The festival will be launched with the annual Beer Fleet on Friday 25th May. A flotilla of boats packed with festival-goers will make their grand entrance into Falmouth’s Custom House Quay- a spectacular sight not to be missed. The opening ceremony will continue at Events Square with an evening of street food, craft ales and FREE live music, with I Love Amp getting the party in full swing at 8.30pm.

The subsequent days will be packed full of popular longstanding events, alongside a range of exciting new ones, including a mix of festivities suitable for all ages to enjoy, in and around the river.

An undisputed highlight of this years festival will be Cornwall’s first ever Gin Cruises, setting sail on Fri 1 & Sat 2 June. Gin-loving seafarers will enjoy a two hour journey around the river aboard a classic wooden ferry, sampling a selection of Cornish G&Ts exclusively designed for the festival.

Falmouth Art Gallery are offering a whole host of family-fun sea-themed creative workshops during the festival including printmaking, painting and collage. There’s also a feast of creative pop-up events taking place across the river in Flushing during the festival. 

Another major local attraction taking part this year is Trebah Garden, who will host a vibrant programme of theatre from Pirates to Dickens in their sub-tropical amphitheatre.
Another theatrical contribution comes from The Story Republicans, who will present An Evening of Stories, Song & Poetry inspired by Cornish writers on Thu 31 May at the Tresanton Chapel in St Mawes.



Alongside theatre and arts, there is plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and explore. This year welcomes back Cornwall Fishing Adventures who are offering a taste of sea fishing with a FREE have-a-go session on Mon 28 May off The Greenbank Hotel Quay. There’s a whole host of guided walks on offer taking in spectacular scenery as well as some of Cornwall's most beautiful boat trips. There’s also opportunity to get confident identifying, harvesting and cooking with the areas wild edibles on foraging walks which will be taking place along the banks of the Helford, Pendower and St Just In Roseland.




Cornwall’s first Parkour and Freerunning Gym based in Penryn Control Movement will be taking part in the celebrations this year, offering free have-a-go sessions with the experts on both Sundays during the festival. Adrenaline Junkies should also sign up for the Fal River Wipeout - a race around the slippery floating assault course at Kernow Adventure Park, or head for Pendennis Castle and witness an all-action battle as four teams of knights fight for victory armed only with clubs and shields, strength and skill on Wed 30 & Thu 31 May.

St Mawes is the place to be on Bank Holiday Monday, with annual favourite Jazz on the Quay returning from 3pm - 5.15pm, raisingfunds for Children's Hospice South West. The jazz theme continues at St Mawes Hotels’ Hidden Cinema later that evening, who will be hosting a special screening of the multi-award winning La La Land. 

Film on the Ferry will also return to the King Harry Ferry on Tue 29 May and Thur 31 May; films to be aired aboard the floating open air cinema this year including Oscar award-winning war film Dunkirk and the classic tale of survival Cast Away.

Amy Brocklehurst, the festival's co-ordinator, explained the thinking behind this years programme: 

“The Fal River area is not only spectacularly beautiful, it also buzzes with cultural and artistic activity and the festival is our way of celebrating all of that.”

“There are some incredible events taking place along the length and breadth of the river during the 10 days, and we hope locals and visitors alike will come out in force to enjoy them.”


To find out more about what's on this year, check out the programme here or follow the festival on the Facebook page /falriverfestival or Instagram /falriverfest