Our Favourite Cornish Christmas Markets To Visit In 2024
As the festive season approaches and Christmas gift shopping begins, the makers and creatives of Cornwall are busy preparing to showcase their handmade and artisan gifts at Cornwall’s best winter markets and fairs. Whether you’re looking for a fun and festive day out with the family or a cosy shopping evening with friends, there's no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than visiting Cornwall’s pop-up markets and fairs. We’ve put together this handy guide so you can plan your winter weekends to include all the must-visit Christmas markets of 2024 and get involved with all the festivities Cornwall has to offer.
Maker’s Cornwall Christmas Fair
When? Friday 8th November from 6pm - 9pm, and continues Saturday 9th (10am - 4pm) to Sunday 10th November (10am - 3pm)
Where? Penryn Campus Sports Hall, Penryn
Cornwall’s festive market season starts with the hugely popular Makers Cornwall fair, giving you the perfect opportunity to start your Christmas shopping early with thoughtful, creative gifts from over 70 artists, designers and makers. Visitors to Friday’s opening night can enjoy cocktails and live music while browsing the stalls, with festive drinks and delicious street food from local vendors available all weekend.
This event is free to enter, and easily accessible by public transport. Find out more information at www.makerscornwall.co.uk/the-details.
Healey’s Christmas Markets
When? Every weekend from Saturday 9th November to Sunday 15th December
Where? Healey's Cornish Cyder Farm
Found between Truro and Perranporth, Healy’s Cornish Cyder Farm will be hosting a series of markets across six weekends in the run up to Christmas. Their famous cyder farm will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland where you can enjoy mulled drinks by the fire, feast on hearty seasonal food and browse the stalls of local produce and gifts by Cornish makers. There are often activities to entertain little ones too, including story time and workshops, and don’t forget to say help to the resident pigs, donkeys and goats while you’re there.
Entry to the Cornish Cyder Farm and the Christmas markets is free, but you can book extra activities such as guided tours, vintage tractor rides and tasting experiences online.
Find more information and book your extra activities on their website: www.healeyscyder.co.uk/events/view/healeys-christmas-markets
Truro Christmas Market
When? Every day from Friday 22nd November to Christmas Eve
Where? Lemon Quay, Truro
The traditional wooden Christmas cabins are returning to Truro again this year, transforming Lemon Quay into a cosy Christmassy village to celebrate the best of Cornwall’s creative talent. Running 7 days a week from the 22nd of November to the 24th of December, visitors can stroll between the stalls, sip on mulled wine, enjoy live music and shop for unique gifts and winter treats. Find opening times and more on their website: www.trurochristmas.co.uk
The Cornwall Shop Small market will also be popping up on nearby Boscawen Street every Wednesday and Saturday from the 23rd of November, perfect for those looking to maximise their Christmas shopping opportunities. Visit by day or soak up the atmosphere in the cosy festive evenings by visiting on Truro's late night shopping Wednesdays. Learn more about Cornwall Shop Small's Boscawen Christmas Market here: www.cornwallshopsmall.co.uk/christmas-boscawen-street
These street markets can be both found in the Truro city centre, easily accessible by train and bus and completely free to enter. While you’re in town, don’t forget to pay a visit to some of the independent high street shops too — we'd especially recommend Uneeka and Inhabit for unique gifts and cards.
Bedruthan Christmas Fayre
When? Saturday 23rd to Sunday 24th November, 10am - 4pm
Where? Bedruthan Hotel, Mawgan Porth
Bedruthan Hotel's annual Christmas Fayre is back with an impressive lineup of talented artists, makers and traders from across the South West. With everything from art and illustration to textiles and homewares, choose thoughtful gifts for friends and family while enjoying the carol singers, indulging in treats from the bakery and soaking up the festive atmosphere. If you’re attending the event with little ones there are several Christmas craft drop-in sessions to get involved with, including card making, biscuit decorating, and a post box to send letters to Santa.
Tickets for the Bedruthan Christmas Fayre are £2 and can be purchased online. Parking at the hotel is limited but your ticket includes a shuttle bus from the local town. Find more information and book your ticket here: www.bedruthan.com/events/christmas-fayre
Cornwall Christmas Fair at The Eden Project
When? Wednesday 27th November to Thursday 28th November
Where? The Eden Project, St Austell
Raising funds to support community and grassroots organisations through the Cornwall Community Fund, the Eden Project's Cornwall Christmas Fair promises to a vibrant, festive event. This year's lineup of stallholders will be setting up in the Eden Kitchen between the two biomes, showcasing everything from expertly crafted homewares, handmade jewellery, ceramics, skin care and even ethically made pet products. Artisanal food and drink will be available in the Cornwall Bakery Food Hall too, with stalls from popular local businesses and traders from further afar, all offering delicious gifts for the foodie in your life.
