Cornwall in December is pretty magical and, if you’ve been toying with the idea of a festive getaway, now’s your chance. Book up a cosy cottage, and enjoy the county’s dramatic storm watching or head to a restaurant with sea views in between your festive shopping sprees.
There’s a lot that Cornwall gets right: the pasties are life-changing, the beaches are oh so Instagram-worthy and the cream teas are delicious, but Cornwall also doesn’t mess about when it comes to Christmas. Without a doubt, the best way to get in the festive spirit is to head to one of the Christmas fairs and, if you time your visit right, you may well stumble upon some of the best Christmas markets in Cornwall.
Wandering through stalls and picking out gifts and stocking fillers is a much more enjoyable way to shop for Christmas and something that staying home and endlessly scrolling through the web for gifts just can’t rival. The delicious smells wafting from food and drink stalls combined with the twinkling lights and the festive music is enough to get anyone’s bells jingling.
It was almost impossible to pick out our favourite Christmas markets, but we dug deep and have chosen a handful of festivities that you simply won’t want to miss. So, although we’ve already given you plenty of reasons why visiting Cornwall in the winter is an absolute must, here are a few more…
Truro Christmas Market
Open daily between the 22nd of November and the 24th of December 2024
Lemon Quay, Truro TR1 2LW
Organised by Truro Farmers’ Market and Truro BID, this much-loved event is a popular Christmas market in the festive calendar. Located in Lemon Quay in the heart of this Cornish city, the Truro Christmas Market offers up some of the best local produce, gifts, and treats. In addition to running on most days throughout the festive period all the way up to Christmas Eve, this event is also open for several late-night-shopping Wednesdays throughout December.
Whether visiting by day or night, shoppers can soak up the festive atmosphere while sampling some local, artisan produce, from craft beers to freshly baked treats, while picking out gifts and stocking fillers for friends and family - and with over 100 traders, there will be plenty of choice!
Once you’ve had your fill of Christmas cheer, there are lots of pubs and restaurants in and around Lemon Quay on offer to take a load off, enjoy some delicious food, and have a peek through your bags and admire your festive haul.
Fowey Christmas Market
Friday the 22nd to Sunday the 24th of November 2024
Fowey Town Quay, Albert Quay, and Webb Street venues
Attracting thousands of visitors yearly, the beautiful harbour town of Fowey is always a joy to visit, especially in the run-up to Christmas. Spread across various locations throughout the town, Fowey Christmas Market promises a jam-packed weekend of festive fun. The event opens on the Friday evening and features a lantern parade through the town and, of course, an appearance from Father Christmas. Throughout the weekend, visitors can sample some local produce, enjoy a festive drink and browse more than 80 stalls run by regional traders, all under the backdrop of street performers and live music to really get you in the Yuletide mood.
Once you’ve meandered through the town and experienced some of Cornwall’s finest, you’ll be spoilt for choice when deciding where to head for a spot of lunch and a hot chocolate. This beautiful Cornish town really does come alive throughout this celebratory event and, if you ask us, it’s absolutely not to be missed. From vintage gifts through to handmade ornaments, Fowey Christmas Market has your Christmas gifts all wrapped up.
Bedruthan Christmas Fayre
Saturday the 23rd to Sunday the 24th of November 2024
Bedruthan Hotel, Mawgan Porth TR8 4BU
Perched on the cliffs overlooking the spectacularly beautiful beach at Mawgan Porth, a trip to the Bedruthan Hotel is impossible to resist at any time of the year, and the annual Christmas Craft Fayre is back and promises to be even bigger and better than ever. Offering more than 50 stalls featuring work from some of the region’s most talented creatives, this event is the perfect spot to browse Christmas goodies and pick out truly unique and special gifts for loved ones. Or for yourself: your call…
There are also craft workshops on offer so you can flex your creative muscles, while the kids will love playing in the jungle tumble.
