Ideas for a Christmas by the Sea in Cornwall

Festive St Mawes Ferry Header Image: Michael Kelland

How to have a Magical Maritime Christmas in Cornwall

Add a sprinkle of sea salt to your festivities this year. From twinkling harbour lights and coastal carols to seasonal swims and Santa arriving by lifeboat, there’s something wonderfully special about celebrating Christmas by the Cornish sea.

Here are some of our favourite ways to embrace the season in Cornwall:

Falmouth Christmas Lights Switch-On & Parade

Thursday 27 November

Image: Michael Kelland

The official start of Falmouth’s festive season! Join in as the streets come alive with a colourful parade winding through our coastal town. The big switch-on happens at 7pm, with choir performances before and after creating an unforgettable evening of community and festive cheer.

Santa Arrives by Lifeboat in St Ives

Friday 5 December

Watch Father Christmas make a spectacular arrival aboard the RNLI lifeboat as he’s brought ashore to launch St Ives’ festive season, followed by the town centre’s Christmas light switch-on, a maritime twist on a Christmas classic!

o-region’s Nadelik at National Maritime Museum Cornwall – A Family Christmas Show

Sat 20 December – Tues 23 December

Based on Craig Barr-Green’s beloved children’s book A Christmas in Cornwall, this delightful interactive show brings festive magic to life with live music by Matthew Thomason, puppetry, and plenty of seasonal cheer.

The story follows two little girls and their Gran on Christmas Eve as they await their fisherman father, caught in a storm far out at sea. Will he make it home for Christmas? Perhaps—with some extra special help!

Each audience member will need a valid Museum Annual Pass or Membership along with their Nadelik ticket. Make a full day of it and explore the Museum before or after the show and don’t miss our spectacular lobster pot Christmas tree and flying flotilla of illuminated boats.

Book Tickets

Coastal Christmas Markets

Cornwall’s coastal towns transform into festive wonderlands throughout December. Browse beautiful market stalls in harbourside settings like Porthleven, Padstow, and Fowey, where local makers showcase handcrafted gifts and Cornish produce, perfect for finding unique presents with a coastal connection.

Mousehole Harbour Lights

No Cornish Christmas is complete without a visit to Mousehole’s famous harbour lights. Throughout December, this picturesque fishing village twinkles with thousands of lights reflected in the water, a sight that’s enchanted visitors for decades.

Coastal Carols in Falmouth

A tradition stretching back over a century, on Christmas Eve The Cornish Christmas Harmony choir will fill Falmouth’s streets with festive songs, making their way through town before gathering at The Moor around 1pm for a rousing finale.

Christmas Day & Boxing Day Sea Swims

Join the hardy souls who brave the Cornish waters for organised Christmas swims, Santa hats encouraged! Popular dips include Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth, plus Coverack, Sennen, St Agnes, and St Ives. There’s nothing quite like the exhilaration of a festive sea swim.

National Maritime Museum Cornwall Shop

Can’t make it to Cornwall this Christmas? Bring the coast home with gifts from our online shop. Browse our festive gift guides to find the perfect presents for the surfers, sailors, sea swimmers, and salty seadogs in your life, all with a distinctly maritime flavour.

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