newquay, where surfing in the UK began, plays host to the best in action sports including surf, skate and BMX competitions. The musical line-up at the nearby majestic Watergate Bay this year includes Jamiroquai, The Vaccines, Newton Faulkner, Jake Bugg and Frank Turner. It’s popular, so book before you go.
13-19 August – Fowey Regatta
The quaint town of Fowey – once home to writer Daphne du Maurier – provides a glorious backdrop to a week of events on and by the water. Fowey Royal Regatta has a real carnival atmosphere with a colourful parade of floats, marching bands, live music, firework displays and a torchlight dinghy procession. Watch the giant pasty ceremony or try your hand at crab catching. Or just enjoy watching the daily races which include rafts and gigs.
22-24 September – Great Cornish Food Festival, Truro
Michelin star chef Nathan Outlaw opens the festival on Lemon Quay with a cookery demonstration in the Chef’s Theatre – the first of many appearances by local chefs over three days. There are more than 60 stalls selling Cornish produce from pasties to peanut butter plus demonstrations, masterclasses, tastings and tutorials. There will be an outdoor street market and street food stalls and the good news is that it’s free entry. Our advice is to use the Park and Ride services into the city.
12-15 October – Falmouth Oyster Festival
It started as a small event 21 years ago but has grown into one of the country’s best-loved specialist food festivals. Marking the start of the oyster dredging season, the festival celebrates the native Fal Oyster and the diversity of Cornish seafood, with four days of feasting, cooking demos, live music, food and craft stalls. Alongside all the wonderful seafood and local drink is live music, a shucking competition and Working Boat race.