Once you’ve explored the many stalls and picked out some festive treats, head on over to the hotel’s restaurant for a hearty afternoon tea.
While there is parking on site, it is reserved for residents, so if you want to visit the fayre this year, the hotel has organised a shuttle bus (which is included in your ticket price) to take visitors to and from the beach car park at Mawgan Porth.
Healeys Christmas Market
Every weekend from the 9th of November through to the 15th of December 2024
Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm, Penhallow, Truro TR4 9LW
This Christmas market is definitely not to be missed. Now in its sixth year, Healey’s Christmas market is located in a rural spot in Callestick, just a short drive from Perranporth, and guaranteed to get you in the festive mood. Transforming the farm into a fairytale wonderland and offering mulled cyder and tasty food, Healeys is a fantastic spot for families at any time of the year but particularly at Christmas.
Featuring twinkling fairy lights dotted around the courtyard, Christmas music and local crafts, this event is perfect for the family and promises to deliver a large dose of festive cheer. You can pre-book your tickets for whichever weekend suits but please note that the dates may be subject to change so it’s best to keep an eye on their Facebook page.
Jubilee Wharf Christmas Fair
Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th of December 2024
Jubilee Wharf, Commercial Road, Penryn TR10 8FG
The Jubilee Wharf Christmas Fair in Penryn has been running for 14 years and has become a popular event for local creatives to showcase their work. Featuring both indoor and outdoor stalls, this Christmas fair is perfect for anyone looking to pick out special gifts for loved ones.
Offering handmade jewellery, skincare, unique textiles and beautifully made ceramics, the Jubilee Wharf Christmas fair is free to enter and you can easily spend a few hours here and still leave wanting more. Foodies will also enjoy a trip to Muddy Beach Café, which is located nearby. Although booking a table isn’t essential, it can get quite busy so you might want to plan ahead and book a table to coincide with your trip to the Christmas fair.
Cornwall Christmas Fair
Wednesday the 27th and Thursday the 28th of November 2024
Eden Project, Bodelva, Par PL24 2SG
The Eden Project has always been a magical destination for Christmas tidings whether you’re a fan of ice skating rinks or jaw-dropping displays of light across the iconic biomes, but with the addition of the Cornwall Christmas Fair, this pillar of festive joy turns into a huge shopping spree of epic proportions. A boggling number of gift and clothing stalls fill the Eden Kitchen, providing endless opportunities to fill stockings and get your Christmas gift list ticked off. Jewellery, skincare, and homeware and decorations sprawl across the tables and make it very difficult to leave empty-handed.
Over at the food and drink stalls you’ll find a merry mix of treats you can enjoy there and then or throughout the holiday season… You might even find some quirky gifts for that special foodie in your life. Entrance into the Eden Project is free across the two days and food and drink (lunch and a glass of wine for day ticket holders and supper and a glass of wine for the evening) are included in your Christmas fair ticket – no shopping hungry here!
The biomes will be lit up to maximum effect in the evening while the day provides a lovely opportunity to shop and explore the incredible gardens and biomes, so whichever ticket you go for, you’ll be in for the most enchanting of Christmas treats.
Whether you’re staying in north Cornwall, heading down to the Lizard or venturing up towards the Devon border, chances are there’ll be a Christmas market near you. In addition to the above, there are lots of other local markets happening throughout Cornwall so it’s worth keeping an eye on local advertising to see what’s happening near you. And, while it’s not a Christmas market, lots of towns and villages host an annual Christmas lights switch-on, which also offers a truly magical experience for anyone looking to get in the festive spirit.
Check out our complete guide to Christmas in Cornwall and really get in the festive spirit during your stay.
Without a doubt, Cornwall absolutely comes alive at Christmas and visiting the region at this time of year offers an entirely different but equally magical experience. For an utterly enchanting winter getaway, browse our warm and welcoming holiday cottages in Cornwall and sample your way through the county’s fabulous festivities.
