The Railholiday Events Page
* Page last updated 16th January 2013 *
For comprehensive listings of events happening in and around Cornwall,
we reccomend the following links:
Pirate FMs What's On Guide - A guide to charity events throughout Cornwall.
Eye on Cornwall - More focused on arts/cultural events.
King Harry's Cornwall - lists everything from the Eden Sessions to oyster markets.
In Cornwall and Devon you are never far from a festival. The suggestions below are the most local and these are followed by a selection of County wide events, which is by no means comprehensive, so we'd advise also consulting the general pages above.
Our highlights for 2013 in St Germans are;
Port Eliot opens its doors; 11th March to mid July 2013
11th May - Port Eliot Dog Show - A family affair for dog lovers, with stalls, live music and fun. Run by the Children's Hospice South West.
25th-26th May - The May Tree Festival weekend - Whitsun weekend. Live music, processions, stalls and more, focused on the Saturday night and Sunday day and based around the Eliot Arms pub and village Hall
tba - St Germans Quay Sailing Club Gala - races, boat trips, stalls and jollity
Saturday 3rd August - St Germans Flower and Vegetable Show - tradition village show, with displays of art work by local children and local produce classes
27th-29th September - Looe festival - a weekend of live music and festivities in Looe at the end of September.
Highlights for The St Ives Bay SK2
4th February - St Ives Feast Day - the hurling of the silver ball traditional hurling celebration held on the first Monday after February 3rd.
Sunday 27th April - Camborne Trevithick Day - a celebration of the area's industrial heritage that attracts visitors from far and wide
22nd-30th June - Golowan - huge festival in Penzance, culminating in Mazey day, a celebration that draws people in from far and wide with this year's theme of Giants
First week in August - Hayle Carnival - a week of celebrations and events, with a procession on the first Saturday of the month.
Below are details of annual events happening in Devon and Cornwall.
February
Civil War Battle Anniversary - Mid Feb. - Tel: 01805 626140 - The tramp of feet and the rattle of mustkets fill the streets of Great Torrington at this annual battle commemoration, which culminates in a torchlit procession and fireworks.
St Piran's Day - Early Mar. - Tel: 01872 572121 - Cornwall's patrton saint is said to have landed on the beach at Perranporth, after being cast out of Ireland. On St Piran's Day, hundreds of people trak across the sands to visit the oratory he built, and to watch the St Piran play.
Vibraphonic - Early-Late Mar. - Tel: 01392 667080 - Musical offerings at this Exeter music festival span a dizzying array opf genres, from reggae and blues to urban and experimental music.
Walk Scilly & Isles of Scilly Folk Festival - Late Mar, Early Apr. - Tel: 01720 424043 - Over 30 guided walks take in some of the Scilly's most stunning landscapes; the event is organised to tie in with the Isles of Scilly Folk Festival, with walks fitting around the music schedule.
Crediton Folk Weekend - Mid Apr. - Tel: 01363 775695 - Celebrating traditional folk music, this tine, weekend-long festical is held in the Devon village of Cheriton Fitzpaine.
Porthleven Food Festival - Apr. - Tel: 01326 561341 - A weekend of food-related talks, walks and demonstrations, showcasing the best of the South West, from organic beers to traditionally reared meat.
Trevithick Day - Late Apr. - Held in Camborne, this free one-day festival celebrates the area's industrial heritage. There are dances through the streets and processions led by miniature steam engines, along with larger displays of steam power.
Tuckers Maltings Beer Festival - Late Apr. - Tel: 01626 334734 - This three-day beer festival showcases over 200 different real ales.
World Pilot Gig Championships - Late Apr, Early May. - Tel: 01720 422670 - See these colourfully painted, traditional Cornish rowing boats take to the water around the Isles of Scilly.
North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival - 1st Week May. - Tel: 01271 883131 - Guided walks range from moorland trecks to rockpool rambles, and there are opportunities to acquire some bushcraft skills. There's a smaller event in autumn too.
Plymouth Summer Festival - Apr-Sept. All kinds of events around the city: concerts, dance, theatre and art exhibitions are amoung the cultural offerings. The Plymouth half marathon is a sporting highlight.
The Brixham Pirate and Shanty Festival - 1st May bank holiday weekend. - Tel: 01803 850382 - Don your eye patch and join the Brixham Buccaneers for this festival of swashbuckling, family-friendly fun.
Hunting of the Earl of Rone - 2nd May bank holiday weekend. Each year, the villagers of Combe Martin, in North Devon, dress up to enact this ancient ritual over four days, hunting down the earl, before setting him backwards on a donkey and throwing him in the sea. Odd, but fun.
International Worm Charming Festival - Early May. - Tel: 01803 712149 - Teams compete to lure the worms on their respective turf plots. Afterwards, everyone goes to celebrate in Blackawton villiage hall.
Devon County Show - 3rd weekend in May. - Tel: 01392 446000 - Animals from alpacas to rare-breed pigs are on show at the county showground at Westpoint, near Exeter. Carriage racing, showjumping, a dog show, sheep shearing and craft stalls are among the other draws.
Exmouth Summer Festival - Late May. Local art, music and culture take centre stage. Graffitti demos, clowing workshops, shanty singers and classical quartets have featured in previous years.
Brixham Heritage Festival - Last week in May. - Tel: 01803 858362 - Brixham celebrates its nautical past with a parade, a sailing trawler race, music and lavish firework displays.
