In case your children haven’t reminded you, the summer holidays are upon us! There’s always a great selection of family friendly events taking place in the North Cornwall & Devon area, and 2016 is no exception. Here is our schedule of the highlights – 21 great events to keep you and your family entertained! If we’ve missed something, let us know in the comments.
July 2016
Lanson Grill Fest, Launceston
Saturday 23rd July 2016
The charming market town of Launceston has its own mini food-festival. Head to the square where you can enjoy a BBQ with local produce, food vendors, craft beer stands, live music and a bar. There will be grilling demonstrations and circus skills, and best of all, it’s free entry!
http://firebrandbar.co.uk/lansongrillfest/
Bude and Stratton Heritage Day, Bude
Saturday 23rd July 2016
A great local heritage day including mini traction engines, military vehicles, and classic cars. Stalls with Cornish food, entertainment from Punch & Judy and clowns, face-painting and live music.
https://www.visitcornwall.com/event/bude-and-stratton-heritage-day
Cowslip Workshops Summer Fair, St Stephens, Launceston
Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th July
Cowslip workshops is a favourite spot of ours for a light lunch, but fabric aficionados will know that they’re famed for their quilting too. Their Summer Fair and Quilt exhibition promises over 40 stalls of house & garden goodies, textiles and vintage items. (PL15 8JX)
https://www.cowslipworkshops.co.uk/blog/summer-fair-and-quilt-exhibition-dates-and-details
Vintage Weekend at RHS Rosemoor, Torrington,
Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th July
Rosemoor’s Vintage Weekend will feature an antiques and collectors fair organised by Devon County Antiques Fairs, with stalls and sellers from across the South West and beyond, offering an eclectic selection of quality antiques and collectables of all sorts for sale. There will also be a display of vintage vehicles, a fairground organ and model railways plus horticultural and farm machinery.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/viewevent?EFID=13210&ESRC=CRM
Swim Safe Bude, Summerleaze, Bude
Tuesday 26th July to Thursday 25th August, 11am to 4pm, Every Tues, Weds & Thurs
A fantastic initiative that’s free for children. Outdoor swimming and sea safety lessons. “Practical, interactive, educational and fun, each session includes a land-based safety lesson with a lifeguard, followed by in-water tuition with a swimming teacher. Wetsuits, swimming hats and a free goody bag with t-shirt are all provided”. Book ahead for a guaranteed place.
http://www.swimming.org/SwimSafe
Sheep Shearing World Record Attempt, St Clether, Launceston
Tuesday July 26th, 2016, 5am – 5pm
Yes, you read it right! A world record attempt at sheep shearing by champion shearer Matt Smith. Taking place at Trefranck Farm near St. Clether PL15 8QN. There’ll be a bar, food stalls and a raffle.
Free entry but donations to Children’s Hospice South-West.
St Endellion Summer Music Festival, St Endellion
Tuesday 26th July to 5th August 2016
St Endelienta church hosts a myriad of interesting performances including a symphony orchestra and a 74-strong choir covering everying from Broadway hits to Brahms and Stravinsky.
http://www.endellionfestivals.org.uk
The Man Engine, Liskeard
Tuesday 26th July 2016
A mysterious giant mechanical puppet is on tour – the first Cornish town it visits will be Liskeard. The largest mechanical puppet ever built in the UK!
http://www.themanengine.org.uk/
Launceston Agricultural Show, Launceston
Thursday 28th July 2016
The usual entertaining mix of agricultural displays, crafts, local food and drink and music. A wonderful varied family day out.
http://www.launcestonshow.co.uk
Port Eliot Festival, Port Eliot
Thursday 28th July to 31st July 2016
Technically a literature festival, but incredibly varied, covering everything from art and music, flowers and wildlife, and food and drink. Held in the grounds of Port Eliot house.
http://www.porteliotfestival.com
Leopallooza, Week St. Mary, Bude
Friday 29th Jul 2016 – Sunday 31st Jul 2016
One of the South-West’s most popular independent festivals, Leopallooza is now celebrating its 10th anniversary. Over 100 acts are spread over 7 stages in this wooded valley near Bude, and any profits are ploughed back into the festival to make it bigger and better. It offers free parking, free camping, kids’ entertainment, circus workshops, BMX displays as well as great food outlets, bars and a cocktail lounge.
