Once called The Elephant Fair, the dreamy Port Eliot manor opens its doors to the best family festival this side of Wonkaville. Gavin Turk's House of Fairy Tales is a lawless treat and Caught By The River is also worth a nose.
Fistral Beach is where the action sports take place, including ASP World Tour Surfing. Further along the coast Watergate Bay plays host to the festival. These events are certainly for the young or young at heart, take a look at their Web site for further details and to buy tickets.
Best known as a fishing port, Newlyn comes to life with cookery demonstrations by top local chefs and the Cornish Fishmonger of the Year competition. There are three music stages plus arts, crafts and great kids entertainment so come along and join in the fun.
Many a village has a reading room, but here, words attain greatness. Flop out on the dunes at St Enodoc church where the Poet Laureate rests in peace and listen to his poetry read out loud. The pop of a cork beats the crack of a beer can, so best take wine.
Town smothers itself in bluebells and gorse as adults dress up in top hats and lace gowns and dance with 1,000 children in and out of houses, while dragons wrestle and the town band bellows out that tune that Wogan stole.
Evil giant eats children and is none too pleasant to Mrs Bolster making her carry boulders on her back day and night. He ditches the wife for younger prettier model, Agnes. In an act of love, he sheds his blood, which runs out to sea, saps his soul and so he dies. Still, the lantern workshops, pageant, procession and barbecue should cheer you up.
Dorset's answer to the chilli-eating contest. An argument between two local farmers over who had the longest nettles growing on his land led to this macho test of taste buds. Each June, crowds gather at The Bottle Inn to witness the showdown.
17 wooden barrels are coated in tar, set alight and carted shoulder-high through the streets of the town. Yes, on fire. It's been a tradition since 1605-ish and probably started to brace the town for the imminent invasion of the Spanish Armada.
Pamplona bull running meets Tellytubbies. The blue 'oss and red 'oss are released from their stables and teased around a maypole to the tune of a hypnotic folk song. The town dress in white and the streets go flag crazy on May Day.
A week of all that is Agatha, with events and festivities being held at various venues all along this stretch of coast. Things to do include mystery hunts, shop competitions, boat trips, exhibitions, films, theatre, dining experiences, dances...and all kicked off with a traditional 20s/30s themed fete!
A few years ago, the Classic Cottages team started writing about where we live and why we love it. Over time these have evolved into the Classic Guide.
24 July 2020
Once called The Elephant Fair, the dreamy Port Eliot manor opens its doors to the best family festival this side of Wonkaville. Gavin Turk's House of Fairy Tales is a lawless treat and Caught By The River is also worth a nose.
24 August 2015
Fistral Beach is where the action sports take place, including ASP World Tour Surfing. Further along the coast Watergate Bay plays host to the festival. These events are certainly for the young or young at heart, take a look at their Web site for further details and to buy tickets.
29 May 2014
Best known as a fishing port, Newlyn comes to life with cookery demonstrations by top local chefs and the Cornish Fishmonger of the Year competition. There are three music stages plus arts, crafts and great kids entertainment so come along and join in the fun.
11 April 2012
Many a village has a reading room, but here, words attain greatness. Flop out on the dunes at St Enodoc church where the Poet Laureate rests in peace and listen to his poetry read out loud. The pop of a cork beats the crack of a beer can, so best take wine.
17 March 2011
Town smothers itself in bluebells and gorse as adults dress up in top hats and lace gowns and dance with 1,000 children in and out of houses, while dragons wrestle and the town band bellows out that tune that Wogan stole.
21 January 2011
Evil giant eats children and is none too pleasant to Mrs Bolster making her carry boulders on her back day and night. He ditches the wife for younger prettier model, Agnes. In an act of love, he sheds his blood, which runs out to sea, saps his soul and so he dies. Still, the lantern workshops, pageant, procession and barbecue should cheer you up.
11 January 2011
Dorset's answer to the chilli-eating contest. An argument between two local farmers over who had the longest nettles growing on his land led to this macho test of taste buds. Each June, crowds gather at The Bottle Inn to witness the showdown.
10 January 2011
17 wooden barrels are coated in tar, set alight and carted shoulder-high through the streets of the town. Yes, on fire. It's been a tradition since 1605-ish and probably started to brace the town for the imminent invasion of the Spanish Armada.
Pamplona bull running meets Tellytubbies. The blue 'oss and red 'oss are released from their stables and teased around a maypole to the tune of a hypnotic folk song. The town dress in white and the streets go flag crazy on May Day.
A week of all that is Agatha, with events and festivities being held at various venues all along this stretch of coast. Things to do include mystery hunts, shop competitions, boat trips, exhibitions, films, theatre, dining experiences, dances...and all kicked off with a traditional 20s/30s themed fete!