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Christmas in Cornwall 2026: What’s On, Lights, Markets & Events
Christmas in Cornwall is something special. Harbours strung with lights, festive markets on the quay, lantern parades, carols in the cathedral and hardy swimmers running into the sea on Christmas morning. Here is everything on across Cornwall this Christmas 2026, with dates, times and tips, from Mousehole’s famous harbour lights to New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Good to know: dates below come from organisers and local event guides, checked on 5 November 2026. Plans can change, so check the organiser’s website before you travel. Anything not yet confirmed is marked “Date TBC”.
At a glance
Christmas in Cornwall 2026: key dates
Switch-ons and light trails
Christmas lights in Cornwall
Mousehole Harbour Lights
Mousehole harbour · 10 December 2026 to 3 January 2027
Cornwall’s most famous Christmas lights. Volunteers light up the harbour with sea serpents, boats, whales and a glowing Christmas tree, all reflected in the water. The display is paid for by donations, so drop something in the bucket. On 19 December the lights are dimmed in memory of the eight crew of the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne, lost in 1981. The village is tiny: park in Penzance or Newlyn and take the bus or walk the 2-mile seafront path.
Things to do in Mousehole →Newquay Lantern Parade
Newquay · Friday 20 November 2026, early evening
Hundreds of handmade lanterns wind through Newquay, with the Trenance Cottages lights switched on the same evening. Lantern-making workshops run in the week before.
Things to do in Newquay →Newquay at Christmas weekend
Newquay town centre · 27–29 November 2026
Three days of free festive events with the town’s Christmas lights switch-on, live music and fireworks on the Friday evening, plus a festive market across the weekend.
Truro Christmas lights switch-on
Truro city centre · Saturday 21 November 2026, afternoon
The city lights go on the same day the Lemon Quay Christmas Market opens, so make a day of it. Truro Cathedral looks especially beautiful lit up after dark.
Things to do in Truro →Redruth in Lights
Redruth · Saturday 5 December 2026
Redruth’s town centre switch-on, with music and festive stalls in Cornwall’s old mining capital.
Falmouth and Mevagissey switch-ons
Falmouth and Mevagissey harbour · late November 2026
Falmouth’s switch-on and Christmas Tree Festival and Mevagissey’s harbour lights usually begin in the last week of November. Check falmouth.co.uk and local listings for 2026 times.
Things to do in Falmouth →Polperro, Porthleven and Angarrack lights
Various villages · early December 2026
Polperro lights its harbour and holds a festive market on the first weekend of December, Porthleven’s harbour lights and market usually start the first Friday of December, and the hillside village of Angarrack lights up from early December, 5:30pm to 10pm.
Shop local
Christmas markets in Cornwall 2026
Padstow Christmas Fayre
Padstow · Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026
One of the biggest festive food events in the South West, with around 50 chefs giving live demos, masterclasses, an artisan Christmas market on Main Street, a lantern parade, fireworks, carols, live music and children’s crafts. The market is open Thursday 10am–6pm, Friday and Saturday 10am–8pm and Sunday 10am–4pm. Most events are free; some masterclasses are ticketed.
Padstow Christmas Fayre website →Truro Christmas Market
Lemon Quay, Truro · 21 November to 24 December 2026, daily
Wooden chalets of Cornish food, drink and gifts on Lemon Quay every day until Christmas Eve, with extra Boscawen Street markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays and late-night shopping until 9pm on Wednesdays 2, 9, 16 and 23 December.
Truro Christmas website →Healeys Christmas Markets
Healeys Cyder Farm, Penhallow · six weekends, 14 November to 20 December 2026
Festive weekends at Cornwall’s cider farm, with stalls, food and drink and Christmas activities, near Perranporth.
Cornwall Christmas Fair at the Eden Project
Eden Project · 18–19 November 2026
A large indoor gift fair inside the Eden Project, with a preview evening on the 18th and daytime shopping on the 19th.
Cornish Winter Fair and Bedruthan Christmas Fayre
Wadebridge and Bedruthan · 21–22 November 2026
Two festive fairs on the same weekend: the free Cornish Winter Fair in Wadebridge and the Christmas Fayre at the Bedruthan Hotel on the north coast.
Truro Cathedral Christmas Market
Truro Cathedral · 25–28 November 2026
Local makers and gifts inside the cathedral, a lovely wet-weather option.
Porthleven Christmas Market
The Shipyard, Porthleven · 4–6, 12–13 and 19–20 December 2026
Weekend indoor markets in Porthleven’s Shipyard, close to the harbour lights.
Lostwithiel Dickensian Evening
Lostwithiel · Thursday 10 December 2026
Victorian costume, stalls and late shopping in Cornwall’s old stannary town.
Cornwall Christmas Market
Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge · 11–13 December 2026
A big indoor market with hundreds of stalls, food and entertainment under cover.
Fowey Christmas Market is not running in 2026; organisers hope to return in 2027. Charlestown and Carbis Bay markets had not confirmed 2026 dates at the time of writing.
Family favourites
Festive days out
Christmas at the Eden Project
Eden Project, near St Austell · selected dates 20 November 2026 to 2 January 2027
The biomes are lit up for festive evenings, with Biome entry from 4pm to 8:30pm on selected dates (Christmas Lights Pass from £12.50 for over-16s, under-16s free, plus admission). There is also a theatrical Father Christmas show, and the outdoor ice rink is open from 17 October 2026 to 21 February 2027. Pre-book every visit.
Eden Project guide →Heligan Night Garden
The Lost Gardens of Heligan · selected dates 13 November 2026 to 2 January 2027
An after-dark lantern trail through the Lost Gardens. 2026 dates: 13–15, 20–22 and 27–29 November; 4–6, 10–13 and 16–23 December; and 26 December to 2 January.