http://www.leopallooza.com/music/
Bat night at Pentire, Port Quin
Wednesday 27th July 2016
Join the National Trust rangers for an open air evening all about bats. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the resident Booking essential
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/eaf1441f-a1d3-40ee-8921-cff2e044012a/pages/details
Medieval Day At Launceston Priory, Launceston
Saturday July 30th, 2016, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
A friendly family day at Launceston Priory, once the largest and richest medieval monastic house in Cornwall. An exhibition and a guided walk at 2pm with local historian Arthur Wills. Mini excavation boxes, priory discovery trail, cord winding (friendship bracelets) and dressing up.
August 2016
David Walliams “Ratburger”, STERTS Theatre, Upton Cross, Liskeard
Thursday 4th August 2016, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Heartbreak Productions present “Ratburger” at Sterts Theatre, Nr. Liskeard. “A hilarious modern thriller that blends dark reality and ireverent comedy for today’s children”. Admission…Adults £12 Concession £10 Children £8. Recommended age 7+.
www.sterts.co.uk or Tel.01579 362382
RNLI Lifeboat Weekend, Clovelly
Saturday August 6th, 10:00 am – August 7, 5:00 pm
The Lifeboat House will be open to visitors and operational displays by the Clovelly lifeboat will be taking place in the bay. A weekend of family fun with competitions, entertainments, food and drink, all in aid of the RNLI. Normally admission applies.
http://www.clovelly.co.uk
Launceston Community Fire Station Open Day, Launceston
Saturday 6th August, 2016, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
An Open Day at Launceston Fire Station. Displays of the aerial ladder platform, chip pan fires, and even a demonstration of the road traffic accident tools. Launceston Fire Station, Hurdon Road
Mount Edgcumbe American & Classic Car Show & Fayre
Sunday 7th August 2016
Mount Edgcumbe always promises a great day out, and what better occasion than this. 500 American and classic cars on display, craft stalls, a car boot, amusements, a bar and live music. This is a family day out in the beautiful setting of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park with 500 American and Classic cars to see, a craft fayre and stalls, a car boot fair, amusements, refreshments, a licenced bar and live music.
http://www.mountedgcumbe.gov.uk
Camelford Agricultural Show, Camelford
Wednesday 10th Aug 2016
Another great traditional agricultural show. Dog shows, vintage vehicles, along with agricultural displays such as sheep shearing, heavy horses and more.
http://www.camelfordshow.co.uk
Bude Carnival, Bude
Saturday 20th Aug 2016
A highlight in the local calendar. A procession of floats leaves the wharf at 6.30pm with events throughout the day. Not to be missed!
http://www.budecarnival.org.uk
Holsworthy and Stratton Agricultural Show
25th Aug 2016
A friendly local agricultural show. Not only will you see the typical livestock exhibits, but there’ll be gymnastics, motorcycle displays, jive dancing, falconry and much more!
http://www.holsworthyandstrattonagriculturalshow.co.uk
Cornwall Folk Festival, Wadebridge
Friday 26th Aug 2016 – Monday 29th Aug 2016
Cornwall Folk Festival takes place over the bank holiday weekend and offers 3 and a half days of fabulous live folk music in various venues around Wadebridge. Well established after nearly half a century, this year the festival offers some big names from the folk scene including Ralph McTell and Martin Simpson. There’s also a range of musicians from other countries, and up-and-coming folkies from the South-West too. Add to the mix ceilidh dancing, workshops, a craft fair, street entertainment, and great local food and drink (sponsored this year by Healey’s Cider), you end up with a cracking weekend of fun!
http://www.cornwallfolkfestival.com/
Bude Jazz Festival, Various venues in Bude
Tuesday 30th Aug – Friday 2nd Sep 2016
The week after the bank holiday weekend will see the 29th Bude Jazz festival. Over 75 gigs will be taking place over the 4 days in multiple venues, with traditional and New Orleans Jazz, big band jazz, swing and jive and much more. The street parades are a real treat, and the jazz picnic is always popular.
http://www.jazzfestivalbude.co.uk/
Leave your recommendation for a Summer event in the comments below!
