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Cornwall is wonderful at Christmas time, from our Christmas Day dips to festive fayres and a truly scrumptious food offering. Equally impressive is New Year’s Eve, and if you fancy seeing in the new year, Cornish style, you’re in for a treat.
Here we round-up some of the best things to do in Cornwall over Christmas and New Year in 2025.
An Enchanted Castle Christmas debuts at The Castle, Bude with a whole weekend of lights, music, makers and family fun. It opens Friday 5 December with a ticketed Glow evening (4.30–6pm): explore the Heritage Centre by twinkling light, enjoy live guitar from Justine Lawton and let little ones tackle the Willo-the-Wisp trail.
Saturday 6 December brings free-entry stalls indoors and outside, children’s face painting, a magic show, festive craft workshops and a visit from Santa. Sunday 7 December continues with more traders, choir and harp performances, plus bookable craft sessions.
The Eden Project certainly know how to celebrate a special occasion, and Christmas is one of its very best. Create some extra magical memories with more lights than ever before (on selected nights 22 Nov – 4 Jan 2025), explore the thrilling Biomes as they are transformed into a twinkling night-time wonderland. If you’re feeling energetic, pull on your skates, at the project’s ice rink. And if you’re after a visit from Father Christmas, the big man himself and his elves who will be waiting to meet you in his Eden camp on selected dates from 22 November. Christmas at Eden is a hugely popular event, booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
Ice skating at Cornish Secrets offers a fun winter activity with skating shoes on a smooth, frozen surface.
A person wearing ice skates on a skating rink, perfect for winter fun and holiday activities at Cornish Secrets Cornwall.
Vibrant fireworks display over a dark sky, ideal for celebrations and New Year festivities.
A stunning fireworks display showcasing colourful explosions for holidays, festivals, or special occasions.
St Ives brings in the New Year with a huge fancy-dress street party that spills through the town and down to the harbour for midnight fireworks over Smeaton’s Pier—one of Cornwall’s biggest NYE crowds. Expect thousands in costume, buzzing pubs and restaurants, and a brilliant waterfront countdown as the display reflects off the water. The celebration is community-led, supported by St Ives Town Council and St Ives BID. Road closures will take place around the town centre roads.
Looe certainly lights up on New Year’s Eve, with not one but two firework displays. Its NYE celebrations gained nationwide recognition as one of the top ten places to spend the end of the year with a fantastic fancy dress party atmosphere throughout town. On 31 December, head over to Looe’s famous Banjo Pier with two fantastic firework displays; the family-orientated display takes place at 6pm, and the second revellers show is at midnight.
A firm favourite to get you in the Christmas spirit, this winter Heligan invites you back to enter the Heligan Night Garden (15 November until 3 January) and enjoy an enchanting lantern ticketed event set amidst the atmospheric Lost Gardens. It’s a spectacular sight to see, and oh-so-festive.
Illuminated Christmas tunnel at Trelissick, Cornwall. ©National Trust Images Hilary Daniel
National Trust’s Trelissick near Falmouth is always full of festive splendour. Daily from 7 December until 4 January 2025, the house will be decorated beautifully and inspired by a Cornish Christmas, with performances from local choirs and visits from Father Christmas at weekends and in the build up to Christmas.
Festive mistletoe decorations with berries for Christmas, highlighting Cornish Secrets' seasonal charm.
On the first Saturday of December each year, Saltash joins together in Christmas celebration with a huge street market, Santas on bikes (1pm), Santa fun run (2:30pm) Christmas carols on Fore Street (4:30pm) magical lantern parade and a spectacular firework display (6pm).
A trip to Lappa Valley always feels like a magical day out, but it’s all the better when Father Christmas makes a visit too. Hop on board a special nostalgic train journey through the winter countryside into Lappa Valley. Little ones can meet Father Christmas in his very special grotto, where a present awaits, and adults and kids will receive a complimentary treat – a mince pie or cookie, and hot chocolate or squash.
Where to stay in Cornwall for Christmas and New Year's
Rebecca Moore
LOCAL EDITOR AND CORNISH AFICIONADO
Rebecca Moore is a seasoned editor and content writer with over a decade of experience, specialising in Cornwall’s unique lifestyle, travel, and culinary scene. Her expertise has been featured in media outlets such as The Sun, Express, and Cosmopolitan. A proud Cornish resident, Rebecca’s authentic insights help readers explore the best of the Duchy.
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