Short answer: Most Cornish displays fall on the Saturday nearest 5 November and the 5th itself. The big free ones are Newquay Town Council's and Newquay Fun Park; the big ticketed ones are NQY Fireworks at Newquay Sports Centre, Truro City FC and Lappa Valley. For toddlers and dogs, Coverack's low-noise beach bonfire is the gentle one. 2026 dates land in October.
Cornwall does Bonfire Night in its own way: rugby and cricket clubs, football grounds, a steam railway, a stately home and a couple of beaches, mostly on the Saturday nearest the 5th and the night itself. Here's the county in one list, with what each is like. Individual town guides linked where we have them.
2026 dates: most 2026 dates are announced in October; the pattern below has held for years. Check the organiser's page the day before — wind cancels displays at short notice. We update this line the moment organisers confirm.
The big ones
- Newquay — three: Newquay Town Council's free display, the ticketed NQY Fireworks at the sports centre with bars, food and an inflatable funfair, and Newquay Fun Park's free display with rides. Newquay fireworks guide.
- Truro — the town's bonfire and fireworks at Tremorvah Playing Field on the 5th, and Truro City FC's match-plus-fireworks on the nearest Saturday. Truro fireworks guide.
- Falmouth — Falmouth Cricket Club's display, the town's main one. Falmouth fireworks guide.
- Bodmin — a big community night with bonfire, fireworks, lasers and a fair; tickets a few pounds in advance or at the gate, gates around 5pm, show around 7pm.
The different ones
- Lappa Valley, near Newquay — arrive by steam train, play in the soft play, fireworks at the old engine house around 7:30pm. Two nights, usually the last weekend of October or first of November. Ticketed, sells out, and the best for under-8s.
- Port Eliot, St Germans — bonfire and fireworks in the grounds of the house. Ticketed.
- RNAS Culdrose, near Helston — the naval air station's display on the 5th.
The village ones
- Coverack — bonfire on the beach at 5:30pm and low-noise fireworks at 6:30pm, with food on the green. The one to take a nervous dog or a toddler to.
- The Lizard — recreation ground, gates 5:30pm, fire around 7pm; the most southerly fireworks in Britain.
- Helston — Underlane, bonfire and a sparkler area, a few pounds in, free parking.
- Chacewater — Millennium Green, cash only, bonfire 6:30pm, fireworks 7pm.
Choosing
- Small children: Lappa Valley, Coverack, or any village one — earlier, smaller, less noise.
- A proper night out: NQY Fireworks or Truro City FC.
- Free: Newquay Town Council, Newquay Fun Park, and most beach bonfires ask only for a donation.
- Dogs: Coverack only, and even then judge your dog. Otherwise leave them home with the radio on.
The rules
Park where the organiser says — every one of these is a field with one gate. Arrive for the bonfire, not the fireworks; you'll get a spot. Layers, wellies, a torch for the walk back to the car, and check social media on the day for wind cancellations.
For what comes next — switch-ons, markets, Santa trains and the Christmas swims — see Christmas and New Year in Cornwall 2026.
Pick a town and plan the day around who's with you.
Browse all Cornwall town guides →