Appledore Arts Festival - Last weekend in May. - Tel: 07900 0212747 - A showcase for local talent, held in Appledore.
Exmouth Sand Sculpture Competition - 2nd bank holiday Sunday. In past years, sculptures at this competition on Exmouth Beach have included dinosaurs, elephants and mermaids.
North Devon Festival - Early June. - Tel: 01271 324242 - Art, music and theatre events accross the region. The Barnstaple Fringe is a focus for theatre, comedy and music, while Croyde's GoldCoast Oceanfest weekend is all about surfing and music.
Pixie Day - Mid June. - Land of Canaan Park hosts Pixie Day, when the town's children, dressed in elfin attire, spirit the bellringers away from the church, followed by a fete.
Teignmouth Folk Festival - Mid June. - Tel: 01803 290427 - As well as folk performers, this weekend festival plays host to Morris, Border and Appalachian dancers.
Exeter Summer Festival - Late June, Early July. - Tel: 01392 265200 - Music, dance, theatre, comedy, street entertainment, crafts and more, culminating in a grand firework finale.
Ways With Words - Mid July. - Tel: 01803 867373 - The prestigious ten-day literary festical takes place in the elegant setting of Dartington Hall, with talks and big-name writers and public figures on an eclectic range of subjects.
Teignmouth Summer Carnival - Last Tue - Sat. - The carnival incorporates concerts, talent contests and a children's day; on the Friday, the Grand Procession brings a dazzling array of floats. In late July, but look out for the town's nine-day regatta.
Torbay Carnival - Late July. - Eight exuberant days of carnival bring birds of prey displays, Punch and Judy shows, fireworks, baton-twirling and a grand parade to Paighnton Green.
Yealmpton Show - Late July. - Farmers vie for prizes with their finest livestock and produce at this one-day show, while amusements include dog agility shows, pony club games and more.
Sidmouth Folk Week - Late July, Early Aug. - Tel: 01395 577952 - An impressive line-up of folk artists play at this friendly, phenomenally successful summer festival.
Dartmoor Folk Festival - 2nd week in Aug. - Tel: 01837 840102 - A cheery festival in South Zeal, on Dartmoor's nothern edge. The village hall and a marquee host concerts and ceilidhs, with informal music sessions in both village pubs.
British Firework Championship Finals - Mid Aug. - Six top teams compete over two nights to provide the most spectacular firework displays over Plymouth Sound. The Hoe is the prime viewing spot, which also hosts entertainment, a funfair, stalls and refreshments.
Okehampton Show - Mid Aug. - Entertainments at this agricultural show include tug-of-war, Morris dancing and ferret racing, plus a packed children's programme.
Beautiful Days Festival - 3rd week in Aug. - This family-friendly roots music festival is set in the glorious parkland of Escot Park, near Ottery St Mary. Bring a tent, or book a yurt or tipi for the weekend.
Dawlish Carnival Airshow - 3rd Thur in Aug. - The airshow is the highlight of Dawlish Carnical week, with thousands of spectators lining the seawall and beach. Usually features a display by the Red Arrows.
Totnes Orange Race - 3rd Tue in Aug. - Orange-chasing races down Totnes' steep high street recall Sir Francis Drake's visit in the 1580s when he presented 'a fair red orange' to a little boy in the street.
Devon Open Studios - Early-Mid Sept. - Artits' studios across Devon are open to the public.
Agatha Christie Festival - Mid Sept. - This celebration of Torquay's most famous daughter attracts murder mystery fans from around the world. Events include talks, writing workshops, guided walks, screenings, murder mystery dinners and tea dances.
Widecombe Fair - 2nd Tue in Sept. - Subject of the famous folk song of the same name, this immensely popular fair brings sheepdog displays, bale tossing, a gymkhana, sheep sheering and lots of stalls.
South Devon Walking Festival - Late Sept-Early Oct. - This ten-day festival offers all sorts of guided walks.
Colyford Goose Fair - Closest Sat to Michaelmas. - Attractions at this medieval fair run from a ram roast and beer tent to a mummers' play and archery demonstrations.
Exmoor Food Festival - Early Oct. - Tel: 01643 702624 - Tastings, farmers' markets, farm visits and special themed supers feature on the Food Festival's agenda.
Tavistock Goose Fair - 2nd Weds in Oct. - This annual event dates back to 1105, when abbey tenants paid their tithes in geese. The town centre is filled with all manner of stalls and amusements.
Two Moors Festival - Early-Mid Oct. - Tel: 01643 831370 - An eclectic programme of classical music is brought to small community venues across Exmoor and Dartmoor.
Exeter Autumn Festival - Late Oct-Mid Nov. - Tel: 01392 265200 - A two-week festival showcasing the city's vibrant arts scene, with an emphasis on local performers and artists.
Tar Barrel Night - 5th Nov. - Tel: 01404 813964 - Dating from 1688, this bizarre event sees locals bearing flaming tar barrels down Ottery St Mary's packed high street.
For comprehensive listings of events happening in and around Cornwall,
we reccomend the following links:
Visit Cornwall - A search engine to find all the latest on what's going on.
Pirate FMs What's On Guide - A guide to charity events throughout Cornwall.
Eye on Cornwall - More focused on arts/cultural events.
King Harry's Cornwall - lists everything from the Eden Sessions to oyster markets.
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