There is always something going on either in or around Falmouth and this part of Cornwall is known for its extensive events calendar and popular festivals, which are often based around the coastline.
Highlights include the Sea Shanty Festival each June, where traditional music and celebrations are held at various venues close to the waterfront.
The Falmouth Week Festival in August always draw large crowds and is a historic sailing regatta, while the Festival of Literature and Arts and the famous Falmouth Oyster Festival both take place in October and offers plenty of things to see and do.
National Public Holidays
- 1st January - New Year's Day
- Good Friday / Easter Monday - late March or early April
- First and last Monday in May
- Last Monday in August
- 25th December - Christmas Day
- 26th December - Boxing Day
Calendar of Festivals and Events 2012 / 2013
January
- January Sales - shops around the town reduce their prices dramatically as the spring season approaches
February
- Valentines Day - February 14th, a time for love, with local hotels offering special weekend breaks and many restaurants feature romantic meals exclusively for couples. Many florists are full of red roses on the lead up to Valentine's Day
March
- Easter Celebrations - late March / early April, various religious services take places at all of the area's churches, particularly on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday
April
- Camborne Trevithick Day - late April, with a variety of festivities celebrating Camborne's mining past, around 22 km / 14 miles from Truro
May
- Helston Flora Day - early May, yearly event in nearby Helston, with street markets and parades of dancing
June
- University College Falmouth's Summer Shows - mid-June, various art displays and showcases on student works, lasting five days
- Sea Shanty Festival - mid-June, the Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival is always a crowd puller and features traditional music, singing and performances along various waterfront venues
July
- Stithians Agricultural Show - mid-July, a major agricultural show on the northern outskirts of Falmouth, attended by more than 20,000 people each year and offering plenty of trade stands and marquees
August
- Falmouth Week Festival / Henri-Lloyd Falmouth Week - mid-August, a historic sailing regatta with a host of activities on land, including a carnival. The Week Festival dates back to the 1820s and lasts eight days and has gained much popularity in recent years. Expect dingy races, champagne racing and plenty of night-time entertainment for everyone
September
- There are no significant festivals in Falmouth during the month of September
October
- Falmouth Festival of Literature and Arts - early October, a chance to meet many prominent artists and writers, with various events taking place over three days, all around the town
- Falmouth Oyster Festival - late October, a huge annual event which heralds the official start of the oyster harvesting season, with plenty of tasty oysters and seafood dishes to sample, together with cookery demos and a variety of live music based around the Events Square
November
- Bonfire Night - November 5th, bonfires and firework displays remember the historic figure of Guy Fawkes and his foiled attempt to blow up London's Houses of Parliament
December
- Christmas Festivities - throughout December, plenty of family fun and small events take place during December, including a number of appearances by Santa Claus himself
- New Year's Eve - December 31st, the arrival of the new year is celebrated in style, with many pubs staying open until late and various parties all over town, both public and private
