St Ives and Other Cornish Food and Drink Festivals 2025
Summer’s almost here, and with it comes that wonderful warm-weather tradition – the food and drink festival. The season kicks off in May here in Cornwall with one of our favourite annual events, the St Ives Food and Drink Festival, and then there is a whole summer of foodie celebrations to enjoy.
As always, the Cornish Escapes team aims to visit as many of these as possible, ready to enjoy the best of Cornish produce. Each festival hosts a fantastic line-up of chefs from Cornwall and beyond hosting food demonstrations, along with workshops for those who like to get stuck in.
You will also find entertainment, traders and family fun at these fabulous Cornish food festivals. Food, drink and music in some of the best settings in Cornwall – the perfect way to spend a weekend
St Ives Food and Drink Festival
Let us take a closer look at our local festival, held in lovely St Ives. First things first: where and when is St Ives Food Festival 2025? The annual party is being held at its usual venue of Porthminster Beach – because how could they possibly improve on such a stunning location?
It’s held over the weekend of 16, 17 and 18 May, with slightly different opening times each day:
Friday: 11.00 am – 11.00 pm
Saturday: 10.00 am – 11.00 pm
Sunday: 10.00 am – 10.00 pm
And the best thing? The daytime festival and entertainment are absolutely free! There’s a charge for the evening Sunset Sessions, but you will make a saving if you buy a combined ticket for all three sessions.
Find out more about the St Ives Food and Drink Festival programme on the event website.
The food…
You will soon be drawn to the heart of the festival by the enticing aromas from the Chef’s Fire Pit. Watch demonstrations from top chefs including Ashley Palmer-Watts from The Devonshire in Soho and Tom Brown from Pearly Queen in Shoreditch. Jude Kereama (Kota Kai) and Porthminster’s own Ben Prior are among the chefs flying the St Piran’s flag for local restaurants. There’ll also be some hands-on sessions, including a foraging workshop. Take a look at the full foodie programme.
…and the drink
Wine expert Elly Owen will be encouraging guests to explore a selection of fine wines and Champagnes at her tasting workshop. If you’re fancying a refreshing beer, make sure you catch the session run by Marco Amura from St Ives Brewery, and we’re very excited by the idea of Connie Glaze’s Spritz Master Class on Saturday. Find out more about the festival master classes.
Music on the Beach
This year, St Ives Food & Drink festival is trying something new – ticketed evening music sessions. The headliners are DJ Normal Jay, folk/blues duo Ferris & Sylvester and Bristol-based hip hop act The Scribes. There is also a strong support line-up, including St Ives’ own Bailey Tomkinson. Do not worry if you cannot stay until the sun sets – there is music on the live stage from midday every day (free to attend).
On the Beach
Head over to the Food Village for a fabulous choice of freshly cooked street food. The Wellness Tent offers everything from ice baths to breathwork workshops – you can book your session on the festival website. Visit the Community Tent to find out more about local charities and projects. Add bars, a great selection of traders and the beautiful beach itself, and you have everything you need for a wonderful weekend in St Ives.
Other Cornish Food Festivals
It’s not just our local food festival that we’re excited about. There are other events held across the county over the next few months, giving you plenty of opportunity to catch at least one of these food-filled celebrations.
Here are a few of the treats in store for 2025.
The New Food Festivals
Great news for food fans – over the last two years, Cornwall has gained an amazing three new food and drink festivals!
Friends Barney Farnworth and Henry James-Mills with backgrounds in events and hospitality respectively, launched the Falmouth Food Festival in 2023, the Penzance Food Festival in 2024 and the Newquay Food Festival this year.
Their aim? To create unique and genuinely local events that celebrate the best of local produce – there is a rule that all the traders must come from within 30km of the host town. As you’d expect from any good Cornish event, music and the arts also feature on the packed programmes. All three events are free to attend.
Falmouth Food Festival
Falmouth always has a lively vibe, and this gets even better when the town hosts one of its many events. The Falmouth Food Festival has already gained a reputation for being one of Cornwall’s must-visit foodie events.
This year, it is held over four days on 23 – 26 May, based in Church Street. Each day runs from 10.00 am until 10.00 pm.
Find out more on the Falmouth Food Festival website.
Newquay Food Festival
A fanfare please, to welcome Cornwall’s newest food festival. We’re really looking forward to our first Newquay Food Festival this July, held in beautiful Killacourt (we’re especially excited to see the fire cooking demonstrations!).
The four-day event runs from 10 – 13 July, from 10.00 am until 9.00 pm each day.
Here’s everything you need to know about the inaugural Newquay Food Festival.
Penzance Food Festival
Enjoy dappled late-summer sunshine under the trees in Penlee Park at this wonderfully laid-back food and drink festival. Now into its second year, Penzance Food Festival combines exceptional culinary offerings with a distinctive West Cornish vibe, adding wellness workshops and live music into the mix.
Penzance Food Festival 2025 runs from 19 – 21 September, from 10.00 am until 8.00 pm each day.
Here’s a bit more about PFF25.
Rock Oyster Festival
Back to a more established event, the much-loved food festival at Rock. It’s evolved over the years to become as much a celebration of music as food, and the headliners for 2025 include Rag’N’Bone Man and UB40 as well as a set from the legendary Ministry of Sound.
Foodies will love the programme of demonstrations, which this year includes John Torode, Jack Stein and Noor Murad.
Rock Oyster Festival is held 24 – 27 July in Dinham House.
For details of the programme, times and how to book, see the festival website.
Truro Food Festival
If you’re planning a trip to Cornwall in September, Truro Food Festival is a definite must-visit, especially if you love street food. The whole place smells amazing and the atmosphere is wonderful. Pop into a pop-up bar and enjoy the free live music that fills the city’s streets.
The festival has grown into a five-day event, running from 24 until 28 September. Opening times vary, so please check the Truro Food Festival website for details.
Book your Cornish break
It is not too late to book your accommodation for these fantastic festivals, even the St Ives Food and Drink Festival 2025. At Cornish Escapes, we have some stunning last-minute holiday accommodation. Take a look at our last-minute luxury holiday lets and book your foodie break in Cornwall.