12 Days of a Cornish Christmas

4

Things to Do This Christmas

1. CHECK OUT A CHRISTMAS PANTO

Christmas isn’t Christmas without a panto. Oh no, it isn’t! Take your pick:

In Truro, Hall For Cornwall presents Cinderella, packed with laugh-out-loud comedy, spectacular dancing, live music and singing - not to mention a large sprinkling of Cornish heart and fairytale magic! Ashley has the voice of an angel, and finds herself swept up as a masked contestant in the local Rock & Rhythm Championships, sharing centre stage with a charming prince. Will her true identity be unmasked? Is this her chance to swap rags for riches? Until January 2. www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

Local company RAMPS’ performs Dick Whittington at the Regal Theatre, Redruth from January 12 to 16. redruth.merlincinemas.co.uk/regal-theatre

2. EXPLORE THE TUNNEL OF LIGHTS

Once used to transport clay to awaiting ships in the village’s harbour, the tunnels beneath Charlestown’s Shipwreck Treasure Museum have been transformed into a polar-themed wonderland. Follow the footsteps of adventurers through a world of ice, encountering shipwrecks frozen in time, glacial waterfalls, giant icebergs and caves, all illuminated with thousands of lights and filled with an arctic soundscape. There will even be “real snow”! Admission includes access to the museum, which boasts over 8,000 treasures. Until Sunday, January 9. Advance booking required. www.shipwreckcharlestown.co.uk

3. BE INSPIRED BY THE TUDORS

Cotehele’s garland has been a Christmas tradition since the Great Hall was first decorated for a 1950s staff celebration. That simple yet beautiful swag used the evergreen shrub pittosporum; the garden team has since upped its game with increasingly stunning displays of dried flowers, all sown and grown in on-site in the Cut Flower Garden. Due to the pressures of the pandemic, this year’s garland will revert to a more modest design reflecting the kissing boughs Tudors brought into their homes in the winter. Until January 2 (closed Christmas and Boxing Day). National Trust entry fee applies.

4. VISIT AN ILLUMINATED GARDEN

See the Lost Gardens of Heligan lit by traditional paraffin lanterns in the shape of flora and fauna: owls, hares, foxgloves, butterflies and robins, and a joyful burst of fuchsias. Friday to Sunday; daily from December 16 to 23 and December 27 to January 2. www.heligan.com Alternatively,

7 8

Do This Christmas

follow a magical lantern procession through Trebah Garden to firelit festivities on the beach. Discover installations created by local artists and schools, and design and build your own lantern (£4pp, pre-booking essential). This is a pilot event exploring the possibility of a winter festival of light from Scilly to the Tamar Valley, giving hope in the dark winter months. December 9 to 11, £8.50 adults, £6.50 children. www.trebahgarden.co.uk

5. SHOP AT A CHRISTMAS MARKET

Truro Farmers Market and Truro BID have joined forces to host a month-long shopping extravaganza on Lemon Quay. The BIG Christmas Market will feature a revolving selection of the finest local food, drink, arts and crafts from local farmers, small food producers and talented craftspeople - all the sights, smells and flavours of a Cornish Christmas. Wednesday to Sunday until December 19; daily from December 20 to 24. More about Truro: page XX.

In south-east Cornwall, Mount Edgcumbe Christmas Fayre returns for its 17th year on December 11 and 12. Right by the sea and overlooking Plymouth Sound, the country park is publicly owned and provides a marvellous setting for a memorable day out all year round. £3 adults, £1 children, parking £1 per car (cash only).

6. MEET SANTA BY STEAM

Bodmin & Wenford Railway’s popular Christmas trains return after a year off. Be greeted by Santa’s elves at Bodmin General before boarding the steam train to Bodmin Parkway. Children will be invited to write their list to Santa before returning to Bodmin General for Christmas-themed activities and the opportunity to meet Santa in his Victorian coach. Each child will receive an age-appropriate gift. Weekends December 4/5 and 11/12, then daily between December 17 and 24. bodminrailway.co.uk

7. FOLLOW A FALMOUTH TRAIL

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall hosts Lanterns and Lights from December 18 to January 2, complete with craft activities, a Star Trail and the Lanterns and Lights exhibition: displays of real and rare nautical lamps and navigation aids where sailors used the stars to guide them home. www.nmmc.co.uk

Follow it up with the Christmas Adventure Quest at Pendennis Castle, Falmouth (weekends until December 19, daily from December 26 to January 2).

9 10

12

Charlestown Harbour's Boxing Day swim, in aid of Sowenna young persons' mental health unit in Bodmin. Sponsorship forms are available by emailing charlestowngigs@gmail.com

8. MOUSEHOLE HARBOUR LIGHTS

Mousehole Harbour Lights will go ahead this year, but to avoid large crowds, the traditional ceremony and Carolaire will be replaced by a “soft switch-on”. Displays in and around the village lit as and when they are ready by mid-December. Fundraising was unable to take place in 2020, so please dig deep and donate online at www.mouseholelights.org.uk

9. CELEBRATE IN STYLE

The Alverton in Truro is pulling out all the stops for the festive period, with festive lunches and afternoon teas served throughout December, special Christmas break offers including Christmas and Boxing Day, a performance by Near-Ta Theatre on December 27. Find out more at thealverton.co.uk

10. MARK THE WINTER SOLSTICE

One of the oldest Cornish midwinter customs takes place in Penzance on December 21, courtesy of the Cornish Culture Association. Highlights include guise dancing, mummers’ plays, the chalking and burning of the Cornish Yule log (the ‘mock’). Family-friendly events take place during the day and early evening, followed by an edgier, adult menu of misrule as the darkness deepens. The main procession leaves Chapel Street at 6pm.

