Cornwall Living
Christmas in the city
Truro takes on its festive role with a programme that gives shoppers, families and friends plenty of reason to spend time in Cornwall’s only city.
As Christmas approaches, Truro takes on its festive role with a programme that gives shoppers, families and friends plenty of reason to spend time in Cornwall’s only city. From Saturday the 21st of November, the Christmas market returns to the heart of the city, bringing stalls of gifts, crafts, festive food and local produce. With shops, cafés, restaurants and attractions close at hand, a visit could easily stretch into a full day!
The main Truro Christmas Market runs until Christmas Eve, giving visitors several weeks to browse for presents and enjoy the seasonal atmosphere. For those looking to combine shopping with a taste of local produce, the Boscawen Street Christmas Markets run on Wednesdays and Saturdays from the 21st of November to the 23rd of December. The traffic-free street provides space for festive stalls and street food, with independent retailers and familiar high-street
names nearby.
Wednesday evenings bring another opportunity to shop. On the 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd of December, many independent and national retailers will stay open until 9pm for Late Night Shopping. It is a handy arrangement for anyone who prefers to shop after work, while the markets and city-centre restaurants provide plenty of scope for making an evening of it.
The festive programme gets a lively start on Wednesday the 2nd of December with Truro BID’s Father Christmas Parade. Rock Choir performs from 6pm before Father Christmas arrives at 6.30pm, accompanied by musicians, performers and dance groups. With Late Night Shopping taking place on the same evening, it offers families and friends a straightforward way to combine the parade with some Christmas shopping.
Families have another date to put in the diary when Father Christmas arrives at Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery from Saturday the 12th of December until Christmas Eve. This year the enchanting journey begins in The Mineral Gallery with a special festive storytelling experience, followed by a visit to the man himself with photo opportunity. Advance booking is now open at www.cornwallmuseum.org.
As Truro benefits from a compact city centre, the different parts of the festive programme can be reached easily on foot, allowing visitors to move between the market, shops and places to eat without having to organise the day around the car. For anyone looking for Cornish gifts, the mix of independent retailers and market stalls provides plenty of opportunities to find something with a local connection.
The celebrations continue beyond Christmas itself, with New Year’s Eve bringing two fireworks displays to Lemon Quay on Thursday the 31st of December. The family-friendly display begins at 7.30pm, giving younger children the chance to enjoy the spectacle at an earlier hour, while the traditional midnight display marks the arrival of 2027. Both are free to watch.
For visitors making plans now, the dates provide a framework for a festive trip to Truro, whether the intention is to tackle the Christmas shopping, take the children to see Father Christmas or simply spend an evening in the city during one of its most vibrant times. Further events, performances, workshops and seasonal activities will be added to the programme as Christmas approaches.
The most up-to-date information is available through Visit Truro’s What’s On pages, which will continue to be updated as new events are announced. With the main Christmas programme beginning on the 21st of November, Truro has a full festive season ahead, running through to the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.