Behind the big names, Cornwall's festival calendar is really built on its communities. Feast weeks, calendar customs and volunteer-run celebrations hold towns and villages together across the county, and many go back generations.
Feast weeks and carnivals
The old feast weeks still bring whole towns out, from Mevagissey Feast Week to the St Austell Torchlight Carnival. Village festivals like Lafrowda in St Just put community art and performance front and centre.
Keeping the customs alive
Cornwall's community spirit shows most in the customs it refuses to let go. Helston Flora Day, the Padstow 'Obby 'Oss and the harvest custom of Crying the Neck are run by and for local people, not for visitors, which is exactly why they are worth seeing.
Pride and the modern community
The county's community festivals keep growing too: Cornwall Pride celebrates across the county each summer, and heritage days like Trevithick Day and Murdoch Day keep Cornwall's industrial story alive.