Cornwall Living
Cornwall’s winter wonders await
Eight extraordinary festive experiences capture Cornwall’s Christmas spirit in a dazzling array of performance and light.
From twinkling trails to candlelit choirs, Cornwall exudes festive energy this winter. Across the county, experience a range of wonderful events that celebrate the season with flair and imagination.
Christmas at the Eden Project
Eden Project’s Christmas celebration is as uplifting as ever, offering a full day and evening of festive entertainment. By day, visitors can explore the famous biomes, wander the global gardens and enjoy a luxury Cornish Christmas lunch before gliding across the sparkling ice rink. As dusk falls, the transformation begins. The Christmas Lights Experience saturates guests in a shimmering world of colour, music and light, with the Rainforest Biome glowing and the Mediterranean Biome filled with festive cheer. Choirs and live performers bring further enchantment, while outdoor trails lead through glowing gardens and hidden surprises.
Families can join Father Christmas and his lively elves for a 45-minute interactive adventure, packed with storytelling and laughter. By combining food, theatre, spectacle and sound in its unique setting, Eden offers up a Christmas treat on a grand scale.
©Catherine Frowd
Rogue Theatre
Few festive traditions are as distinctive as Rogue Theatre’s Winter Wood. Returning to Tehidy Woods, this captivating experience leads audiences through a world of storytelling, and live music as the cast take on magical characters, creating mesmerising performances. Visitors follow a lantern-lit path deep into the forest, meeting curious characters and discovering scenes that blend myth and magic. Each year brings new tales from the Otherworld, and 2025 promises to be especially bold, with freshly devised stories and inventive set pieces. The journey concludes in the warm glow of the Woodland King’s Christmas tent, where audiences gather around the fire for hot chocolate, mulled wine and live music. For families, it’s a chance to escape screens and step into an imaginative world alive with theatre’s raw wonder. For adults, it’s a reminder that festive storytelling still has the power to surprise. Winter Wood runs on selected dates throughout December.
rogueotherworld.co.uk/winter-wood-25/
Truro Cathedral
There’s an unmistakeable energy in Truro Cathedral as it prepares for Advent. The newly launched Made in Cornwall Cathedral Christmas Market transforms the nave into a thriving marketplace of local talent, where 59 stands showcase crafts, art, food and design from across the county. The scale and splendour of the setting create a shopping experience unlike any other – part community celebration, part sensory delight. Later that same week, Advent Procession offers a contemplative counterpoint to the bustle. The cathedral begins in complete darkness, then slowly fills with candlelight and choral song, symbolising the emergence of hope and peace. For those seeking both inspiration and a chance to reflect this Christmas, Truro’s combination of craftsmanship and ceremony provides it in equal measure.
Bodmin and Wenford Railway
The release of steam and the clanking of metal combine to make for a nostalgic Christmas journey aboard the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. The Santa Specials bring the golden age of rail travel to life, with beautifully restored carriages decked in festive lavishness and a cast of cheerful elves on hand to entertain families. Passengers board at Bodmin General Station before winding through the Cornish countryside, soothed by the comforting rhythm of the steam engine. At journey’s end, children meet Father Christmas in his Victorian-style grotto, where gifts and bonhomie await. Adults can enjoy mince pies and mulled wine, while the scent of coal smoke and pine fills the air. It promises to be a Christmas experience that feels traditional, a reminder of simpler pleasures and the excitement of the season seen through a child’s eyes. Book a trip on one of The Santa Specials, that will be running throughout December and enjoy one of life’s timeless pleasures.
National Trust at Cotehele
Cotehele’s Christmas garland has been a Cornish hallmark since 1956, and its creation remains an extraordinary feat of dedication. This year’s display, made from more than 30,000 flowers grown, dried and arranged on-site, winds its way through the Great Hall in a cascade of colour and scent. The house and gardens are open for exploration, offering a glimpse into centuries of seasonal tradition. Visitors can discover the craftsmanship behind the garland, take part in creative workshops, and enjoy festive performances from local choirs, including the Tavistock Warblers, Kescana, and the Callington Town Band. As all performances take place outdoors, we recommend wrapping up warm in cosy scarves and hats, the perfect attire for a stroll along the estate’s riverside paths and orchards, where a brisk winter walk ends with fireside refreshments in the Barn Restaurant.
Hangloose at Eden
For those seeking an adrenaline-fuelled twist on festive fun, Hangloose Adventure’s Night Flights at the Eden Project take Christmas lights to new heights, quite literally. Riders soar above the glowing biomes on England’s fastest zipline, illuminated by the UK’s only in-air Christmas light trail. The experience runs across select evenings from November through to early January, giving thrill-seekers the chance to fly solo or side-by-side over a 660-metre course at speeds of up to 60mph. Below, the Eden biomes shimmer in seasonal colour, while friends and family watch from dedicated viewing areas with hot chocolate in hand. Safety is assured by expert instructors, and inclusive sessions ensure accessibility for all. With discounted rates, gift vouchers and extra daytime activities on offer, Hangloose has created a festive adventure that’s bound to become a Cornish Christmas classic for those who prefer flight to footpaths!
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
At The Lost Gardens of Heligan, nightfall brings about a magical transformation. The much-loved Night Garden returns with a renewed sense of wonder, weaving light and sound into a nocturnal nature trail. This year’s event features spectacular new installations, including a vast luminescent tribute to standing stones and a mesmerising walkthrough piece, Submergence, created by renowned artists Squidsoup. Heligan stalwarts like the glowing foxes and dragonflies to the famous robin ensure a sense of continuity alongside innovation. Along the 1.13-mile route, visitors can toast marshmallows at fire pits, sample food from the new festive village, and pause for reflection at an artwork supporting St Petrocs. The effect is atmospheric and uplifting, the gardens transformed into a glowing
world of possibility.
Padstow Christmas Fayre
Padstow’s harbourside buzzes with festive energy as its celebrated Christmas Fayre returns from 4th to 7th December. Combining food and creativity, the event showcases Cornwall’s culinary excellence with over 50 chef demonstrations, masterclasses, markets and entertainment. Rick Stein, Paul Ainsworth and other leading chefs headline the programme, while fireworks and lantern displays light up the waterfront. A new addition this year, the Padstow Christmas Fayre Shop, offers a curated range of locally made gifts and exclusive collaborations, including a limited-edition Tarquin’s Gin infused with violets and orange zest. Each sale supports The Fishermen’s Mission and Padstow Lifeboat, ensuring the event gives back to the community it celebrates. Visitors can browse art, homeware and festive hampers, all inspired by the spirit of the Cornish coast.
www.padstowchristmasfayre.co.uk
All in all, it promises to be a time of excitement and reflection for all the family across Cornwall this coming season.