Cornwall, the ultimate destination for a magical festive getaway! Explore enchanting festive days out, embark on blustery coastal walks, indulge in scrumptious roasts at cosy pubs, or immerse yourself in the thrill of storm watching. Whether you prefer lazy days with cheesy movies or the exhilaration of a coastal adventure, Christmas in Cornwall offers an array of activities to make your festive break truly memorable. With the clock ticking down, it’s time to fully embrace the festive spirit. In our latest journal, we’ve curated a guide to some of the best things to do during the Christmas build-up in Cornwall.
Mousehole Lights
As far as Christmas lights are concerned you won’t get much better than the Mousehole Harbour Lights. Every December since 1963 the harbour village of Mousehole (pronounced Mowzel) becomes an illuminated spectacle with lights everywhere – in the harbour, on the cottages, harbour walls, hillside and a Celtic cross on St Clement’s Isle in the bay. The operation is mammoth and all run by volunteers, work to activate the 60+ displays, 90km of cables and approximately 7,000 bulbs starts each September. This year, the switch on in 2025 will be on Thursday 11th December, between 5 – 6pm (no big opening ceremony this year); the lights are then illuminated every evening from 5pm to 10pm until 3rd January. The exception to this is Friday 19th December when the lights are extinguished at 8pm, as a mark of respect to the lives lost in the Solomon Browne Lifeboat Disaster.
If you are anywhere in West Cornwall on 23rd December make sure you head to Mousehole for Tom Bawcock’s Eve, an annual event to celebrate Tom Bawcock a legendary character from the village of Mousehole, Cornwall. He appears to have been a local fisherman in the 16th century. According to the legend, one winter had been particularly stormy, meaning that none of the fishing boats had been able to leave the harbour. As Christmas approached, the villagers, who relied on fish as their primary source of food, were facing starvation. The legend passed down states that Tom Bawcock decided to brave the storms and went out in his fishing boat. Despite the stormy weather and the difficult seas, he managed to catch enough fish to feed the entire village. The entire catch (including seven types of fish) was baked into a pie, which had the fish heads poking through to prove that there were fish inside; so “stargazey” pie was born. The story of Bawcock was popularised by Antonia Barber‘s children’s book The Mousehole Cat, which featured the stargazy pie. For more snippets of Mousehole history see our Journal ” Mousehole – A Brief History”
Rogue Theatre
A magical Christmas experience aimed at children but just as compelling for adults. Based at the beautiful Tehidy Woods, near Portreath; wander through the Winter Wood on a wintry afternoon or after dark and discover an enchanting, glittering, candlelit wonderland, drawing you into an ancient kingdom. Follow the path into the Winter Wood and lose yourself in the dreamscape of nature. Gather, as Old Man Winter weaves flying deer magic with ember tales, and star songs of night’s mysteries as he catches wishes whispered to the changing winds. Created by Cornwall’s award winning immersive and highly visual Rogue Otherworld, Winter Wood is an immersive adventure for families and those who seek the magic we often forget.
At the end of your journey, you arrive at the Old Man Winter’s warm marquee to sit down and watch the play. Winter Wood runs from 10th December to 30th December with 3 – 4 performances per day. The winter wood will include live music, festive stories and winter wonders; go to Rogueotherworld for more details and to book your tickets. Mulled wine, hot chocolate, mince pies and soup are available to keep you warm but please do wrap up warm! A perfect start to your Christmas stay in Cornwall.
Magical Illuminated Night Gardens
We are blessed with many stunning gardens in Cornwall, visiting in the winter is a very different experience from the colourful and abundant spring and summer visits, but many are turned into a magical winter wonderland filled with lanterns, lights and delicious food along the way, an ideal way to kick off your Christmas celebrations in Cornwall.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan – Night Garden
Become immersed in an enchanting lantern experience, set amidst the atmospheric Lost Gardens. Journey through an extended 1-mile one-way journey around the accessible Garden, let the Heligan staff direct you to discover nature in a celebration of the wildlife that make Heligan their home all year round. Explore at your own pace, stop to admire the beautifully lit installations and laterns, take in the smells, toast marshmallows by stunning fire bowls, experience glittering oak trees, and enjoy seasonal warming take away refreshments and meals amid a truly festive backdrop for your Winter’s evening. Heligan Night Garden runs from 11th December to 3rd January. There are lantern making workshops for children to attend to create their own handheld lantern to light their path whilst they explore night garden, workshops run from 4pm – 6pm and must be pre-booked.
