Discover Cornwall’s Free Summer Wellbeing Festivals: Fun for the Whole Family

Cornwall is buzzing with the excitement of free summer wellbeing festivals, bringing communities together to enjoy a mix of health, fun, and family-friendly activities. With over 800 people already in attendance, these events are proving to be a hit, and there are still six more festivals scheduled across the region.

Upcoming Festivals: Where and When

The next two festivals will take place this Saturday, 17th August, in Launceston and St Austell. Each festival promises a unique blend of activities tailored to engage visitors of all ages.

• St Austell, Poltair Park: Saturday, 17th August, 10am – 3pm
• Launceston Town Hall: Saturday, 17th August, 11am – 3pm
• Wadebridge Sports and Leisure Centre and Town Football Club: Sunday, 1st September, 10am – 4pm
• Hayle Recreation Ground: Saturday, 14th September, 2pm – 5pm
• Camborne, Basset Centre: Saturday, 14th September, 9:30am – 12:30pm
• Newquay Orchard: Saturday, 21st September, 10am – 3pm

These events are part of the ‘Healthier Together’ campaign, a collaboration between NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board and Healthy Cornwall. They aim to provide families with an opportunity to explore a variety of health and wellbeing resources while enjoying a fun day out.

What to Expect at the Festivals

Each festival is packed with activities designed to promote health and wellbeing in an engaging and accessible way. Emma Lankford, Centre Manager at Cornwall Neighbourhoods For Change and organiser of the St Austell event, shared her excitement: “Get yourselves ready for a free festival full of fun and family activities. Music, bubbles, singing, instruments, circus skills, gardening tips, cycling, and so much more. Don’t be shy, give new things a try!”

Pat Orridge, Chair of The Orchard Centre and organiser of the Launceston event, highlighted the wide range of activities available, from Lego building and face painting to soft play and virtual reality gaming. There will also be resources for mental and physical health, diabetes prevention, money advice, health checks, music, and singing for wellbeing.

Positive Feedback from Previous Events

The first three festivals, held in Bude, Penzance, and Redruth, received positive feedback from attendees. Locals and visitors at the Bude event described it as well organised, positive, and friendly. Many enjoyed the health checks provided by the NHS, while others appreciated the opportunity to try new activities like chair yoga and archery.

Ruth Goldstein, Assistant Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, expressed her delight at the turnout so far: “We’re delighted that over 800 people have attended our summer wellbeing festivals so far. People have told us how much they have enjoyed these fun, free events and how useful it is to hear about and try out local wellbeing support that’s available to them.”

A Day of Fun and Learning

Chris Reid, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, encouraged everyone to take part in these events: “What a fantastic start to these events that are showcasing the wealth of health and wellbeing support available across our local communities. A big thank you to everyone who is involved.”

The festivals offer a unique opportunity for people to come together, enjoy a variety of activities, and learn more about how to improve their health and wellbeing. With six more events lined up, there’s still plenty of time to join in the fun and discover the many resources available in your local community.

For more information about the festivals and to find one near you, visit the Healthy Cornwall website.