20 Things to do in Cornwall for Easter 2023

The Mad March Hare has nothing on the Easter Bunny in Cornwall as our list of unusual Cornish Easter traditions will show you. 

With plenty of live events, delicious Easter treats and more mainstream celebrations to enjoy in the County too.  We bring you our top 20 suggestions for how to spend your Easter holidays in Cornwall.

1. The Easter Bunny Dog Race

The St Agnes Surf Lifesaving Club are top of the pack of weird and wonderful Easter events not to be missed, with their annual dog races on the beach.Each Easter Sunday, dogs of all shapes and sizes are invited to tear across the sands in pursuit of a giant white Easter Bunny. You can support the dogs or the bunny by placing a bet, enjoy a burger from the BBQ and generally marvel at the madness of this event, with all proceeds supporting the club.  At time of typing 2023 event details have not been published but watch this space!

2. Spring Flower Show

For something a little more serene but bursting with Springtime colour, visit the Wadebridge Showground for the Spring Flower Show.Tipped as the “Chelsea of the South West”, this two-day event on 1st and 2nd of April brings together seasoned professionals and keen amateurs to celebrate in all the colour and beauty of the Spring blooms.

3. The Polperro Wreckers

Take in some traditional Cornish sea shanties with a cold pint of Doom Bar in hand on 5th April at The Ship Inn, Polperro Village, from 9.30pm. This popular male voice choir was formed in 1923 and has been performing traditional Cornish and choral music ever since.Get there early and enjoy a lovely meal from the Ship and a choice of cask ales.

4. Easter Crafts

Take the family along to Wheal Martyn Clay Works on the outskirts of St. Austell this Easter an join in the creative Easter fun.  Based within two Victorian china clay works, the museum will give you an insight into this important Cornish industry and the people who worked and lived around Cornwall’s “white pyramids.  Over Easter you can also take part in painting and crafting, making a memento to take away with you from 3rd – 13th April.

6. Easter Beach Clean

It is estimated that UK households throw away a staggering 100 billion pieces of plastic packaging a year, averaging 66 items per household per week[1] and unfortunately much plastic waste ends up washed up on our beautiful beaches. Join the Looe Marine Conservation Group on 8th April to help give Seaton Beach a Spring Clean.  All kit will be provided and it is completely free to join in and take part, although donations to the Group are very welcome.

7. Dolly Dunking

A Good Friday tradition which has been revived in more recent years by the Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network.  Dollies are baptised in the magical waters of Fenton Bebibell near Morvah, a name which means “Well of the Little People” and is purported to have magical powers.  Take your dolly along or just watch the fun from afar.

9. Walk it Off

The other activity traditionally enjoyed in Cornwall on Good Friday was a good walk, which is perfect after all that feasting!  Find some of the best walks with lots of information to tell you about the sights along the way with the excellent I Walk Cornwall App 

10. Seek out Easter Fun with the National Trust

The many beautiful Cornish National Trust sites will celebrate Easter with Easter Egg hunts and other activities.  Why not discover Lanhydrock where they will have face painting, a House of Games and an egg unt through the adventure garden trail. 

11. Easter Rockpool Ramble

Learn about some of our resident sea creatures in this informative and free event, hosted by Looe Marine Conservation Group at Hannafore Beach.  Held on 7th April, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the local fauna.  Donations to support the work of  the group are encouraged. 

12. Local Delicacies

Move over pasties and scones, Easter is the time for the Saffron Bun to prevail!  Traditionally the Revel bun would have been eaten at Church events such as Easter and is delicious smothered in butter or clotted cream!  Find saffron buns at the Quay Bakery in Fowey or Martin’s Dairy in Looe, which also sells its own clotted cream. 

13. Collecting Cockles

Visit the stunning Helford River on Good Friday for our next Easter tradition of Trigging. Low tide will see local people scouring the riverbanks for cockles to take home for tea. Ancient laws, which are useful today for conservation purposes, state that trigging at Helford is only permissible on one day of the year, which falls on Good Friday, just in time to add this delicious ingredient to the feasting menu!

15. St Endellion Easter Festival

The St Endellion Easter Festival runs from 8th – 16th April and incorporates a chance to take in some beautiful classical music performances in the stunning St Endellion Church.  Chamber music, candlelit concerts or contemporary music and literary lunctime events are also offered across the course of the programme.  The opening festival event “Come and Sing” is a chance to join in the music for yourself, and one not to be missed. 

16. Easter at Eden

The infamous Eden Project will be celebrating the Spring growing season from 1 – 16th April with family friendly games and activities themed around growing our way to a healthier planet.  Enjoy the allotment putting course, hunt for beneficial bugs and let loose on the giant pollen slingshot.

17. Family fun at the Minack

One of the most magical experiences the county has to offer is taking in a performance at the unique cliffside setting of the Minack theatre.  This Easter you can enjoy a family performance telling the story the local legend of Cormoran, the terrible giant of St. Micahel's Mount.

18. Wish Mariners Well with a Model Sailing Boat

Join the local community of St. Ives on Good Friday as they launch model boats onto Consols Pond, honouring a 100 year tradition which started in the harbour, where fisherman and children would launch model boats to wish the local seafarers a safe journey.

20. A Traditional Easter Sunday

If you are looking for a traditional Easter Sunday of a morning Church service, followed by a Sunday Roast, you will find lots of local villages that that will welcome you amongst the congregation.  Nearby Pelynt would be ideal for both, with a service at Pelynt: St Nun and a traditional Sunday dinner with all the trimmings at the Jubilee Inn.

Ready to join in the Easter fun?  Book your holiday lodge with Charteroak® today

[1] https://www.statista.com/topics/4918/plastic-waste-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20UK,were%20generated%20in%20the%20UK.