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15 family fun events in Cornwall this summer!
Summer is in full swing! Read on to find loads of things to do with your family in Cornwall this summer, from theatre and art workshops to fairgrounds and summer fetes.
1. Science Adventures: The Power Pickle
Tues 24th Aug, 2021
AMATA, Penryn
Prepare to travel to the deepest depths, and soar to the highest heights! Coppice Theatre’s new family-friendly show The Power Pickle incorporates storytelling, puppetry and music to explore science with fun adventure stories.
You can watch The Power Pickle at the Edinburgh Fringe Digital Showcase at AMATA or from the comfort of your own sofa.
2. Family ‘Forest School’ Activities
Mon 16th Aug, 2021
Wheal Martyn, St Austell
Join Choose Nature CIC this summer in the woods at Wheal Martyn for a variety of taster Forest School outdoor activities to enjoy as a family, such as scavenger hunts, Cornish piskie den building, campfire cooking and nature crafts. This is a drop-in event, so there is no need to book.
3. Circus Around and About
Sat 14th Aug, 2021
Chyan Big Top Dome, Penryn
Circus Around & About is bringing extraordinary, family-friendly circus to Chyan Big Top Dome.
Tilly Lee Kronick uses technical static trapeze, contemporary dance and original text to unpeel stereotypes that people wrap around women’s bodies in her show Ripe.
Moroccan based Company Zid is at the crossroads between parkour and circus. Watch Routine, their physically dynamic comedy about boredom with a twist of hope.
4. DadFest
Fri 20th – Sun 22nd Aug, 2021
Via Ferrata Cornwall Goodygrane Activity Centre, Penryn
After being cooped up for so long what better way to stretch your legs than coming to the only festival in the country just for dads and their children?
DadFest Cornwall is a small festival with a focus on fun, outdoor activities that dads and male carers can do with their kids. This year please join Dangerous Dads and Via Ferrata Cornwall for a weekend of fun, sun, and dad dancing…
5. Butterfly House
Until 30th Nov, 2021
Guys Butterfly House, Marazion
See beautiful butterflies flying freely at Guys Butterfly House near Penzance, where you’ll find species from South America, Asia, Africa, and around the world. You and your family can also learn about these amazing insects from egg to caterpillar to butterfly in an educational but very fun day out.
6. Creative Collage Workshops
Wed 25th & 26th Aug, 2021
Wheal Martyn, St Austell
Let your imagination run wild as you create fantasy worlds for mythical creatures!
Join artist Axenia Raule for two-hour creative workshops for families, using clay and mixed media materials including paper and paint.
7. John Hegley: Drawings of Dromadaires (& Other Creatures)
Fri 17th Sept, 2021
SproutSpoken, Newquay
Watch the much-loved John Hedley’s family spoken-word show, Drawings of Dromadaires (& Other Creatures). Perfect for the whole family, and sure to be full of laughter and offbeat wordplay.
8. Flambards Fireworks Spectacular
Until 25th Aug, 2021
Flambards, Helston
Watch the sky light up above Flambards Theme Park with the Fireworks Spectaculars! Enjoy a full day out at Flambards, with rides and attractions for all the family from 10am and stay for the firework display in the evening.
You can bring a picnic or enjoy hot and cold food in the Village Cafe or Ferdi’s Burger Bar. Head over to the stage area and enjoy the evening entertainment from fantastic local bands The Qwest, Shameless and The Electric Bandits.
9. Great British Summer Fete
Sun 22nd Aug, 2021
Mount Edgcumbe, Torpoint
Turn back the clock and enjoy British tradition at its best at the Summer Fete at Mount Edgcumbe Country Park
Families will have a wonderful time with the bouncy castle, circus workshops, Punch & Judy Show, bubble football, traditional games and lots more! There will also be entertainment and performances, with great live music from the local band Girl Friday and the Cornwall Rock Choir.
10. Beach Art Explorers
Until Fri 27th Aug, 2021
Tate St Ives, St Ives
Every Wednesday and Friday until the 24th of August, join Tate St Ives as they make art outdoors inspired by the wonderful artists and magical stories of Porthmeor Beach. A great opportunity for them to explore the beach and get creative, and perfect for children between the ages of 5-12
11. The Greenhouse
Thur 2nd & Fri 3rd Sept, 2021
Trebah Garden, Falmouth
Join Peppina Pimpernell and Benno the gardener on the magical journey into the senses of plants. Using dance, spoken word, science and installation, the two performers introduce their young audience to basic plant biology, exploring some of the wonderful things that plants are capable of doing.
The show is designed to spark children’s imagination, awakening sensitivity and empathy to plants and their senses.
12. Bodmin Keep Summer Activities
Until Sat 28th Aug, 2021
Bodmin Keep, Bodmin
Bodmin Keep has a fantastic line-up of exhibitions, displays and family activities for you this summer! Their museum is jam-packed with fascinating artefacts and history, covering centuries of social history, war and soldiers’ stories. They even have uniforms to try on, a World War One trench to explore and objects to touch and feel.
13. Enchantment 2021
Fri 20th – Sun 22nd Aug, 2021
Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge
Visit the fun-filled Enchantment Festival at the Royal Cornwall Showground, where you’ll find fairground rides, a fantasy cosplay zone, airsoft range, magic shows and even baby dragons! As well as shopping stalls, various food and drink vendors and live performances from bands and musicians.
14. Make a mini-etching! Free Family Learning
Wed 1st Sept, 2021
Kresen Kernow, Redruth
Join Melanie Young for a free family learning workshop where you and your family can learn how to make a mini-etching, inspired by the medieval manuscripts in the Out of the Ordinary exhibition.
This is a great opportunity to get creative as a family and learn something new!
15. BERT, acrobatics and circus show.
Sat 28th & Sun 29th Aug, 2021
Ebbingford Manor, Bude
Pokya Entertainment presents ‘BERT’, their new circus show which knows no bounds. Immerse yourself in a world filled with breathtaking acrobatics and aerial, innovatively used to tell Bert’s comical story of trouble, triumph and maybe true love…
