The rich landscape of Cornwall; from lush green pastures to rugged coastlines and quaint fishing harbours naturally lends itself to producing some of the finest food and drink in the UK. Visit Cornwall and you will find an abundance of artisan food and drink producers that are celebrated throughout the year at Festivals, Country Shows and Food Markets. Whether you are holidaying in Cornwall, a regular visitor or a permanent resident, enjoying the fantastic range of food and drink that Cornwall has to offer is an absolute must! To help make the most of the wonderful food and drink available in Cornwall, we have put together a diary of Food Festivals, Farmers Markets and Country Shows taking place throughout the year. It really is worth taking some time out to visit one of these while you are in the beautiful County of Cornwall.
Events were correct at time of writing (February 2022) but can be subject to change so please be sure to check and confirm directly with the venue before making a special journey.
FOOD FESTIVALS
March 12th - 13th 2022
Soul Farm Spring Party - The Food Barn, Tregew Road, Flushing TR11 5UQ
Join Soul Farm for a celebration of spring. With music and dancing as the days get longer & crops are growing with gusto. This is the first Soul Farm Spring Party at the Food Barn. There will be live music, a licensed bar with beer and cider and some fantastic food and drink including Coffee and Veggie Fusion food from Situ Cafe, a Cornish take on American classsics from chef and forager Aceeater and Pier Cafe who will be using quite a bit of shellfish from Sailors Creek Shellfish and a Gin Bar from Falmouth Distilling Company. There will be activities for all ages and children are more than welcome to join in with the shindig.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/soul-farm-spring-party-tickets-259286311337
April 18th 2022, 10am to 6pm
Bude Food Festival - The Castle, Bude.
Bude Food Festival combines an artisan food market with a selection of street foods and is held in the beautiful setting of the Castle grounds. Everything from locally reared sausages, freshly baked bread and cakes, jams, sauces, local gin, beer and cider. A foodies delight!
http://budefoodfestival.co.uk
April 22nd - 24th 2022
Porthleven Food Festival - Porthleven, Near Helston.
Discover a national and international chef’s theatre, food stalls, street food, music by day and night and free family entertainment for all. Porthleven Food Festival is an award-winning, community-led event. It brings families and foodies together to enjoy eats and beats around our picturesque Cornish harbour.
https://www.porthlevenfoodfestival.com
May 13th - 15th 2022
St Ives Food and Drink Festival - Porthminster Beach, St Ives.
This 3 day event includes music and entertainment and an artisan market in partnership with Great Western Railway. There will be a large selection of the best street food on offer plus plenty of traders with delicious produce for sale in the Artisan Village.
https://stivesfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk
June 4th 2022, 12pm until late.
Cornish Gin & Drinks Festival - The Alverton, Tregolls Road, Truro, TRI1ZQ
Meet the makers, attend masterclasses and sample the very best in Cornish tipples. Enjoy a complementary first drink as well as trying oodles of samples. Watch live demos and masterclasses from gin distilleries and pick up some handy hints and tips to create your own top-notch tipples at home. Later on sip cocktails, share a tasting board of nibbles, then dance the night away to your favourite tunes. The main focus will be on gin and there will also be a vast range of other spirits available including local rums, craft beers, non-alcoholic spirits, and liqueurs. Suppliers include Tarquin’s, Holly’s Gin, Wrecking Coast, Monterey Gin, Land of Saints and Morvenna Rum. The entry ticket includes: A G&T on arrival, samples from all of the distilleries, access to masterclasses, a printed gin guide and keepsake branded gin glass to hold all your favourite future tipples.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cornish-gin-drinks-festival-at-the-alverton-2022-tickets-251267617207
July 23rd - 24th 2022, 11am to 5pm
Artisan Festival - Heartlands, Robinson’s Shaft, Dudnance Lane, Pool, Redruth TR15 3QY
A fantastic celebration of the talented artisans in Cornwall and beyond. Artisan food & drink including gin, jams, chocolate, baked treats and lots more yummy creations. Artisan craft stalls selling jewellery, textile art, soap, fused glass and many other disciplines. Classical singers, choirs and folk musicians will provide musical entertainment. Sourdough pizza, vegan delicacies, Thai food & more deliciousness to be announced.
https://www.artisanmarketscornwall.com/event-info/artisan-festival-cornwall
July 29th - 31st 2022
Rock Oyster Festival - Dinham House, Nr Wadebridge PL27 6RH
Hosted by Jack Stein and friends. Enjoy alfresco dining, Michelin-starred chefs and cooking demonstrations. Try mouth-watering taster plates and signature dishes served by the best restaurants and chefs from around the South West. Learn tricks of the trade and enjoy the open fire cooking corner at Mussel Beach set against a backdrop of the beautiful Camel Estuary. All this alongside local produce and a joyful selection of street food traders, there’s sure to be something to tantalise everyone’s taste buds and to pick up a sample or two. And with music, family entertainment and well-being activities too it’s sure to be a great festival.
https://www.rockoysterfestival.co.uk
August 10th - 14th 2022
Boardmasters Festival - Watergate Bay (music & camping) and Fistral Beach (surfing, shopping and beach activities).
Predominantly a music lovers festival that includes a range of entertainment including after parties, well-being and a Cornish Market to explore. Wind your way through the myriad of stalls that showcase the finest in local artisan produce, sampling delicious delights along the way as part of this renowned music festival.
https://www.boardmasters.com
August 21st 2022, 10am to 6pm
Bude Food Festival - The Castle, Bude.
