10 Must Visit Cornwall Events In 2016
What a year 2015 was in the Cornwall events calendar! Did you manage to explore the counties best days out while visiting our holiday parks in Cornwall?
I've just had a sneak peak of what's happening in 2016 and you guys are in for a treat. EVEN more fun-filled, family-friendly events to enjoy right the way through the year.
Grab your calendar and a pen, below are my 10 must visit Cornwall events in 2016...
World Pasty Championships | 05 March
First up is the World Pasty Championships – what better event to visit on St Piran's Day, Cornwall's most celebrated day.
The World Pasty Championships will again be staged at the Eden Project, with traditional and unique recipes invited from all other the globe.
Amateurs and professionals will battle it out for the coveted title of World Pasty Champion, with music and comedy entertaining the crowds throughout.
Porthleven Food Festival | 16-17 April
For the foodies, the Porthleven Food Festival is back after its most successful year to date in 2015.
More than 30,000 people visited the historic fishing village last year for food, entertainment and all out family fun. And 2016 has plans in place to make festivities bigger and better.
Keep your eyes peeled for an announcement on the celebrity chefs – can they top Antony Worrall Thompson and Rick Stein for 2016?
English National Surfing Championships | 30 April-02 May
The English National Surfing Championships has to be on my favourite events out of the lot.
The Championships, one of Europe's longest standing surfing competitions, returns to Watergate Bay over the bank holiday weekend from April 30th to May 2nd.
English Champions will be crowned across 14 divisions that include Open, Ladies, Longboard, Masters, Veterans and Juniors.
Tunes in the Dunes | 27-29 May
Cornwall's newest music event, Tunes in the Dunes, returns for a second year just a stone's throw away from one of our caravan parks in Cornwall.
The mini festival is nestled against the dunes on Perranporth Beach, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and I'm super excited about it!
Last year international rock band Status Quo headlined the weekend, with support from Scouting For Girls and Tom Odell – can organisers top that line-up for 2016? Stay tuned for an announcement.
Fal River Festival | 30 May-05 June
This May and June, the Fal River Festival celebrates its 11th year, cementing itself as one of the biggest events in the Cornish calendar. You can join in with the festivities during your pre-summer breaks, with 150 events planned between May 30th and June 5th.
100,000 people are expected at the festival, which celebrates the people, places, history, culture and sport of the River Fal. With its mixture of events, you'll be able to find an activity for each member of the family.
Royal Cornwall Show | 09-11 June
The Royal Cornwall Show is one of Cornwall's flagship events, confirmed with more than 130,000 visitors descending on the showground year after year.
The three day festival combines exhibits, activities, entertainment, competition, information, shopping and everything you need from the world of food and farming.
Whatever your interests, you're sure to find them at The Royal Cornwall Show.
Boardmasters | 10-14 August
How could I not include the UK's biggest and best surf, skate and music festival? I grab a ticket every year and my experiences made it a shoe-in for my top 10!
The festival is split across two of Cornwall's most iconic coastal locations – Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay.
Fistral hosts ASP World Tour Surfing, with categories including the Men's Open, Women's Open, Boys and Girls Up&Go Junior Pro and Whipper Snappers – some of the hottest talent in surfing will be ripping up the Cornish swell!
The music side of the festival continues to pull an impressive line up of acts. Last year Faithless headlined the main stage on Friday night, with Rudimental getting the crowds bouncing on the Saturday night. Bastille closed the festival on the Sunday. Organisers are expected to announce 2016's acts soon, I'm super excited!
Polo on the Beach | 09-11 September
Watergate will be drawing big crowds again a month after Boardmasters, as Polo on the Beach gallops into the Bay.
The award-winning event, just a short trip from Perran View Holiday Park, is back for a 10th year combining world-class polo, equestrian displays and all-round family entertainment.
Visitors can expect amazing Cornish food and drink, a programme of live music and entertainment, international standard polo matches, spectacular stunt displays and even a ticketed beach party on the Saturday night.
The best part is it's completely free to attend...result!
Looe Music Festival | 23-25 September
John Fowler Holidays is partnering up with Looe Music Festival in what is set to be an EVEN more exciting 3 days this year...if that's possible?!
The last of the big summer music festivals takes place in September, from the 23rd to 25th, in a magical harbour-side location in the old fishing village.
Festival organisers have history of drawing top headliners, which over the years have included Reef, The Darkness, Chas & Dave, Frank Turner, Roy Wood and most recently The Proclaimers, Jools Holland and The Smiths' very own Johnny Marr. Can they do it again for 2016?
Early bird tickets are now available, secure your spot at a great price!
Great Cornish Food Festival | 23-25 September
Last, but by no means least, is Cornwall's biggest food and drink event of the year, the Great Cornish Food Festival.
The festival celebrates its 13th year in 2016 and will again transform Truro's famous Lemon Quay into a complete food town. The event takes place over the final weekend in September and is expected to welcome tens of thousands of visitors.
More than 100 famous chefs and food experts from all over the UK feature over the three days, with workshops, tasting sessions and demonstrations all on the menu.
That completes my 10 must visit Cornwall events in 2016, hopefully you've been busy adding them into your diaries ready for your caravan holidays in Cornwall this year.