Cornwall becomes a festive wonderland during the holiday season! This is a time when many communities come together around local traditions and plenty of Christmas cheer, making it a special time to stay at our Truro holiday cottages.
If you’re joining us with your little ones this winter, they’ll be very excited for plenty of opportunities to meet Santa Claus during your visit! Check out some of Cornwall’s most popular festive celebrations where Santa regularly makes an appearance.
Falmouth’s Festive Weekend
Location: Falmouth
Dates: 6th – 7th December
Website
Falmouth’s Festive Weekend is something not to be missed. Not only does it feature one of Cornwall’s best Christmas markets, but the whole town gets into the festive spirit! The streets are wonderfully decorated – Falmouth is renowned for its arts scene, after all – while ice skating, curling, live music and more spring up around the town.
For those seeing a very special guest, Santa’s Grotto can be found here on Discovery Quay (TR11 3QY) and is open from 12 PM – 3 PM all weekend.
Father Christmas at the Eden Project
Location: Eden Project, Bodelva, PL24 2SG
Dates: Various from 22nd November – 4th December
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The Eden Project is one of Cornwall’s top attractions, and its Christmas celebrations are just as mesmerising as its world-famous biomes. As well as things like ice skating and Christmas lights, the Eden Project also gets a visit from a very special guest!
The Father Christmas experience at the Eden Project is very immersive, taking around 30 minutes and including storytelling, surprises, and a meeting with the man himself. The experience must be booked in advance and tends to be very popular, so it’s worth booking early!
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Santa by Steam
Location: Bodmin, PL31 1AG
Dates: Weekends in December, plus 22nd – 24th
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Bodmin Railway – not to be confused with the Bodmin Parkway train station – is a popular heritage railway that runs a lot of Christmas events, perfect for families looking for that traditional Christmas cheer.
One of their most popular events is Santa by Steam, a journey where their old-fashioned carriages are filled with festive delights and Santa himself passes through, saying hello to all the children and giving them small gifts!
Plenty of seasonal food and drink is available on the train or back at the station cafe, making this a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit.
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Stories With Santa
Location: Trebah Garden, Falmouth, TR11 5JZ
Dates: 6th – 21st December
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Nothing says Christmastime quite like a warm log cabin and festive fairy tales. This experience takes around 45 minutes and includes Santa’s storytelling, plus the chance to write a letter to Santa and a photo opportunity with the man himself, plus a small gift to cherish.
Tickets to this event also include admission to Trebah, making it a great excuse to explore one of Cornwall’s prettiest gardens.
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Redruth Charity Christmas Grotto
Location: Market Way, Redruth TR15 2AU
Dates: 29th November and 6th December
Redruth’s annual Charity Grotto is a popular yearly tradition loved by local families. This is a great event if you’re looking for that classic Santa experience while also wanting to help a local cause.
Tickets for this Grotto can be purchased online or from Redruth library from mid-November.
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Father Christmas at Heligan
Location: The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St. Austell, PL26 6EN
Dates: Friday to Sunday from 28th November, plus 20th – 24th December
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Another wonderful garden-themed Santa experience can be found at the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Here, the grounds all get swept into the festive spirit, with music, crafts, toasted marshmallows and more. There’s also the chance for children to write letters to Santa before meeting the man himself!
Heligan’s Father Christmas experience runs both during the day and during their night gardens, an experience full of magic to delight all ages.
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Santa’s Grotto at Paradise Park
Location: Paradise Park, Hayle, TR27 4HB
Dates: Weekends from 30th November, plus 22nd – 24th December
Website
The charming Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary is made extra fun during the holiday season thanks to a very special guest! This traditional Santa’s grotto includes a meeting and chat with Santa Claus, a small gift and a photo opportunity. There are also photo opportunities with Santa’s sleigh and a Christmas cracker quiz to enjoy.
You can pay for this experience on the day, but advance booking is recommended to make sure you can get a good time slot.
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This is only a short list of Cornwall Christmas opportunities – there are many more happening locally across the county, so there are plenty of chances to make your winter break extra festive.
