Christmas Lights Switch-on

Bodmin’s Christmas lights switch-on takes place on 28th November and is set to welcome in the festive season with music, entertainment, food and drink, late night shopping and a great atmosphere.

From 4pm in Priory Park, there will be a fun fair until 10pm, plus food stands and market stalls offering sweet treats, winter warmers and plenty of Christmas gifting inspiration. Expect carols from Bodmin Town Band, a magical snow machine, and dance and musical performances across town. Santa’s Sleigh will be outside Boots with Bodmin Lions between 4.30pm and 8pm.

St Petroc’s Christmas Tree Festival

The magical atmosphere of the annual Christmas tree festival at St Petroc’s Church is not to be missed. This year is the 23rd year of the festival, which takes place between Saturday 6th December and Tuesday 30th December, and is a wonderful opportunity to soak up the spirit of Christmas.

Carol Services at St Petroc’s

Sunday 21st Dec, 6pm, Christmas Carol Service

Wednesday 24th Dec, 4pm, Christingle

Wednesday 24th Dec, 11.30pm, Midnight Mass

Bodmin Wassail

Wassailing is an ancient custom believed to have stemmed from Anglo Saxon traditions, with the name, ‘waes hael’, meaning ‘in good health’. Wassailing differs from place to place across the country, though the Bodmin Wassail has remained rooted here for centuries, with the very first mention of the wassail being written into the will of Nicholas Sprey, a former town clerk of Bodmin who died in 1624. The tradition remains to this day. On 6th January each year, a group of local men make their way around Bodmin, singing wassail songs while wearing top hats and tails.

The wassail starts at Shire Hall, where songs are performed for the mayor and town councillors, before the group moves around the town, stopping off at people’s homes, businesses and local pubs. Stories are told, songs sung and food and drink consumed. The wassailers carry a special ceramic bowl, as well as a collection box to raise money for local charities at each stop.

The 402nd Bodmin Wassail will be held on Tuesday, 6th January 2026.  

Pencarrow Snowdrop Weekend

In February, Pencarrow opens its gates to the public for its annual Snowdrop Weekend to welcome the very first signs of spring, while raising money for charity. At this time of year, the grounds of Pencarrow become carpeted with white snowdrops and many more spring flowers are also beginning to make an appearance.

The next Snowdrop Weekend will take place on Saturday and Sunday, 7th and 8th February, where the Pencarrow team will be raising money for Children's Hospice South West and Prickles and Paws Hedgehog Rescue.