This year in Cornwall, July is packed full of exciting events, with an assortment of festivals, fairs and fun days out for the family! We take a look at some of the best events taking place near our Truro holiday cottages in July.
Penzance Literary Festival
3rd – 6th July 2019
Penzance Literary Festival celebrates the works of both local authors and nationally acclaimed writers. Over the course of the festival, over 40 authors will be giving talks, in addition to writing workshops, a Publishing Day and an evening to relax with fellow literary lovers and enjoy some Cornish music and culture. This year, award-winning poet Kate Clanchy, acclaimed crime writers John Harvey and Jane Corry and Alan Hollinghurst, the Man Booker prize-winner will all be taking part in the festival. Entry to most events will be £4, but you can find tickets and more information online at the Cornish Riviera Box Office.
Bodmin Riding and Heritage Weekend
5th – 7th July 2019
The Bodmin Riding and Heritage Weekend is now a three-day festivity, this year encompassing a feast day on Friday 5th, a day of dressing up and entertainment on Saturday 6th, before ending with a sports and activities day on Sunday 7th.
The tradition originates from the tale of Mayor Nicolas Bowyer, who was Mayor of Bodmin in the 1500s. He was hung in 1549 for being a part of the Prayer Book Rebellion, but immediately prior to his death unknowingly played host at a big feast for his executioner!
Luckily, there will be no threat of execution at this year’s celebrations, with some fun entertainment put on instead! Now, the main focus of the event is on the Beast of Bodmin, with Saturday afternoon spent trying to capture the Beast! As well as this, there will be dancing, music and Cornish Wrestling to keep you entertained. A great festivity to celebrate the heritage of Bodmin, Sunday will also see a Riding service procession from St Mary’s to St Petroc’s church.
Minecraft Castle Building at Pendennis Castle
6th – 7th July 2019
Fans of Minecraft will love these workshops held at Pendennis Castle. Mixing the ancient with the modern, these popular castle building workshops will show you how to build the most epic Minecraft fortress from the incredible location of a real castle! Led by Blockbusters, attendees will be provided with some pre-built features essential for creating an incredible castle. Booking is essential for this event, as previous events have been oversubscribed. Workshops will be held at 10am, 11.15am, 12.30pm, 2.15pm, 3.30pm and 4.45pm, with each workshop lasting for an hour and 15 minutes. The event costs £12.50, on top of entrance fees to the castle, and the lower age limit is 7 years old.
Stithians Agricultural Show
15th July 2019
Held annually since the 1800s on the Feast Day of St Stythians Church, the Stithians Agricultural Show is the biggest one-day show of its kind in Cornwall. The show originated as a way for competitive locals to see who could grow the best crops and breed the best animals. Today, the show has grown to become a great family day out and attracts thousands of visitors from around Cornwall.
In addition to the agricultural show, which holds over sixty classes of horse displays, the Showground will play host to a fairground, craft and cookery competitions, and a Horticultural marquee filled with impressive blooms. You’ll also find the Taste of Cornwall tent, filled with delicious local food to try. Kids will love watching the dogs attempt the agility trial, as well as getting up close with the rare breeds animals, cute bunnies and other small creatures! Learn all about the heritage of the area, with craftsmen displaying blacksmithing, weaving and beekeeping, amongst other traditional trades.
“Sneaky Finders” Truro Detective Day
20th July 2019
A very exciting event for lovers of Cluedo and mystery, CluedUpp are hosting an outdoor version of the classic game in Truro this July. Working in a team of detectives, you’ll need to track down virtual witnesses and eliminate suspects as you stalk the streets of Truro to crack the case. In this giant game of Cluedo, you’ll be trying to discover who murdered one of the most feared residents of a bustling industrial town in the year 1921!
The event starts between 10am and 1pm and will cost £36 for your whole team (between 2 and 6 adults, children under 16 can play as extra members for free). You’ll need a smartphone to get involved, and this year it is encouraged to wear 1920’s themed fancy dress! Prizes will be awarded for the team who cracks the case the fastest, the best fancy dress, best team name and best team picture, as well as a kids prize, and prize for a participating dog!
Camborne Show
20th July 2019
Providing fun for all the family, the Camborne Show boasts the best of the area’s agriculture. Kids and adults alike will love seeing all of the animals on show here, with cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits and birds being some of the main attractions. Horses also play a big part in the Camborne show, with show jumping displays providing great family entertainment, while little ones will love seeing the miniature and Shetland horses!
Acting as a celebration of Camborne’s rural heritage, you’ll also see displays of vintage cars and tractors, as well as craft and horticultural tents and trade stands. If you want to get involved, you can also enter your family dog into the fun pet dog show! After a break from the excitement of the show? Head to the beer tent to enjoy a refreshing beverage and enjoy the sounds of the local live music. Tickets cost £7.50 for adults, £5 for children aged 10-16, and free for under 10s, with a family ticket of 2 adults and 2 children available for £20.
Boconnoc Steam Fair
26th – 28th July 2019
The annual event, held in the Boconnoc Estate, sees an array of old-fashioned steam engines and vintage vehicles on display. Hosted by the Liskeard Steam and Vintage Club, the event involves a range of full-sized and miniature steam engines, as well as other vintage vehicles, including old tractors, motorcycles, classic cars and military vehicles. Watch parades of vintage vehicles, or get more involved by taking a ride on a steam-hauled trailer around the showground.
As well as the main vehicle displays, you’ll find more model displays in a variety of marquees throughout the showground. You can also browse the craft and trade stalls, before stopping for a refreshing pint of beer at the drinks tent. If you want to spend more time admiring the classic and vintage vehicles, then the kids will be kept entertained at the accompanying fun fair.
If you’re thinking of staying in Cornwall in July, which of these exciting events would you most like to see? We’d love for you to stay at our 5-star cottages here at The Valley, so if you’d like a Cornish getaway, we’re currently offering you a £50 restaurant voucher for our Azura restaurant with bookings made for June and July!