If you’re hoping to start 2019 off with a bang, there’s nowhere better to be than Cornwall. From dramatic firework displays over the beach to sophisticated restaurant soirees, there’s a New Year event in Kernow to suit every taste.
Run up a mountain
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get fitter, there’s no better way to start 2019 than running to the top of Cornwall’s highest point (and back down again). Join hundreds of fellow runners as they battle wind, rain, and ferocious hangovers to conquer Brown Willy and raise money for local charities. Participants meet outside Jamaica Inn at 11am on New Year’s Day. You can find more information on Truro Running Club’s website.
Go to jail
No, we’re not encouraging visitors to antagonise the local police – Bodmin Jail is throwing a New Year’s party. A casino-themed event featuring buffet and disco, revellers are encouraged to dress to impress (think black tie and cocktail dresses). We guarantee none of your friends will be celebrating the New Year in such arresting style. Tickets are £35 per person and can be purchased online.
Join a pagan festival
As part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations throughout Cornwall, townsfolk in Padstow gather on New Year’s Day for Mummers’ Day festivities. Join the masked revellers as they sing and dance through the streets accompanied by accordion music. Wear dark clothing if you want to fit in with the locals – it’s symbolic of winter solstice.
Watch fireworks bursting over a harbour
There are firework displays all over the country, but none of them compare to a Cornish waterfront celebration. Watch a rainbow of colours reflecting in the bay as the picturesque Padstow harbour lights up at the stroke of midnight. Whether you spend the early part of the evening dancing to live music at one of the local pubs, dining at a fancy restaurant, or curled up at home in front of the fireplace, it’s a magical way to see in the New Year.
Party with the whole family
Want to get together for New Years’ but can’t face any of the organising or clearing up? Book a cosy family cottage and make a mini break out of it! The Point at Polzeath has a range of excellent self-catering accommodation that’s minutes away from some of the best coastal walks in Cornwall. Join us in the Restaurant and Bear Bar on New Year’s Eve for a three-course meal followed by DJ Wappo’s fabulous disco. Call us on 01208 864602 or email restaurant@thepointatpolzeath.co.uk to enquire about reservations.