Eden Project
Discover the magic of Christmas this year at the Eden Project, by stepping into an all-new after-dark immersive music and light experience on selected dates throughout December. Add in ice skating and Father Christmas visits, Eden offers you the chance to truly celebrate the festive season with your loved ones. The music and lights experience is on selected dates: 21 – 23 Nov, 27 – 30 Nov, 4 – 7 Dec, 11 – 23 Dec, 26 – 31 Dec and 1 – 4 Jan 2026. For more information see Link.
Festive Christmas Markets
There are many things that Cornwall gets right, proper pasties and long sandy beaches to name a few, but we get Christmas right too! There are so many fabulous Christmas markets to choose from in Cornwall, why not book a short break in the build up to Christmas and shop for your presents in a much more enjoyable way this year? Almost every town will boast a great Christmas market but here are our pick of the bunch.
Truro Christmas Market
Truro Christmas Market runs at Lemon Quay every day from late November to Wednesday 24 December, from 9am to 4pm, with late nights (9pm) on 10,17 & 22nd Dec. Wander amongst the wooden cabins, source beautiful local gifts from Truro’s top artisans and traders, as well as finding delicious locally sourced food, arts and crafts, music and entertainment.
Falmouth’s Festive Weekend
Falmouth’s festive weekend is the perfect event to bring your family and friends together with ice skating, live music, and an incredible Christmas market. Here, you’ll find rides for kids, a free Santa’s grotto, and so much more, to really get you in the festive spirit the streets are even snow covered! The date for your diary is Saturday 6th to Sunday 7th December, from 11am – 5pm. Some small charges apply for some of the activities.
Healeys Christmas Market
In its sixth year, Healey’s Christmas market is located in a rural spot in Callestick, just a short drive from Perranporth, and is guaranteed to get you in the festive mood. The farm is transferred into a fairytale wonderland, with twinkling fairy lights dotted around the courtyard, Christmas music and local crafts, the all-important mulled cyder and tasty food, Healey’s is a fantastic spot for families at any time of the year but particularly at Christmas. You can get involved in activities like cocktail-making, cydermaster tours and story times for the kids. Entrance is free, small charges for some activities may apply. Running every weekend from 8th November to 14th December, from 9am – 5pm.
Porthleven Christmas Market
Held inside the Shipyard Market and along the illuminated harbour, the Porthleven Christmas market brings in stallholders from all over the local area, with artisan wares from Cornish candles to silver jewellery inspired by the sea. The weekend starts on Friday 5th December with mulled wine, mince pies, the Porthleven band and the light switch on at 7pm. The weekend (5 – 7 Dec) will be your chance to shop till you drop with live music and an appearance from Santa to really get you in the festive spirit. Stalls open 10am all weekend.
Take the Plunge at Christmas
In order to really indulge in that sumptuous Christmas lunch, topped off with a mound of Cornish Cheeses and lots of chocolate why not take a Christmas Day plunge into the chilly December sea? There are many organised events on Christmas Day and Boxing Day run by local Cornish communities raising money for charities around Cornwall. Lots of people get dressed up in Santa and elf costumes- but the less you wear the braver you are!
Sennen Cove – 11am Christmas Day
A swim steeped in tradition, the Sennen Christmas Day swim attracts hundreds of people every year – with only the odd wetsuit in sight! Meet opposite the Sennen Surf School, let the salty water invigorate you, and afterwards warm up with a mulled wine or hot chocolate.
Coverack Harbour – 12.30pm Christmas Day
The story goes that a local doctor made a bet that he could swim across the harbour and ever since it’s been a local tradition for the village residents to swim the wintery water on Christmas Day. A fund raising event for Cancer Research.
Boxing Day – Porthminster beach – Midday
At the St Ives Boxing Day swim you are welcome to a full on wet suit or go with the crowd in fancy (skimpy) dress! The swim is for charity and you can make your £1 donation on the day before taking the plunge with the rest of the brave bunch. To warm you up afterwards Porthminster Café will be open serving hot chocolates and bacon sarnies. It has to be the best cure to any Christmas day over-indulgence!!
