On Friday 8th December 2023, visitors can enjoy a whole host of community-focused events including festive Lantern Parade, Fireworks and Carols.
Taking place between the 7th-10th December, perhaps the most heartwarming element of the Padstow Christmas Festival is the Friday of the Festival, which shines a spotlight on the local community, showcasing the spirit of Christmas through a series of magical events.
As one of the UK’s most loved Christmas Festivals, we are expecting around 50,000 people to join us in Padstow for what is going to be a long weekend of fun and foodie-filled delight. It’s the Festival’s Friday however, that brings the most joy, when we unite and celebrate the town’s many wonderful people. Every year, we dedicate the whole day and evening to our joyful local events to recognise the many groups and members in our community without whom, we wouldn’t be able to showcase such a remarkable Festival.
A particular highlight is the children’s Lantern Parade which is organised by Emma Scott from Mellingey Mill Willow Craft Centre. Freely dedicating her time to help the local children, Emma works with various primary schools in Padstow to support the creation of lanterns, which are paraded through the town during the evening.
“It’s always such a privilege to work with local children to help them create our festive lanterns, which see the beautiful streets of Padstow lit with twinkling lights in procession – it really is a magical Christmas spectacle” commented Emma. “The parade will see all the local schools taking part, starting at 6pm, followed by a firework display.”
Our annual fireworks are set to be the most spectacular yet, lighting up the skies above Padstow harbour at 8pm on Friday. We are advising visitors to arrive a little earlier to find a good viewing spot, as it’s always such a special evening with locals and visitors alike coming together to celebrate this extraordinary town, and its even more extraordinary community. We will also be welcoming Father Christmas who will be arriving on the Newquay land train!
Of course, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Carols, so wine merchant BinTwo will be hosting its popular Carol Singing event at 7pm on Friday 8th, inviting guests to congregate for mince pies, festive tipples, singing and a heartwarming atmosphere. In addition, Friday will see the festival holding late-night shopping in the Christmas market marquee, with a number of shops outside the festival also taking part, opening until 8pm.
We have lots of amazing, independent shops and businesses in Padstow which are well worth a visit during the festival, and many will be holding special events. Our special community-focused Friday will also see a Window Dressing Competition with shop owners decorating their stores as they compete to win the award for best dressed festive window. It’s our aim to bring together the whole town in a very special celebration of community and Christmas!
Mike Boyne, Owner of BinTwo, said “The Padstow Christmas Festival really is a highlight of the calendar and Friday nights’ activities are always a favourite. To welcome so many familiar and new faces for an evening of Christmas Carols and merriment is fantastic, and it always kick-starts what is a wonderful weekend of festivities.”
With the likes of acclaimed chef royalty Rick Stein, Emily Scott, Paul Ainsworth, Rick Toogood and Valentine Warner showcasing their skills in the Sharp’s Chefs Theatre, alongside an array of other leading culinary talent, we are very proud to be able to offer tickets at only £5 per day for the demos, with general admissions tickets free throughout the Festival.
As a not-for-profit event, the Padstow Christmas Festival is run by volunteers and continues to be financed by sponsorship, plus revenue raised from events held during the Festival.
We have such a wonderful community here in Padstow and we love to see both our locals and visitors from far and wide coming together to support this very special Festival. We can’t wait for it to begin! All eyes will be on Padstow this December!