11. SING YOUR HEART OUT

Truro Cathedral is surely the place for a carol service. Look out for A Babe Is Born on December 18, and the traditional Nine Lessons And Carols service in the venue where it began - from 7pm on December 23 and 24, arrive early to get a seat. www. trurocathedral.org.uk Or join the Sterts Singers at their home venue in Upton Cross, near Liskeard for an hour of festive music and carols to put you in the yuletide mood. December 22, 7pm. www.sterts.co.uk

12. GO FOR A FESTIVE WILD SWIM

On Christmas Day or Boxing Day, do as the Cornish do and earn your right to pig out! Seek out a community swim, and remember: leave your wetsuit at home! Traditionally, you can find such events on Christmas Day at Coverack, Gyllyngvase (Falmouth), Trevaunance Cove (St Agnes), Polzeath and Crooklets Beach in Bude; and on Boxing Day in Poldhu, Porthminster (St Ives) and Charlestown. Due to Covid-19, it’s best to check before turning out. Remember to swim with care, and stave off the shivers with a warm drink afterwards.

Carnwear Emma Louise Art Stitch

Carnwear is a knitwear brand embracing traditional artisan skills and smallscale production processes. Carnwear garments and accessories are hand crafted by designer/maker Jessye Boulton, who works from her studio in rural West Corwnall, a few miles away from Penzance. Creating stunning, tactile pieces of knitwear for both men and women, Jessye works on hand operated knitting machinery, using the finest silks, luxurious wools and other natural fibres. The ethos of slow fashion is at the heart of the Carnwear brand, with each item consciousness crafted with longevity in mind. Pictured, and available to shop via www.carnwear.uk are: ‘Haze’ unisex hand warmers - £40, and silk and merino wool ‘Reflections Scarf’ in orange - £82.

Etherington Farm Shop

Emma Louise Art Stitch creates Contemporary Art Cross Stitch Kits , Cornwall Colouring Books , Postcards and Gifts inspired by the Coastal Life and Designed and Manufactured in St Austell, Cornwall. My Bright and Modern Cross Stitch Kits are fun and easy to make projects created from original Art work. They look fab when finished and are available in a variety of sizes from Magnets and bookmark kits to large Wall Art pieces. This year saw the release of my NEW Cornwall Colouring Book which is a quality spiral bound A5 book, this joins my Cornwall Colour in Postcard pack as a mindful stocking filler. You can pick up an original creative gift from my Studio / Shop at 17 Duke Street , St Austell . Open Mon - Fri 9.30-2pm and Saturdays 10-4. I also offer free UK Postage and Gift Wrapped Delivery from my webstore www.emmalouiseartstitch.co.uk

The Grey Lurcher

This Christmas season pop into Etherington’s award winning farm shop, set in the heart of Cornwall, for some tasty seasonal treats and gifts, including handmade hampers. Christmas pre-orders for hampers, fresh local meats prepared by our skilled butchers and locally sourced vegetables and potatoes are now being taken until the 13th December. While you are there at the shop don’t forget to try one of our traditional Cornish pasties all hand made on site. You can’t get fresher than that! For pre-orders please call the farm shop on 01209 899203 or come and visit us at Wheal Rose, Scorrier - just off the A30 at Blackwater, and on the way to Porthtowan Beach. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year from all the team at the Etherington Farm Shop and we look forward to seeing you soon. Etherington’s Farm Shop, Wheal Rose, Scorrier, Redruth, TR16 5DF Tel: 01209 899203 • Opening times: Mon-Sat 8:30am to 5:00pm www.etherington-meats.co.uk Email: shop@etherington-meats.co.uk

Sophie Tilston

Timeless eclectic homeware.

Designed by Sophie Tilston in her Falmouth seaside studio.

For a selction of stylish original designed gifts and homeware items, visit her new shop in Falmouth We have recently become stockists for the fabulous candles and Reed diffusers from the St Mawes Scent Room. Handcrafted in small batches in St Mawes, using the highest quality essential oils these have proved very quickly that they are going to be one of our bestsellers. For a Christmas Scent with a difference try Harbour Lights, a warm zesty fragrance with patchouli cinnamon and clementine. Or try the Coastal Living collection inspired by the Roseland peninsula, Black Rock, Lighthouse and Riviera will certainly remind you of living by the sea. The Grey Lurcher, 20 High Street, Falmouth T: 01326 618240 • www.greylurcherfalmouth.com

St Moritz

Give the gift of St Moritz this season! A St Moritz Hotel gift voucher is the perfect Christmas surprise, a little thank you gift for that someone who has everything or someone just a bit ‘particular’-we all have at least one in our circles!... and let’s face it, it’s definitely better than socks! Take the stress out of late-night shopping and the endless hours of scrolling for the perfect gift and simply give the gift of St Moritz. This is our season, make it YOURS. Hotel, Restaurant or Spa Gift Vouchers. St Moritz Hotel and Spa stmoritzhotel.co.uk • T: +44 (0) 1208 862242