The fair opens with a preview evening on Wednesday 27th November with Porthilly cocktail hour from 5pm, a live performance from Cornish singer Tom Cary and dinner. The fair continues throughout the day on Thursday 28th November, with admission to the Eden Project biomes and lunch included in the price of your ticket.
Pre-booking your tickets online is essential for this event — find out more here: www.cornwallchristmasfair.com
Fowey Christmas Market
When? Friday 22nd November from 5:30pm - 8:30pm and continues Saturday 23rd November (10am - 5:30pm) and Sunday 24th November (10am - 4pm)
Where? Fowey Town Quay, Albert Quay & Webb Street
The iconic Fowey Christmas market welcomes thousands of visitors to the quaint seaside town every year, and 2024 will be no different. As well as stalls from a almost 100 makers and small businesses, this festival-style celebration will include performances in the entertainer’s gazebo and a carol sing-a-long in the churchyard while elf stilt walkers and living statues add to the spectacle. Friday night will see Santa arriving to lead the Fowey Town Band parade and the big light switch on - this market is not one to be missed!
This event is free to visit and more information can be found here: www.foweychristmasmarket.co.uk
Falmouth Festive Weekend
When? Saturday 7th December to Sunday 8th December
Where? Falmouth Town, from the Moor to Events Square
We might be biased but Falmouth’s Festive Weekend looks like it might be the most magical event of the season! Falmouth's high street will be transformed into a winter wonderland with the use of snow machines, festive activities, stalls and decorations all through the town. Take family photos in the giant snow globe and have a go on the vintage children’s rides on the Moor, before taking a trip on the land train to Events Square to try ice skating and curling. Falmouth Art Gallery will be offering a day of free card workshops on the Saturday while the National Maritime Museum will be free to enter all weekend. Even Father Christmas himself will be making a trip to Falmouth to join in with the festivities!
There will be plenty of opportunity to find thoughtful gifts for all of your favourite people too, with markets popping up on the Moor, Events Square, and at the Poly. Falmouth high street is also home to an array of independent shops and boutiques that are well worth a visit — and we'll be open all weekend too, so don't forget to visit us for the perfect gifts for the artists and creatives in your life!
Walking through the snowy streets, enjoying the live music and visiting the markets is free, while activities like curling, ice skating and Santa’s grotto cost £1 - £2. Find more information and a timetable of events here: www.falmouth.co.uk/falmouth-events/falmouths-festive-weekend
Cornwall Christmas Market at Wadebridge
When? Friday 13th December from 5:30pm - 9:30pm, continues Saturday 14th December (10am - 8:30pm) and Sunday 15th December (10am - 4pm)
Where? Royal Cornwall Showground Exhibition Hall, Wadebridge
Over 120 independent traders and local businesses will be popping up at the Royal Cornwall Showground in Wadebridge for an unmissable festive experience. Browse the stalls of beautifully crafted jewellery, bespoke pottery and homewares for one-of-a-kind gifts and treat yourself to seasonal bakes, tasty street food or a hearty hog roast. Say hello to Santa Claus and his magical reindeer before their big Christmas Eve trip, watch carol singers and well known Cornish artists perform or take a festive family photo in front of the giant glittering Christmas tree.
Read more about the event and book tickets online here: www.cornwallchristmasmarket.co.uk
This list covers the biggest winter fairs and festivals in Cornwall, but there are also a few events local to Falmouth that we think you might love too.
Swanpool Events will be running their creative Christmas fair in the historic Falmouth Hotel on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th of November, with a lineup of wonderful exhibitors and beautiful sea views. Princess Pavilion is hosting a Youth Christmas Makers Market on Tuesday November 26th with stalls of handmade goods by local youngsters aged 4-16 and, one of our favourites, Falmouth's Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary will be hosting their Winter Fayre on the 23rd November, giving you a chance to meet and support their beautiful resident donkeys with festive activities, creative stalls, a cake sale and raffle.
We hope this guide helps make your Christmas shopping a little more joyful this holiday season — let us know which Christmas events you attended or if we've missed up on Instagram @saltartsupply