Heligan guide →The Cotehele Christmas Garland
Cotehele, Tamar Valley · 21 November 2026 to 5 January 2027 (closed 25–26 December), 10:30am–4pm
A famous 60-foot garland of flowers grown on the estate hangs in the Tudor Great Hall. There is a family trail every day, and a traditional Wassail on Saturday 19 December from 11am. Normal admission applies.
Cotehele guide →Truro Father Christmas Parade
Boscawen Street, Truro · Wednesday 2 December 2026, 6pm
Rock Choir Cornwall sings from 6pm and the parade of dancers, musicians and circus performers sets off with Father Christmas at 6:30pm, finishing at Back Quay. It is the same evening as late-night shopping and the Boscawen Street market.
Hall for Cornwall Christmas show
Hall for Cornwall, Truro · December 2026 into January
This year’s family show is Dick Whittington & His Mousehole Cat, a Cornish twist on the classic panto. Book early for weekend and evening shows.
Hall for Cornwall →Father Christmas at Lappa Valley
Lappa Valley, near Newquay · selected dates 28 November to 24 December 2026
A steam train ride to visit Father Christmas, a favourite with younger children.
Lappa Valley guide →Father Christmas at Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery
Truro · 12–24 December 2026
Visit Father Christmas in the museum in the centre of Truro; check the museum’s website for times and booking.
Santa Specials on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway
Bodmin General station · selected December dates
Steam train rides with a visit from Father Christmas. They sell out early every year, so book as soon as you can.
Bodmin & Wenford Railway →Only in Cornwall
Cornish Christmas traditions
Montol Festival
Penzance · Monday 21 December 2026 (winter solstice)
Penzance’s midwinter festival of masks, lanterns and fire, revived in 2007. Fire performers, ’Obby ’Osses and guise beasts appear from 2pm. The lantern procession leaves the top of Chapel Street at 6pm for the Midwinter Fire at Princess May Recreation Ground (6:45pm). Guise dancing takes over Chapel Street from 7:30pm, and the night ends with the chalking and burning of the Mock (Yule log) at about 10:15pm.
Things to do in Penzance →Tom Bawcock’s Eve
Mousehole · Wednesday 23 December 2026
Mousehole remembers the legendary fisherman who braved a storm to save the village from famine. Stargazy pie, with fish heads poking through the pastry, is served at the Ship Inn and a lantern procession winds round the harbour under the Christmas lights.
Things to do in Mousehole →Cornwall also has a strong tradition of carol singing in chapels and pubs, and festive food worth seeking out: saffron buns, Cornish Yarg, clotted cream and, of course, a pasty or two. Read about pasties by post.
Bracing!
Christmas Day and Boxing Day swims
Thousands of people take a festive dip on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, many in fancy dress and raising money for charity. Popular organised swims include:
Stay safe: only swim at organised events with safety cover. The sea is around 10°C in December and conditions change quickly.
See in 2027
New Year’s Eve in Cornwall
Truro New Year’s Eve fireworks
Lemon Quay, Truro · Thursday 31 December 2026, 7:30pm and midnight
A family-friendly display at 7:30pm, then a second display at midnight, both free to watch from Lemon Quay.
Looe New Year’s Eve
Looe · 31 December 2026
Looe is famous for its fancy dress New Year’s Eve, with thousands in costume on the quay and fireworks usually at 6pm and midnight. Check local listings for 2026 times.
St Ives New Year’s Eve
St Ives harbour · 31 December 2026
A busy, friendly crowd and fireworks over the harbour. Book accommodation early: see where to stay in Cornwall.
Things to do in St Ives →Questions
Christmas in Cornwall: FAQs
When are the Mousehole Christmas lights on in 2026?
The Mousehole Harbour Lights run from Thursday 10 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. On 19 December they are dimmed in memory of the Penlee lifeboat crew.
When is the Padstow Christmas Fayre 2026?
The Padstow Christmas Fayre runs from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026, with chef demos, an artisan market on Main Street, a lantern parade and fireworks. Entry is free.
When does Truro Christmas Market open in 2026?
Truro Christmas Market on Lemon Quay opens on Saturday 21 November 2026, the same day as the lights switch-on, and runs daily until Christmas Eve.
When is the Truro Father Christmas Parade?
Wednesday 2 December 2026. Rock Choir Cornwall performs from 6pm and the parade leaves Boscawen Street at 6:30pm.
Is the Fowey Christmas Market on in 2026?
No. Fowey Christmas Market is taking a break in 2026, and the organisers hope to return in 2027.
What is on at the Eden Project at Christmas?
Festive evenings in the lit-up biomes on selected dates from 20 November 2026 to 2 January 2027 (entry 4pm to 8:30pm), a Father Christmas show, and an ice rink open until 21 February 2027. Pre-booking is required.
When is Montol in Penzance?
Montol takes place on the winter solstice, Monday 21 December 2026, with a lantern procession at 6pm, the Midwinter Fire and guise dancing.
Where can I swim on Christmas Day in Cornwall?
Organised Christmas Day and Boxing Day swims take place at beaches including Bude, Polzeath, Sennen Cove, Trevaunance Cove, Gyllyngvase, Charlestown and Perranporth. Only swim at organised events with safety cover.
Plan more
More Cornwall guides
Sources: event organisers including Mousehole Harbour Lights, Padstow Christmas Fayre, Visit Truro, Eden Project, Heligan, National Trust Cotehele, Montol Festival and Visit Newquay. Checked 5 November 2026.
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Updated on November 5, 2026 by HelloCornwall
Local experts from Cornwall
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