The Cornwall Blog

We have just had our shortest day (yay) but we still have a long way to go for those bright summer evenings. The dark nights call for cosy nights in, or for glamorous nights out! For a break from the norm head to Truro's Hall for Cornwall and be entertained by ballet, live music and theatre. What caught our eye is the classic ballet of Swan Lake showing on the 18th and 19th of January. Tchaikovsky's score is sensational, the story of Odette who is fated to be a swan by day and a princess by night, meets Prince Siegfried and a story of love unfolds in this well-loved piece by the St Petersburg ballet. You can also find tributes to Fleetwood Mac, Elvis, Abba and The Beach Boys Story! Something for everyone in Cornwall's largest theatre.      

St Austell Brewery are hosting their 18th annual Celtic Beer Festival in the depths of their ancient cellars. There will be almost 200 beers to sample, along with favourites Tribute, Proper Job and Korev. Live bands will be playing day and night and 100% of the profit goes to the breweries charities in the South West. Taking place on November the 26th it proves to be a must for beer lovers out there. The brewery itself was founded in 1851 by Cornishman Walter Hicks, and the company is still family owned and independent. According to their website - and it is changing all the time - they have produced 981,792,168 pints since 1851! Find out more about the festival here.

The kids may well have gone back to school but Cornwall is still buzzing with plenty to do. This month we have a food festival in Truro, a fish festival in Newquay, and a design festival at Trereife House - and Looe hosts its music festival! Looe is a vibrant harbour town and once a year down on the beach crowds flock to hear a real variety of bands in this much loved festival. This year the Fun Lovin’ Criminals are taking to the stage where previous acts have included The Darkness, Reef, The Stranglers, Levellers and Seth Wakeman to name a few. Its an eclectic line up of national and international bands with music workshops and live music on every corner of this seaside town. And in some what of a change of direction, Laurence Fox, Detective Sergeant James Hathaway in ITV drama Lewis will be seen heading out on his first tour at the Looe Music Festival. Bringing indie sounds from his debut album Holding Patterns . As the festival grows year on year so does the fringe

There is so much to do in Cornwall in August! When the weather is like today (a scorcher) then the coast will always be a pull but there is always so much to do inland too. Take the Cornish Steam and Country Fair, previously known as the West of England Steam Rally. Located at the Sithians show ground outside Truro, the fair first took place back in 1955 with just six steam engines. Today over three days you can see almost 100! So what can you expect? Plenty of shiny brass, vintage cars, tractors, motor cycles, heavy horses - the list goes on. You can also see how things worked on a farm in way back when. There are dog agility shows, brass bands and a traditional fun fair! Something for everyone. Running from the 19th to the 21st of August 2016. You can find out more at their website.

Not long now to the first North Cornwall Gin Festival ! Hosted by Wadebridge Wines , in the heart of the North Cornish town, on the 23rd of July. The festival charges a small entrance fee and provides 50 different gins to try! This promises to be a truly grown up affair with interesting and unique stalls, fresh lemon and limes and herbs, exclusive chocolates, live music and lawn games. You can find out more at the Wadebridge Wines Facebook page, or check their website .

Starting tomorrow, the 9th of June, and running until the 11th June 2016 is the Royal Cornwall Show. This annual event really draws the crowds! Every year the visitors are around 120,000, not bad for the show that starting in Truro over 200 years ago as a ploughing competition between farmers! Today, alongside the best livestock and animals you will find Cornish wrestling, flower shows, the food tent (with free samples!!), show jumping, a steam fair, dog show, local businesses, health and beauty, the list goes on! Located at the show ground just outside Wadebridge, the RCS often boasts a royal appearance. A great place to head if you want to see the cream of Cornwall and enjoy the buzz of a crowd! Find out more about the Royal Cornwall Show .  

It seems you can't move for festivals these days - and Cornwall is no different! Having said that they are loads of family friendly fun. This month, Sunday 15th May, we have Lostfest , in my neck of the woods, Lostwithiel. The event raises money for FLEET, a charity who provide equipment for emergency services in Cornwall. For those who don't know, Lostwithiel is a charming ancient stannary town which is nestled quietly a little in land in a wooded valley. Well, normally quiet, but come Lostfest the streets are buzzing with life. Expect delicious food lining the streets, traditional crafts, handmade gifts, medieval re-enactments, a vintage fair and a couple of local bands. From by the river, to under the trees, the church yard, museum, the shops and cafes - all over this little town fun is unleashed. Lostwithiel is such a pretty place to visit, just up the hill you will find the Restormel Castle. There are two parks that follow the Fowey river and the Tudor bridge is a