Bude Food Festival combines an artisan food market with a selection of street foods and is held in the beautiful setting of the Castle grounds. Everything from locally reared sausages, freshly baked bread and cakes, jams, sauces, local gin, beer and cider. A foodies delight!
http://budefoodfestival.co.uk
23rd - 25th September 2022
Newquay Beer Festival - Hendra Holiday Park, Newquay TR8 4NY
A beer lover’s dream! At the time of writing (February 2022) finalised event information is yet to be released so please keep checking the website for details (link below). As in every other year, there will be a superb group of musicians, bands and entertainment to enjoy through the day. Tickets go on sale from Saturday 5th March 2022.
https://www.newquaybeerfestival.co.uk
October 13th - 16th 2022
Falmouth Oyster Festival - Events Square, Falmouth TR11 3QY
Packed with cookery demonstrations by leading local chefs, oysters, seafood, wine and local ale, sea shanties, a town parade, live music, an oyster shucking competition, a Falmouth Working Boat race and marquees brimming with Cornish produce; the festival is a must for all oyster, seafood and maritime heritage enthusiasts! Falmouth Oyster Festival has seen an increasing number of Cornish food and drink producers promoting their quality produce alongside the longstanding craft fair stalls in the festival marquee. Festival visitors can savour the expanding range of mouth watering Cornish food and drink, both on site whilst taking in the festival atmosphere or to take home and enjoy!
https://falmouthoysterfestival.co.uk
October 15th 2022, 9.30am - 12.30pm
Winter Wild Foraging with Emma Gunn - Trevince Estate, Gwennap, Redruth TR16 6BA
Get back to the ‘grass roots’ of food by spending an enjoyable and informative morning full of foraging wild surprises, whilst following Emma around the estate grounds. Learn from the expert herself and tap into Emma’s vast depth of knowledge. Once back at Trevince, Emma will treat you to some tasters of her pre-prepared foraged foods.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/winter-wild-food-foraging-with-emma-gunn-tickets-256749092447
FARMERS MARKETS
Regular farmers markets are listed below but also see our blog on the best farm shops in Cornwall.
Tuesdays Falmouth, The Moor pedestrianised area - 9am - 1pm
Wednesdays and Saturdays Truro, The Lemon Quay - 9am to 3.30pm
Truro Farmers Market
(One of ‘The Best Outdoor Markets in Britain,’ as featured in The Times, August 2021)
The white and green striped stalls of Truro Farmers Market are at the grassroots of Cornwall’s culinary scene; come and discover the best produce Cornwall has to offer! Soak up the smells of freshly baked bread and smoked fish, rows of perfect blue duck eggs, preserves in a rainbow of colours and cakes to make your mouth water. A friendly welcome is guaranteed from the traders, some of whom are truly artisan in scale and others who are courted for their produce by the famous chefs of Cornwall and beyond.
https://www.trurofarmers.co.uk
Every Thursday, St Ives, The Guildhall, Street an Pol, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 2DS - 9.30am - 2pm
St Ives Farmers Market
An award-winning market, showcasing the best of local Cornish producers. The market is operated by a community group called GULP – which stands for Great-tasting Unbeatable Local Produce. It’s a not-for-profit organisation that was set up to support local food producers and make local produce more widely available in St Ives. At the market you can find a wide range of local food and drink, including fish, meats, vegetables, baked goods, plants and alcoholic drinks. There’s also a range of quality crafts on offer.
https://www.stivesfarmersmarket.co.uk
April 15th and every Friday to the end of September, 10am - 3pm
Bude Farmers’ and Craft Market - Bude Canal
Find all the latest information on Facebook @BudeFarmersMarket
4th Saturday of each month, 10am to1pm - The Scout Hut, Main Car Park, Lostwithiel PL22 0HE
Lostwithiel Farmers Market
This longest running traditional Produce Market showcases all that is best about Cornwall in terms of food and drink and is well worth a visit. Selling seasonal produce, bread, meat, preserves, cakes, arts, crafts and other locally produced goods it will be impossible to leave with an empty bag! Organised and run by the Cornish Association of Smallholder and Producers, the market was originally established around 17 years ago and is the longest running market in Cornwall.
Find more information on Facebook @lostwithielproducemarket
First Saturday of the month, 9.30am - 1pm
Helston Farmers Market - Porthleven Road, Helston TR13 0SR
A long established farmers’ market in Cornwall with local producers selling seasonal produce. Free parking close by and disabled access. This market receives some great reviews; “Excellent Farmers’ Market, best in the area and always has a great range of products. Love the fact we are being served by the producers themselves. Would highly recommend a visit, everyone is so friendly and welcoming and it is ideally situated for a walk in the park afterwards.”
https://helstonfarmersmarket.co.uk
COUNTRY SHOWS
May 28th, 29th & 30th 2022
Launceston Steam and Vintage Rally - Fivelanes Near Altarnun, PL15 7RR.
Not showcasing local food but a fun day out in Cornwall for all the family to enjoy, including your four legged friend!
http://www.launcestonsteamrally.co.uk/
June 9th - 11th 2022
Royal Cornwall Show - Royal Showground, Whitecross, Wadebridge PL27 7JE
http://www.royalcornwallshow.org/the-show/
July 11th 2022
Stithians Show - The Showground, Stithians, Truro TR3 7DP.
Cornwall’s biggest one day agricultural show featuring animals, rural crafts and entertainment. Be sure to visit the ‘Taste of Cornwall’ area showcasing all that’s best about Cornish food and drink.
https://stithians.show/whats-on
You may also be interested in our blog: 25 Charming Gift Shops in Cornwall.