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Best Family Beaches in Cornwall

Plan your adventures around these amazing Cornwall music festivals and events!

Here in the sunny South West, we’re so lucky to have so many amazing music festivals in Cornwall on our doorstep!

St Ives is a great base for exploring the whole of Cornwall, being within an hour of most popular attractions and towns.

If you want to get involved in the fun but don’t like the camping, book St Ives accommodation or a Carbis Bay holiday home.

Read on to find a host of music festivals in Cornwall…


Use these quick links to jump to a section:


Eden Sessions

Dates across May, June & July – Bodelva near St Austell

View of the stage at the Eden Project in Bodelva, Cornwall.
Every year the grounds of Eden Project come alive, and we don’t mean the plants!

Some of the world’s biggest acts come to Cornwall’s most popular attraction to stage unforgettable concerts.

This year, fans of Noel Gallagher (15 June), Nine Inch Nails (17 & 18 June), Diana Ross (21 June), Bryan Adams (29 June) and Stereophonics (5 July) can enjoy the magic of Eden.

Find more Eden Sessions information here.

The Great Estate

Thurs 2 – Sun 5 June – Scorrier House

Described as a “rambunctious garden fete”, The Great Estate is a fantastic family music festival in Cornwall, now in its 5th year.

In 2022, its increased capacity of 10,000 guests means it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.

The line-up this year includes Manic Street Preachers, Electric Six and Black Grape.

Running over the 4-day Jubilee weekend, festival-goers can enjoy silent discos, health and wellbeing areas and more.

Find more Great Estate information here.

Live in the Wyldes

Dates across June & July – Week St Mary

Live at The Wyldes is a series of individual concerts held at the beautiful event site, The Wyldes, in Week St Mary.

This year, the line-up of gigs includes Keane (12 June), Pete Tong & The Heritage Orchestra (17 June), McFly (1 July), and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man (2 July).

For more Live in the Wyldes information here.

Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival

Fri 17 – Sat 19 June – Falmouth

Falmouth’s annual Sea Shanty Festival is one of the biggest maritime music festivals in Europe.

There’s hours and hours of free shanty performances to enjoy across a host of stages in Falmouth.

The streets are filled with music, singing and great community spirit at this Cornwall music festival.

Find more Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival info here.

Tunes in the Dunes

Fri 24 – Sun 26 June – Perranporth Beach

Set on the beautiful sands of Perranporth Beach is this amazing music festival in Cornwall.

Tunes in the Dunes enjoys a backdrop of scenic cliffs and undulating sand dunes. Top bands perform just a stone’s throw from the ocean.

2022’s line-up includes Shaggy, The Kooks and Paul Weller. A host of local Cornish acts will support, along with family entertainment, silent discos and DJs.

Find more Tunes in the Dunes info here.

PandaFest

Fri 8 – Sat 9 July – Lanivet, near Bodmin

You might think the name of this Cornwall music festival is a bit odd.

PandaFest takes place in Lanivet, the village famous for growing the bamboo for the pandas in London zoo! Now it all makes sense!

The local pub and the football team are also named after the pandas.

This fantastic festival is all about “showcasing grass roots talent” and providing local artists with a platform.

PandaFest will welcome Tinchy Stryder, Beans on Toast, and Charlie Boon in 2022 among a host of other artists.

Find more PandaFest info here.

Tropical Pressure Festival

Fri 15 – Sun 17 July – Porthtowan

Tropical Pressure Festival is a Cornwall music festival like no other. Celebrating all things Latin American, African and Caribbean, you’ll find a myriad of cultures and sounds here.

Each of the three days is dedicated to a different culture, with a line-up to match.

You’ll dance your socks off, hear soulful happy music and eat delicious food, what’s not to love?

Find more Tropical Pressure info here.

Leopallooza

Fri 22 – Sun 24 July – The Wyldes, Week St Mary

Leopallooza is a multi award-winning, grass roots music festival celebrating new artists and DJs.

The tree-filled Cornish valley location of The Wyldes plays host to this annual Cornwall music event.

Over 100 great acts, free camping, family friendly activities and fairly priced bars are what you can expect.

This year’s line-up includes big names like Metronomy, Sleaford Mods, Lianne La Havas, and The Mysterines.

There’ll also be comedy and family entertainment.

Find more Leopallooza info here.

St Endellion Summer Music Festival

Tues 26 July – Thurs 4 August – St Endellion, near Port Isaac

Taking place every Easter and Summer, the St Endellion Festivals bring together a wide range of musicians.

