Plan your visit
November 2019
November 2 Shaldon bonfire and fireworks
November 5 Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels – every year for reasons lost in antiquity, the flaming Tar Barrels are carried through the streets of Ottery St Mary
November 16 Torquay Christmas Carnival Procession
November 16 – 19 Exeter Christmas Market on Cathedral Green
November 23 – Lanterns Lights and ‘luminations – Christmas lights switch on in Brixham
November 29 – December 1 Train of Lights – launched last year to great acclaim, the world’s first steam train of lights is back
November 29 – December 1 Coleton Aglow at Coleton Fishacre, Kingswear. This beautiful National Trust Arts & Crafts style house hosts a 1920s festive party and the gardens are lit up with illuminations. Booking essential.
November 29 – 30 Candlelit Dartmouth – Lantern Parade, Christmas Market, Grotto, children’s craft workshop and craft market
November 30 The Rainbow Ball – this annual event raises thousands of pounds for charity and will be at the Riviera International Conference Centre this year
November 30 – Dec 1 Winter Fest – Torre Abbey. Local artists and makers selling unique gifts in the historic setting of this beautiful museum
December 2019
December 1 – Santa in the Caves at Kents Cavern Torquay (also December 7 & 8/ 14 & 15/ 21st to 24th)
December 3, 10th and 17th – Totnes Christmas Late Night Shopping – 3 festive evenings on Tuesday with entertainment, shopping, food and fun
December 7 11.30 – 1pm – Father Christmas visits Greenway House – Agatha Christie’s holiday home – to meet children and share gifts. Booking advisable. £5 per child
December 20 The Holly Ball at The Grand Hotel Torquay
December 21 – 24 Christmas at Babbacombe Model Village
December 21 – January 5 Sleeping Beauty Pantomime at Palace Theatre, Paignton
December 26 – The Boxing Day Dip – an annual event organised by No. 200 (Torquay) Squadron air Training Corps. Torre Abbey Sands. Arrive at 10.30a, to enter the sea at 11am Tasteful fancy dress for participants who are sponsored for charity
December 31 New Year’s Eve – watch the fireworks all around Torbay from the tower or walk down to the harbour to be part of the celebrations
January 2020
Jan 8 – 12 / Jan 22 – 26 RSPB Winter Avocet Cruises Exe Estuary – come and see the thousands of birds that flock to the Exe Estuary in winter
January 25 – Teignmouth Farmers market – every last Saturday of the month
February 2020
February 6 – 9 RSPB Winter Avocet Cruises Exe Estuary – come and see the thousands of birds that flock to the Exe Estuary in winter.
February 14 Ellen Kent’s Madama Butterfly – an award winning opera in a new production at Princess Theatre, Torquay
Feb 17 – March 16 Chinese New Year Trail around RAMM, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Queen Street, Exeter. A trail for children of all ages to celebrate the Year of the Dog.
Feb 24 Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap at Theatre Royal Plymouth 19.30 – 22.00
March 2020
March 15th – Totnes Food Market – third Sunday of each month
Feb 17 – March 16 Chinese New Year Trail around RAMM, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Queen Street, Exeter. A trail for children of all ages to celebrate the Year of the Dog.
April 2020
April 4 Torbay Chocolate Festival at Torre Abbey – a one-day celebration of chocolate from some of the UK’s most passionate and talented chocolate makers
April 10 – Good Friday
April 13 – Easter Monday
May 2020
May 2 – 4 Brixham Pirate Festival – swashbuckling fun at Brixham
May 16th – Dart the Dart Run – a fun filled foodie run along the banks of the River Dart from Totnes to Dartmouth. Up to 400 runners wearing fancy dress sample food and refreshments. Around 15 miles in length. Organised by the Dartmouth Food Festival and the Dartmouth Mayflower 400 Team
May 21 -23 Westpoint Devon County Show at Clyst St Mary Exeter.
May 22 – 24 Sea Change Festival at Dartington Hall Estate
May 23 – 27 BrixFest – 3-day festival with live music, cooking demonstrations, an arts and craft market, vintage car rally, crabbing competitions, heritage craft exhibitions, a children’s day, dragon boat racing and firework display
June 2020
June 6 – 7 English Riviera Airshow
June 12 -14 Powderham Castle – Tunes in the Castle Exeter
June 20 – Brixham Trawler Race – a two lap race around the bay raising money for local charities
June 20 – 21 RS 200 Nationals – sailing Summer Championships. Torbay Yacht Club
June 27 – 28 Dartmouth Mayflower 400 Classic Yacht Regatta. A weekend of friendly racing and social events for classic and traditional boats
July 2020
July 25- August 2 Paignton Festival (Torbay Carnival Week)
July 25 – Marldon Apple Pie Fair – local arts & crafts and food, falconry displays and a novelty dog show
July 26 Riviera Classic Car Show Paignton Green
July 28 – August 1 – Dartmouth Shakespeare Week. Much Ado About Nothing presented by the Inn Theatre Company at Dartmouth Castle
July 31 – Aug 2 Torbay Steam Fair – a 3-day event
August 2020
August 2 – 7 Firefly National Championship Royal Torbay Yacht Cub
August 5 Cockington Fayre – a traditional old English village summer Fair in the beautiful village of Cockington
Aug 8 – 16 Paignton Regatta Community Fun Week – 80 hours of free family fun in aid of good causes
August 12 – 13 The British Firework Championships held at The Hoe Plymouth from 9.30pm
Aug 18 – 22 Children’s Week – the UK’s longest running children’s festival. Performances, workshops and events throughout the week
Aug 21 – 24 Torbay Royal Regatta – three great days of racing for IRC and Cruiser Classes, Sports boats, PY Dinghies and Junior Classes
August 30 Dartmouth Mayflower 400 grand River Pageant – the start of Dartmouth’s week of Mayflower commemorations
August 30 – September 5 Dartmouth is one of 11 towns to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower for the New World America.
September 2020
September 15 International Agatha Christie Festival – to celebrate the birthday of Torquay’s best-selling author and former resident
End of September to early October. Date to be confirmed: England’s Seafood Feast
October 2020
Date tbc England’s Seafood Feast
November 2020
November 27 – 28 Candlelit Dartmouth – Lantern Parade, Christmas Market, Grotto, children’s craft workshop and craft market