What To Do In The Days Between Christmas & New Year?
The build up to Christmas is huge! There is so many markets, Christmas lights being switched on, parades, parties, concerts and tons of things to do.
But once Christmas Day has come and gone, what do you do with the days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve?
It can all seem a bit bleak, cold and a bit of a waiting game until New Year. I always end up eating too much, sitting around far too much and going a bit stir crazy.
Never fear, there are plenty of things to keep us all going between Christmas and New Year down here in St Ives, West Cornwall.
December 26th – Boxing Day
Take A Dip In The Sea
It has become a bit of a tradition down here in Cornwall to go for a dip in the sea at Christmas. Note that I say dip and not swim. It is really cold!
Come along at midday on the 26th December to Porthminster Beach. There will be a huge crowd of people, some in swimming costumes, some in wetsuits (me!) and others in fancy dress. We all make a big group dash into the sea, yell lots, splash even more and then dash back out. It is all good fun and is also to raise money for the charity Mind.
Theatre In The Woods
If you are down in West Cornwall over the Christmas holidays a visit to see the Rogue Theatre is a MUST! They put on 3 shows a day in Tehidy Woods (drive up the coast road past Gwithian and Godrevy and park up on the North Cliffs there). The shows are magical, colourful, mystical and absolutely amazing. We have been year after year and never tire of going. It does get rather nippy up there on the cliffs though, so bring lots of layers!
Shows are at 1pm, 4pm and 6:30pm and tickets cost £8.50. Under 4’s go free.
December 27th
Panto!
Panto is a must over Christmas and you don’t get better than a Kidz R Us panto. This year they are doing The Snow Queen and I’m sure it will be amazing. This is another event that we go to every year. Our kids love it, our friends and family love it and we think Kidz R Us are totally brilliant!
There are shows at 2pm and 6:30pm and tickets start at £9 per child and £12 per adult.
Painting Party!
The Barnoon Workshop is hosting a fun and creative evening at The Western Hotel in St Ives. The theme for this evening is a semi abstract painting of St.Ives Bay – suitable for all levels. Tickets cost £20 per person and can be bought from The Cornish Riveria Box Office on 01726 879500.
Live Music
If pantos and painting aren’t your thing, get yourself down to The Sloop Inn at 9pm for some live music from Ryan Jones.
December 28th
Tate Create: Christmas Holidays
The Tate St Ives are putting on children’s art workshops every day from the 27th December to the 2nd January (10am to 4pm). These are free with normal admission, including locals passes.
There isn’t much information about these workshops yet, but we have been to many sessions with our children at the Tate. They are always really good and the kids think they are brilliant too!
Whodunnit?
If you have not visited The Boathouse Theatre in St Ives, you are in for a real treat. It is one of the smallest theatres in the world and it is a real hidden gem. They put on the funniest, quirkiest, most entertaining shows there. This Whodunnit? play will be brilliant, I’m sure!
Concert
Get on over to Penzance to hear the Penzance Orpheus Ladies Choir sing in the Chapel Street Methodist Church. The concert starts at 7:30pm.
Live Music
Come along down to The Sloop Inn at 9pm for live music with Bob Love.
December 29th
The Mousehole Cat Show, Family Workshop & Harbour Lights
The Show
The Mousehole Cat is a magical puppet and live action show based on the well known Cornish legend and book ” The Mousehole Cat”. It is an hour long show for families and shows are at 3:30pm and 6:30pm and tickets cost £11.00.
The Workshop
Create your very own Mowzer (that you get to take home) and learn how to bring Mowzer alive in your own story. The workshop last about and hour, are suitable for all ages of children and cost £6 per child. Grown-ups are free. All materials are provided and you do need to book a place as there is limited availability.
The Mousehole Harbour Lights
The Mousehole Harbour Lights are legendary. They get bigger and better each year! We always make a special visit to see them!
Live Music
Joe Francis at The Sloop Inn St Ives
Blonde E Live At The Kettle & Wink St Ives
December 30th
Fancy Dress
Shop or hire your fancy dress costume for New Year’s Eve. Kidz R Us open up the St Ives Theatre on The Stennack in St Ives on the 30th and 31st. You can hire some amazing fancy dress costumes for really reasonable prices. It also helps to raise money for the theatre company too.
Christmas Puppet Show
The Christmas Puppet Shows at The Boathouse Theatre in St Ives are always a big hit with my children. The theatre is a tiny little hidden gem tucked behind the harbour in St Ives. The puppet shows are weird, wacky and very very funny!
December 31st
New Year’s Eve Storytelling
Come along to The Minack Theatre on New Year’s Eve morning. What a beautiful place to spend the morning of the last day of 2018! Take warm clothes and raincoats just in case the weather turns foul.
The Sea Show is storytelling with puppets and songs for families with young children. Meet crazy characters like Morwenna the ‘beautiful’ mermaid, Ruan the reformed seagull and salty seadog Captain Pemburthy, as well as a cast of mischievous sea-squirts, anemones, limpets, crabs and pilchards. Suitable children aged 4+ and their families.
The show starts at 10:30am, last for about an hour and costs £5.00 for adults, £2.50 for under 16s, 50p for under 12s and under 2’s go free.
New Year’s Eve Party!
Get dressed up in your best fancy dress and come on down to St Ives Harbour!