Short answer: Falmouth's Festive Weekend ran on 6 and 7 December 2025, 11am to 5pm, with an artificial ice rink, land train, giant snow globe, carols and Santa's grotto at £2 per person. A 50-drone display took place the Friday evening. The 2026 dates are not yet announced, but the first weekend in December is likely.
Falmouth has built a proper Christmas weekend to follow the lights switch-on, and it is one of the best-value family events in Cornwall in December. The town council has not published the 2026 weekend yet. Here is how the 2025 weekend worked, with a clear note on what is a guess.
The 2026 dates have not been announced. The 2025 event was on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December, 11am to 5pm, and the council's report said money raised would go towards Falmouth's Christmas activities in 2026. The first weekend in December 2026 is Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, which is the natural slot, but treat that as an inference and watch the council and Visit Falmouth for confirmation. The town's lights are switched on earlier, at 7pm on the Moor on 26 November 2026 according to one local list; see Falmouth Christmas lights switch-on.
According to Falmouth Town Council's announcement:
Family attractions ran from 11am to 5pm on both days and entry was £2 per person. The Friday before, Falmouth After 5 offered deals, special menus and events from local businesses, and a festive drone display of 50 drones was scheduled for 5.30pm in Church Street car park (with a wet-weather move to the Saturday).
The 2025 weekend had forecast rain and wind, and the council moved the ice rink, snow globe, live music and Santa's grotto indoors to the Princess Pavilion. Santa's grotto on the Saturday was in the Municipal Buildings lobby at Falmouth Art Gallery, with a 10% gallery shop discount. A new Christmas Craft Market ran on Old High Street, and the makers' marquee moved to the Market on The Moor. The land train and snow machines on Church Street stayed as planned. Expect a similar back-up plan in 2026.
Cornwall Council car parks in Falmouth offered free parking on Saturday 6 December 2025 for Small Business Saturday. If the same applies in 2026, it will be on the first Saturday of December, which is 5 December. Even so, the town is busy. Check the council's travel advice nearer the date.
For families with small children, yes. The ice rink and land train would cost far more elsewhere, and the shops and independent traders benefit from the footfall. Teenagers may find it less exciting, and for them the Eden rink is a bigger option; see Eden ice rink prices and ice skating in Cornwall.
On the Saturday of the 2025 weekend Father Christmas was in the Municipal Buildings lobby, which houses Falmouth Art Gallery. Reviewers describe it as a small gallery with interactive exhibits that children enjoy, and one calls it a free gallery, so it is a useful warm stop between rink sessions. Hours on Google are Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, closed Sunday, but check for the festive weekend.
Try the winter gardens, the shops and the student-led events in the town. The Falmouth guide covers the rest, and the Christmas and New Year guide has the swims and markets. For the New Year's Day swim, see Gyllyngvase on 1 January. Falmouth Art Gallery is closed on Sundays according to Google, so the Saturday is your gallery day (4.4 from 380 Google reviews).
Falmouth Town Council's announcement for 2025 said Cornwall Council car parks were free on Saturday 6 December only, to support Small Business Saturday. It named no other parking arrangements, so treat Sunday as paid and check whether a Saturday offer returns on 5 December 2026.
Church Street Long Stay Car Park is rated 3.8 from 23 Google reviews. Reviewers like the harbour views, mention disabled bays and say there are no toilets on site, with public toilets at Prince of Wales Pier or Grove Place. One reviewer says the entrance is narrow and can be hard to find. Another says access is restricted in the middle of the day, which we have not verified. This is also where the drone display was set for 5.30pm on the Friday in 2025, so expect it to be affected on that evening.
If you prefer the train, Falmouth Town station is rated 4.6 from 81 Google reviews. Reviewers note cobbled streets that could be difficult for some visitors, which matters if you are pushing a buggy or walking with someone unsteady. Our Falmouth parking guide lists the alternatives.
The council has not published details on access, toilets, ice rink age or height rules, session times or dogs, for 2025 or 2026. We would rather say so than guess. What is confirmed: family attractions ran 11am to 5pm both days for £2 per person, and the land train and snow machines in Church Street ran regardless of weather.
Practical points based on the 2025 layout:
If you want a quiet go at the attractions, arrive when they open at 11am on the Sunday rather than mid-afternoon on the Saturday.
The Princess Pavilion & Gyllyngdune Gardens is rated 4.5 from 963 Google reviews, and Google shows it open 10am to 4pm daily. In 2025 the council moved the ice rink, snow globe, music and Santa's grotto there for the bad-weather plan and said hot drinks and cake from the Pavilion cafe were on offer. Reviewers describe a limited menu, outdoor seating, clean toilets and limited parking, with a recommendation to go after lunch to find a space. That makes it a useful warm-up stop if rain arrives, although it is a walk from Church Street.
If you want a sit-down meal in the centre, book ahead for the Saturday, because the weekend brings extra footfall into town. Our Falmouth rainy day guide lists indoor options if the weather turns, and best pasty in Falmouth covers a cheap lunch. The Falmouth town page has the rest.
Check which parts of the 2026 programme are indoors. The council moved the rink, snow globe, music and grotto indoors in 2025 only because of forecast rain and wind, so do not assume they will be there if the weather is dry.
Dates have not been announced. The 2025 weekend was 6 and 7 December, so the first weekend of December (5 and 6 December 2026) is likely.
Entry to the family attractions was £2 per person in 2025.
In 2025: an ice rink, land train, giant snow globe, carol singers, Santa's grotto and Christmas characters in the streets.
In 2025 Cornwall Council car parks were free on the Saturday for Small Business Saturday. Check for 2026.
In 2025 the ice rink, snow globe, music and grotto moved indoors to the Princess Pavilion.
The council has not published age or height rules. Phone Falmouth Town Council on 01326 315559 to check before you go.
No dog policy was published for 2025 or 2026. Keep dogs on a short lead outdoors and expect indoor wet-weather venues to be unsuitable.
On Saturday he was in the Municipal Buildings lobby, home of Falmouth Art Gallery. The wet-weather plan moved the grotto to the Princess Pavilion.
Reviewers say there are no toilets in the car park, with public toilets at Prince of Wales Pier or Grove Place.
Times, prices and dates are the businesses' and organisers' to change, so check before you travel. Spotted something we've got wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.
See the full Falmouth guide, filtered by who's with you.
Plan your day near Falmouth →