From bakers, butchers, breweries, cider makers, chocolatiers and cheese-makers, Cornwall’s thriving food scene is loved by food connoisseurs from far and wide and in recent years there has been a huge emphasis on food festivals in Cornwall which have positioned our county as a leader in the UK’s gastro trail.
Here at Trevigue we pride ourselves on harnessing our Cornish heritage and we champion the ‘slow food’ movement by ensuring that everything we serve to our guests is picked, caught, grown or sourced here in Cornwall. Foraging for ingredients up on our clifftop farmstay with the mighty Atlantic waves crashing in the background sounds idyllic, because it truly is. The fresh sea air, nourishing rain and long summer days filled with golden sunshine all combine to create the perfect environment for growing the tastiest Cornish produce. It’s fair to say that we adore Cornish food (!) so as the new year rolls out we turn our thoughts to which are the best Cornish food festivals for 2017.
Food Festivals in Cornwall for 2017
We use the most carefully-chosen meat, fish and vegetables so that you can experience the traditional Cornish food that we were fortunate to grow up with. The array of artisan producers and local suppliers in Cornwall is vast and 
varied, with world-class produce fast becoming the norm for many of Cornwall’s farmers. You’ll find traditional Cornish pasties, Cornish clotted cream, ice cream, seafood, the famous Cornish Cider Rattler, traditional ales from local breweries like St Austell and award-winning cheeses like the Cornish Blue. The only tiny problem is choosing which Cornwall Food Festival you’ll visit this year to sample these local delicacies (why not try them all?!).
Here we list some of our favourite farmer markets and food festivals in Cornwall for 2017 so that you can put them in the diary. We hope to see you there!
- 17-19 March 2017 Annual Beer and Mussel Festival at The Cornish Arms in St. Merryn
This traditional Cornish pub (owned by famed Cornish chef Rick Stein) celebrates its annual beer and mussel festival in March, and it is fast becoming one of the most popular events on the Cornwall foodie calendar. As well as over 40 different beers and ciders, there is a strong line up of entertainment including RBS 6 Nations, live music and cookery demos too. Family-friendly fun, and a chance to experience some interesting mussel dishes made by Stein’s talented chefs. - 21-23 April 2017 Porthleven Food and Music Festival, Porthleven
This annual event in the picturesque little harbour town of Porthleven attracted over 30,000 visitors last year and is set to draw similar crowds in 2017. And no wonder it’s popular: a weekend in the middle of spring filled
with Cornish food, beer and bands … what’s not to like? This year’s event has an “Under the Sea” theme, celebrating the close connection between Porthleven and the sea so look forward to a themed party in the Shipyard marquee on the Saturday night. And don’t miss the Chef’s Theatre! - 8th-10th June 2017 The Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge
Cornwall is an important torch bearer for the preservation of the agricultural way of life. The county’s most visited and largest annual event will this year celebrate it’s 222nd year (!) and it’s not difficult to see why it grows and grows. From livestock competitions to show-jumping, motocross displays, falconry and so much more, The Royal Cornwall Show also showcases a plethora of Cornish delicacies underneath the huge roof of the Cornwall Food and Farming Pavilion where Cornwall producers both old and new jostle for the attention of visitors and foodies alike. - 7th-8th July 2017 Rock Oyster Festival, Rock
Well-heeled foodies who love champagne, oysters, music and art flock to this popular event every year to celebrate North Cornwall’s foodie talents in a glorious outdoor celebration for all ages. Set on the banks of the Camel estuary near Wadebridge, Rock Oyster Festival is as much of a festival lover’s dream, as a Cornwall lover’s dream; from perfect Porthilly oysters to succulent St Moritz mussels, foodies will adore tasting the gourmet dishes dotted around the festival. They showcase only the finest and most fulfilling fancies from paellas, curries, pulled pork and wood fired pizzas- not a burger in sight. - 29th August 2017 Newlyn Fish Festival, Newlyn Harbour
Visit Newlyn on August bank holiday weekend and celebrate all things fishy in Britain’s premier fishing port. Satisfy your appetite with the best seafood you’re likely to find anywhere and help to raise money for the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. It is a truly incredible experience watching master fishmongers at work in the Cornish Fishermen of the Year competition, and absolutely worth your while. Live cookery demos, fish auctions, live music and puppet shows makes Newlyn Fish Festival one of the best (and oldest) food festivals in Cornwall. - 22-24th Sept 2017 The Great Cornish Food Festival, Truro
In September Truro’s Lemon Quay marketplace transforms into a foodie Mecca where visitors celebrate three days of eating, drinking, shopping and entertainment. Street-food style pop-ups from a selection of Cornwall’s top restaurants (and exciting newcomers) will be serving a taster of their restaurant’s mouth-watering signature dishes. Defo a must-visit! - 13th-16th October 2017 Falmouth Oyster Festival, Falmouth
The beginning of the oyster dredging season is heralded each year with the Falmouth Oyster Festival and celebrates the quality and diversity of the seafood found in abundance here in Cornwall. The main focus is on the oyster fishery in Falmouth itself, one of the few remaining in the country that still dredges traditionally by sail and hand punt. Look forward to oysters, wine, sea shanties, an oyster-shucking competition, shell painting competitions for the kids and so much more. - 1st-4th December 2017 Padstow Christmas Festival, Padstow
Christmas festivals in Cornwall are a popular pastime of winter visitors, with Padstow perhaps being the best. With cookery demonstrations, food, drink, art and even a lantern parade, this bevy of delights on the picturesque Padstow harbourside includes visits and talks from big names in the chef world such as Stein, Outlaw, Ainsworth and Hartnett. One of the UK’s largest *free* food festivals in the UK which foodie aficionados shouldn’t miss. There’s even a firework display and a visit from the big man in red himself, driven through the streets on a traditional horse-drawn carriage. Magical…
To find out availability at either Trevigue B&B or our North Cornwall self-catering cottage so that you can visit your favourite food festival in Cornwall this year, please get in touch so that we can assist.
We can’t wait to offer you the warmest of Cornish welcomes!
