Falmouth Oyster Fest

A four day celebration of the Native Fal Oyster.

Falmouth Oyster Festival, one of Cornwall’s best-loved specialist food events, is returning to Events Square in Falmouth from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th October 2026. The festival celebrates the native Fal oyster and marks the start of the oyster dredging season, with tickets for the evening headline music sessions on sale now.

Falmouth is one of the only places in the world where native oysters are still harvested by sail and oar. Generations of local oystermen have preserved this time-honoured practice, passing down the skills required to work the tides and winds of the Fal. The method is low-impact, sustainable and environmentally friendly, helping to protect the delicate ecology of the riverbed and the oyster stocks that depend on it.

The festival is free to attend and will once again take place on Events Square in Falmouth. Across the four days, visitors can enjoy free live music, chef demonstrations, talks, market stalls, children’s arts and crafts activities, and the ever-popular Oyster Shucking Competition and Working Boat Race.

In the evenings, ticketed live music sessions bring a further dimension to the celebrations, while the festival draws to a close on Sunday afternoon with the free closing ceremony, featuring the Oggymen.

Kicking off the evening entertainment, Cornwall’s own Falmouth Soul Sensation return for a free-to-attend party on Thursday night. Friday welcomes Mad Dog McRea and their infectious blend of folk rock, gypsy jazz and bluegrass, fresh off the release of a new album. And Saturday sees blues harmonica virtuoso Giles Robson take to the stage with support from Soul/Roots musician Dave Keller. The festival closes in traditional style on Sunday afternoon with the free Closing Ceremony from Falmouth favourites The Oggymen. Tickets for Friday and Saturday are now on sale.