Enjoy performances of opera, choral, orchestral, chamber and recitals in the intimate setting of St Endellion Church.

For more St Endellion Festival info here.

Boardmasters

Wed 10 – Sun 14 August – Newquay

View of the main stage at Boardmasters, a Cornwall festival at Watergate Bay, Newquay.

Boardmasters; arguably the biggest music festival in Cornwall’s calendar!

This music festival and surfing celebration will take place over 5 days in August in Newquay.

The huge line-up will see George Ezra, Disclosure and Kings of Leon taking the headline slots. Other acts include Tom Grennan, The Wombats, Bombay Bicycle Club and Idles among many more.

View of the crowds, stage tents and the sea in the distance at Boardmasters, a Cornwall festival in Newquay.

It’s not just the music you will look forward too. Avid surfers can get a front seat to the UK’s biggest surf competition, Boardmasters Open.

There’s also a shopping village, The Fistral Surf Village, where you pick up the latest in surf gear, as well as food and drink.

Find more Boardmasters info here.

Cornwall Folk Festival

Fri 26 – Mon 29 August – Wadebridge

Cornwall Folk Festival brings all the best in folk music down to the sunny south west.

This year, there are 12 amazing acts taking to the main stages at the Wadebridge Town Hall and Betjeman Centre.

There will also be a Far Stage and Shanty Street with over 40 bands, acts, shanty singers and dance troupes.

Folk fans can look forward to seeing Dougie Maclean, Merry Huell, O’Hooley & Tidow, and Du Glas.

Find more Cornwall Folk Festival info here.

Bude Jazz Festival

Tues 30 August – Fri 2 September – Bude

Now in its 33rd year, the Bude Jazz Festival is one of the best jazz festivals in the UK. Taking place against the backdrop of the Atlantic Coast, it features Britain’s finest jazz musicians.

Discover music ranging from blues and ragtime to mainstream and bop. There’s an especially rich choice of old-style New Orleans and classic jazz.

There will be several indoor venues all within easy walking distance of each other. Expect a parade and people busking all around town too! The party never stops!

Find more Bude Jazz Festival info here.

Little Orchard Cider & Music Festival

Fri 9 – Sun 11 September – Healey’s Cyder Farm, Penhallow

Set to enjoy its 9th year in 2022, The Little Orchard Cider and Music Festival takes place at Healey’s Cyder Farm in Penhallow.

Featuring a BBC Introducing stage, silent disco, big live bands and of course plenty of ciders!

Bands set to play the Cornish festival include Feeder, Imperial Leisure, Kula Shaker and The Celtic Social Club.

Find more Little Orchard Cider & Music Festival info here.

St Ives September Festival

Sat 10 – Sat 24 September

This annual St Ives event is always very popular and plays host to a wide range of entertainment. The festival not only hosts live music, but also talks, films, theatre, poetry, literature and exhibitions.

St Ives’ streets and venues come alive with activity. Some of the venues include Barbara Hepworth Museum, Boathouse Theatre, Leach Pottery and Porthmeor Print Workshop.

In 2022, folk rock legends Lindisfarne are set to play the opening night. Other artists including Seth Lakeman, Will Keating, and Peggy Seeger are confirmed, among many others!

Find more St Ives September Festival info here.

Looe Live!

Fri 16 – Sun 18 September – Looe

Looe Live is a whole town takeover of arts and music. With a main stage on the beach, and a new beach venue in the festival arena this year, it’s a great way to round off the summer.

There’s a community zone on Buller Quay, family friendly activities and plenty more.

The live music line-up so far includes Lightning Seeds, Reef and Soul II Soul.

Find more Looe Live info here.

Cornwall Rocks

Fri 7 – Sun 9 October – Tencreek Holiday Park, Looe

Another locals favourite celebrating the up and coming bands across the county. Cornwall Rocks is hosted on Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe, but you can purchase tickets without accommodation.

This weekend affair will feature King Creature, Tygers of Pan Tang and Rock Goddess.

Find more Cornwall Rocks info here.


Music lovers can head straight over to our St Ives Lives Music Guide, or if you’re looking for more inspiration, read our list of quirky things to do in Cornwall near St Ives.

Enjoy a Cornwall music festival experience from St Ives with Carbis Bay Holidays.


Image credits: Nat MorrisCC BY 2.0; Raph_PHCC BY 2.0; Raph_PHCC BY 2.0.