If you are looking for inspiration for what to do over the Christmas period in Cornwall, have a look here. I’ve picked the 13 best and most Christmassy things you can do in Cornwall this festive season.

1. Christmas Lights

Watch the Christmas lights being switched on in your town. From St Ives to Falmouth, Penzance to Perranporth, there are some lovely Christmas lights switch on events across the county. Some of the best are St Ives (biased, I know) on the 1st December, Newlyn on the 14th December and then the amazing Mousehole Christmas lights on the 15th. For us, Christmas isn’t Christmas without a visit to the Mousehole lights!

2. Ice Skating

Ice skating is such a fun and festive thing to do. Here in Cornwall you can skate at the Eden Project until the 24th February 2019. In addition, for 2 days only Rockpool in Gwithian (near Hayle) are having a synthetic ice skating rink. A must do!

3. Father Christmas

There are lots of lovely grottos, Winter Wonderlands and even Santa trains where your children can meet Father Christmas. Santa is also arriving by the RNLI lifeboat in St Ives on the 7th December at 6pm in the harbour.

4. Christmas Markets

There are Christmas Markets, fairs, bazaars and fayres galore across Cornwall. We have so many local makers producing some beautiful things that make perfect, thoughtful presents.

Some good Christmas Markets are St Ives Fair Mo on the 1st December, the Christmas market in Lemon Quay in Truro and the Alternative Christmas Market at Heartlands.

5. Choose & Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

Christmas isn’t Christmas to us without the annual choosing of our Christmas tree. There are lots of local places to buy real trees, but there are also several places where you can choose the tree you would like BEFORE it gets cut down. This makes it fresher than fresh and it should hopefully last all Christmas long.

6. Make Your Own Christmas Wreath Or Gift

There are lots of lovely workshops going on across the county where you can make your own Christmas Wreath or Christmas gifts. There are some fab looking workshops in Carbis Bay, Una St Ives, Barnoon Workshop and St Ives Glass Art Workshops.

7. Christmas Carols

There is nothing quite so beautiful as a lovely Christmas carol concert. There are some lovely ones in churches across the county and some quite big ones in Truro cathedral. If you prefer something a little more rustic, come to St Ives on Christmas Eve and follow the carollers around town.

8. Panto

Oh no he didn’t! Oh yes he did! Panto is a staple of any child’s Christmas. The very best panto (in my obviously unbiased opinion) is the ones put on in St Ives by Kidz R Us. This year it is the Snow Queen and we cannot wait!

9. Storytelling, Puppets & Woodland Shows

If Panto isn’t your thing, there are lots of other shows, plays and even circuses going on. A few highlights are The Mousehole Cat, The Boathouse Puppet Christmas Show in St Ives and Rogue Theatre Winter Wood in Tehidy Woods.

10. Lantern Parades

Lantern Parades are becoming a really big thing in the Christmas calendar down her in Cornwall. The season started early with the Truro festival of lights. There are lots of other lantern parades, lots of which you can take part in. The St Ives lantern parade is on the 1st December and the Humphrey Davy lantern parade is on the 15th December.

11. Montol Festival

The Montol Festival in Penzance on the 21st December is a must see. It is a pagan celebration of mid Winter with lots of parades, traditions and some amazing costumes. Watch the bizarre craziness before your eyes or get dressed up and join in the parades!

12. Swim In The Sea

A staple part of Christmas in Cornwall is a dip in the sea. There are lots of organised events, many of which are raising money for charity. There is the Christmas Eve Swim in Penzance, the Gwithian Christmas Day swim and the St Ives Boxing Day swim on Porthminster Beach. There are also several New Years Day swims further up in Cornwall.

13. New Year’s Eve In Cornwall

The festive season in Cornwall is finished off in style by New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve is celebrated in St Ives by a big party in the harbour. Everyone dresses up in amazing fancy dress and parties in the street and on the beach. At midnight there is a spectacular fireworks display.

What do you love to do to celebrate your Christmas in Cornwall?