From big-name pop stars and regattas, to cultural, heritage and food-themed activities – each year brings a superb array of excellent Cornwall events. They showcase the county’s rich history, stunning scenery and strong sense of community. And they’re always huge fun.
Here at the Driftwood Hotel on the Roseland Peninsula, we love the events on offer. So we’ve put together some of our favourites – all are within easy reach of our beautiful boutique hotel.
St Piran’s Day Parade; Truro
Truro
March 4th
Free
We’ll kick off our review of unmissable Cornwall events 2023 with one for the county’s very own patron saint – St Piran. Legend has it this 5th century Irishman was thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck. Instead of drowning, he floated to Perranporth where he built a chapel. You’ll see his flag, a white cross on a black background, on flagpoles and bumpers county-wide.
St Piran’s Day itself is the 5th of March and each year thousands parade through the streets of Truro in celebration. This year the parade sets off from Waterfall Gardens at 1pm, making its way via the War Memorial on Boscawen Street, to High Cross. There’ll there be speeches, songs and a performance by the City of Truro Male Choir.
Breakfast & Beyond
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan, St.Austell, PL26 6EN
March 9th
Tickets £30
There’s a powerful eco-theme to this thought-provoking discussion-plus-meal staged by the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Their second seasonal breakfast event is hosted by podcaster and writer Tia Tamblyn, and brings together Tom Kay, the founder of the pioneering Cornish outdoor clothing company Finisterre, and Bella Collins, the MD of the Cornish sustainable packaging start up, Flexi-Hex.
Discussions will focus on what we can all do within our work and home lives to embrace and promote sustainability. You’ll get to join the conversation between courses. Even better – your ticket includes entry into the Lost Gardens of Heligan for the day.
Roseland Festival
Various locations, Roseland Peninsula
April 22nd–May 5th
Tickets from £10
At the time of writing, they were still putting together the finishing touches to events for the 2023 Roseland Festival, which is due to take place from Saturday April 22nd to Friday May 5th. You can expect an unmissable collection of walks, talks and music, as well as a celebration of local crafts and fine food.
Highlights in previous years have included Cornish Folk Concerts, boat trips, vineyard tours, spinning demonstrations, garden tours, spirit tastings, history and book talks and sea shanty evenings. All in all, a brilliant collection of Cornwall events.
Eden Sessions
The Eden Project, PL24 2SG
June 7th, 18th, 23rd, 28th
Tickets £55–83
Each summer, a string of magical concerts takes place at the Eden Project – the pioneering Cornish eco attraction which recreates a range of environments inside giant, futuristic greenhouses. As the day visitors file out, thousands of delighted music fans surge in to see sets performed against the backdrop of the famous biomes.
This year the Eden Sessions promise to be some of the best Cornwall events. Confirmed artists include Lionel Richie; The War on Drugs with Beth Orton; Jack Johnson and the Pet Shop Boys. What’s more, your Session ticket also gets you into the Eden Project itself the next day.
Mevagissey Feast Week
Various venues, Mevagissey. PL26 6UB
June 25th–July 1st
Free
Fish is very much to the fore in this seven-day celebration of heritage, music, seafaring and fabulous foods in the pretty harbour village of Mevagissey. Expect seafood dishes, demos, live music, parades, raft races and a big firework display. As well as crab catching, boat racing, pavement art, choirs, a carnival and the famous Floral Dance.
St Mawes Town Regatta
The Quay, St Mawes, Roseland Peninsula, TR2 5DG
July 29th
Free
The impossibly pretty fishing village of St Mawes really comes to life in this annual event with its fabulous array of sea and land based activities. Aquatic races include everything from local and national sailing classes to rowing, kayaking and swimming.
You’ll also get to enjoy live bands, raffles and things like egg and spoon races, beach sports and three-legged races on land. The regatta has been running for at least 130 years, and has a strong celebratory community feel, making it one of the most charming Cornwall events.
Falmouth Week
Various locations, Falmouth
August 4th–12th
Free
It’s thought to have started way back in the 1830s as a local sailing regatta, but these days Falmouth Week has expanded to include a wealth of on-shore and cultural activities, helping secure the festival a place among Cornwall’s most unmissable events.
You’ll see sailing races featuring everything from off-shore yachts, Shrimper 19s, Falmouth Working Boats and Falmouth Gaffers, to Firebird catamarans. On land there’s a carnival atmosphere with events including marching Marine bands, live music gigs, RNLI displays and comedy and film nights.
Enjoying unmissable Cornwall events 2023 from the Driftwood Hotel
With so many superb Cornwall events on offer, you’ll also want a superb play to stay. Which is where Driftwood, a beautiful boutique hotel, comes in. We’re set right on the coast, on the Roseland Peninsula, and checking into Driftwood is a bit of an unmissable Cornwall event in itself.
Driftwood overlooks the turquoise waters of Gerrans Bay and has St Mawes and Portscatho on our doorstep, so explorations are easy.
The fishing village of St Mawes is under 5 miles away, the bustling harbour town of Falmouth is an exhilarating 30-minute ferry ride from there (or 25 miles if you drive). The Lost Gardens of Heligan and Mevagissey are just 12 miles away, Truro is 15 miles, while the Eden Project is only a 20 mile drive.
And with such beauty and serenity, clean air, a horizon full of sea and a sky full of stars, even without an event to attend, you don’t need an excuse to visit Driftwood. Add so many things to do year-round on our doorstep, and we’re the perfect place to unwind and soak up some vitamin sea.
