Top Picks
Cornwall Lights Up this Christmas
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light...
This year there are some stunning illuminations taking place all across Cornwall. Wrap up warm with a hot drink in hand and enjoy the delights of these wintery wonderlands, created through special effects, projections, lanterns, fairy lights and laser shows! From Eden to Trelissick, Mount Edgcumbe to Tate St Ives, find out how our favourite venues are decking out the sparkles this year for an extra special festive experience.
For Christmas light switch on events please see our other feature here.
1. Truro City of Lights
Wednesday 20th November, 2019
Truro Town Centre
The City of Lights procession includes music, dance, lanterns made by schools and community groups, and of course, the giant artist made lanterns. These large lanterns are created each year inspired by the year’s theme “Under the Clock Tower”. There is plenty of room for exploration and imagination, past lanterns have included a rhino, a giraffe, a squid, the Kings and Queens of England, local historical figures such as Joseph Emedy, as well as Elvis!
2. Bodmin Lights Up!
Fri 29th November, 2019
The Old Library, Bodmin
The spectacular Bodmin Lights Up! returns to Bodmin on Friday 29th November with a whole host of festive activities from the incredible clock tower projection, to Santa’s grotto and carols on Mount Folly. Bodmin Christmas Lights Committee are again working with intoBodmin to build on the success of last year’s event. intoBodmin are excited to announce they’ll be working with the international video mapping company The Colour Project again, as well as local primary school children on a brand-new projection lightshow.
3. Festival of Christmas
Sat 30th November – Mon 30th December, 2019
Eden Project, St Austell
Enjoy enchanting performances in Eden’s twinkly outdoor music pavilion this December. Then wander through their spectacular Avenue of Lights before exploring the beautifully lit Biomes after dark. Discover exquisitely constructed willow lanterns and meet a cast of Christmas characters and magical creatures. Plus, throughout the day take part in a range of creative Christmas crafting activities.
4. In Colour
From Sat 30th November, 2019
Tate St Ives, St Ives
Be the first to see In Colour at Tate St Ives, a new interactive light installation by artist Peter Hudson that will illuminate the building. Immerse yourself in coloured light selected by visitors’ interactions.
5. Celebrating Light & Clay
Thu 5th — Sat 7th December, 2019
Wheal Martyn, St Austell
China clay mining has transformed St Austell’s landscape dramatically over time. Immerse yourself in Cornish china clay heritage and explore this transformative effect as the Wheal Martyn clay pit, woodlands and trails undergo a very special transformation of their own. Working in partnership with Greenwave Laser, Wheal Martyn are holding a three day event including stunning laser show performances projected onto the clay pit, and immersive light trails, leading into a Woodland Wonderland UV experience.
6. Festive Magic at Trelissick
Fri 6th – Tue 31st December, 2019
National Trust Trelissick, Feock
See Trelissick in a new light as it becomes an illuminated wonderland. After you’ve wound your way through the garden you’ll need warming up, so why not head to the house where the fire will be roaring to bring feeling back those chilly toes. Friday 6 to Sunday 8 December and daily from Friday 13 to Monday 23 December, 4pm to 7pm. Don’t forget the illuminations continue after Christmas from Friday 27 to Tuesday 31 December.
7. Festive Light Tunnel
Sat 7th – Mon 23rd December, 2019
Shipwreck Museum, Charlestown
Work is under way to illuminate the tunnels below Charlestown’s Shipwreck Treasure Museum to create the UK’s longest festive light tunnel this Christmas. Over 100 metres of passageways beneath the Cornish maritime heritage museum will be lit up to celebrate the festive season. With 3.7 kilometers of cabling and 36,000 lights adorning the subterranean walls, still coated in the historic China Clay which was once exported around the world from the harbour, the decoration will be finished in time for the launch of the Santa experience next month.
Children and their families will be able to descend into the enchantingly lit tunnels before meeting Alabaster Snowball the elf and discovering Santa Claus in his underground grotto this December.
8. Wonder Nights
Thu 12th December, 2019 – Sun 5th January, 2020
Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, Torpoint
Discover a landscape of incredible light shows, illuminated gardens and a whole host of seasonal food and drink in one of Cornwall’s most beautiful places.
Start your evening exploration indoors with an explosive special-effects experience. Step into Enchantia and see a beautiful grove adorned with magical critters, Christmas trees, over 25,000 fairy lights and the soothing sounds of a garden alive with life. Be dazzled in an all new night-time spectacular, Finding Wonderland! Discover a spectacle like no other as you’re surrounded by an unforgettable kaleidoscope of colourful light effects and a custom soundtrack overflowing with emotion that will leave you in awe. All this and more at Mount Edgecumbe this Christmas.
9. Heligan by Night
Thu 19th December 2019 – Sat 4th January 2020
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St Austell
This December and January, internationally renowned light artist Ulf Pedersen returns to The Lost Gardens of Heligan to reveal the night time magic of Heligan’s historic plantings.
Ulf has worked closely with the team at Heligan to create a unique selection of thought provoking projections that will come to life across the hedges and walls of Heligan’s historic landscape. Capturing the joyous occasion of the pineapple harvest and the activity of Heligan’s native black bees amongst other garden moments, the projections are set to bring the working garden to life at night.
10. Lanterns and Lights
Sat 21st December — Sun 5th January, 2020
National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth
Festive fun for the whole family – from merry Make and Takes to glistening light trails, Christmas at the Museum takes on the theme of Lanterns and Lights with a nautical twist.
Decked in festive lights Daisy Belle, a traditional Cornish wooden dinghy, takes on the role of the magnificent Christmas tree as she welcomes visitors into the Museum. The specially commissioned paper Packet Ship lantern joins Falmouth’s Christmas Light switch on parade before returning home to the Museum to join the flying flotilla in the Main Hall. Under the warm glow of the paper Packet Ship, glistening lights inspire pre-Christmas workshops as visitors make macramé lanterns for the festive season. After Christmas, take part in a light installation to create a platoon of lit paper boats to display in the Main Hall.