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Stunning Programme of entertainment, food and fun
 

Celebrate the area’s heritage at the Fal River Festival
 

Preview
Lee Trewhela
Celebrating the rich unique culture and heritage of the Fal Estuary, the Fal River Festival – which starts on Saturday until 11th June – invites you to enjoy a stunning programme of events taking place both on and off the water.
A comprehensive event guide is available at falriverfestival.co.uk but here are some of the highlights.
Food and drink is a big part of the festival, whose sponsors include The West Briton, and Cornwall Today. You can enjoy a food fair and cookery demonstrations at Trelisick, near Feock, on Saturday to Monday, food tasting by Bodinnick Organic and Lynher Dairies Cheese Co at the Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth, on Sunday and Master Chef Ann Long presents a special Fal River feast.
Also, look out for the Fal river Festival’s own ale in the St Austell Brewery pubs up and down the river.
There is also a huge amount of music and dance across the 16 days including organ recitals at Truro Cathedral, Nankersey Male choir and Goonvrea Singers performing together (Saturday), a celebration of Motzart at St Just in Roseland Church (June 3) and Kenwin Barton Gilbert and Sullivan Singers presenting Ruddigore at Falmouth Methodist Church (June 7)
New Cornwall Opera presents The Marriage of Figaro at Trelisick (June10) while Trucco Theatre presents Twelfth Night in Falmouth’s events Square on June 7-10. There are also concerts by Sax on the Water at the Pandora Inn, Restronguet, and Rising Sun, St Mawes, the Sex Slaves From Hell and soprano Suzanne Manuell.
Acclaimed storytelling group Scavel an Gow present Tales of a Drowned River at Trelissick Gardens on June 9. There are also talks on mineral shipping in the Fal, Local archaeology and an overview of Falmouth from prehistory to the 20th century.
Art fans are in for a real treat with all manner of exhibitions.
Among those showing at various venues and galleries along the estuary are Sue Lewington, Dian Ibbotson, a celebration of Brunel, Gareth Edwards, Paul Fry, Lynn Golden, Rebecca Hallsmith, Jan Robson, Malcom Sutcliff, a photographic study of Cornish shipwrecks, Jamie Boyd, Paul Chaney and Suzy Curell, Ben Rickken, Allan Boyd, Cornwall Open Studios and Made in Cornwall.
Fox Rosehill Gardens in Falmouth has an open day on June 3 and Trelissick hosts a garden walk and cream tea on June 7.
There’s plenty to keep the children amused with rockpooling and snorkelling courses, treasure trails, Captain Black Bones’ Pirate Trail, a stranded dolphin rescue workshop on Gyllynvase Beach and fireworks and family fun evening at Swanpool Beach on June2.
For those who love life on the river there is a plethora of events – Mylor harbour yacht and dinghy race (June3), a celebration of pilot gigs in St Mawes harbour (June3-9), a three day hands-on traditional sailing experience at St Mawes, Falmouth Pilot Cutter Race (June 4 and 7), wildlife spotting trips and dives are just a few such events.
If that wasn’t enough the Fal River Festival also hosts a large array of environment and heritage events – see the festival website for more details.