The yearly Falmouth Book festival has arrived in Cornwall. It is said that the festival is one of the most exciting most book events in Cornwall, bringing renowned writers together to celebrate the wonders that are literature, storytelling and the spoken word. Falmouth Book Festival caters to people of all ages. There is always something for everyone taking place over the course of seven days, from interactive workshops to authors in conversation and children’s events.
Over the years, the festival has grown, bringing more and more recognisable names to Falmouth. The festival first began in 2021 and was considered successful, leading to its organisers cementing it for the years to follow.
The line-up for the festival this year consists of many well renowned authors and creative minds. Val McDermid took centre stage at The Poly situated in the heart of Falmouth’s bustling high street, on the 15th of October. Val McDermid is a number one bestselling crime writer with novels that have been translated into forty languages and sold over nineteen million copies worldwide. She has won many awards, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. Alongside Val McDermid, authors who contributed to a recently published book named the 13 Cornish Ghost Stories gathered at The Poly. They discussed their collection of stories which explore the many myths, tales and legends of Cornwall, and the rich folklore that surrounds the beautiful landscapes as well as the inspirations behind their work. Other big names speaking at the festival include, chef Rick Stein, The Times rock critic Will Hodgkinson and author and comedian David Baddiel.
Through bringing people together to share stories and ideas, the Book Festival strengthens the creative hub of Falmouth.
Cornwall is home to festivals of all kind. Music festivals, food and drink festivals, art festivals, children’s festivals and much more take place within the heart of Cornwall’s communities. These are essential for bringing income into Cornwall as well as putting it on the map as a place that is filled with constant abundance. When out of season, Cornwall faces challenges. People flock to the coast during the summer months and pour their money into the hospitality and events that attract tourists. However, when the days become darker and rain becomes more regular many establishments close up their windows due to the lack of income and business. Having out of season festivals such as the Falmouth Book Festival allows for Cornwall to keep on moving and not suddenly have a halt put on its communities and events.
The Falmouth Sea Shanty and Beer Festival Survived whilst the Oyster Festival was cancelled
The Falmouth Oyster Festival 2024 was meant to take place in the month of October. However it was cancelled due being no longer financially viable because of rising costs. The festival was extremely popular and sold many tickets with people looking forward to the good food and live music. In a recent BBC article, Mike Rangecroft, the festivals chairman stated, “It is disappointing the festival will not go ahead but the rising costs of running the festival have made it difficult to deliver the event in the way everyone is accustomed to.” This shows the hardship that comes alongside the entertainment and hospitality industry in Cornwall.
Cornwall welcomes in all sorts of creativity and through events such as festivals, the quality of life for many people and communities are enhanced. Nevertheless, challenges do arise and these often come in the form of a pause being put on the hustle and bustle of Cornwall due to a lack of income. Many places close down in the less lively seasons and this has a pernicious effect on the lives of numerous businesses and people.