This week, the Copper Coast has come alive as one of the state’s most unique festivals touches down in the region.
The Kernewek Lowender Copper Coast Cornish Festival is an absolute favourite on the state’s jam-packed festival calendar, bringing about 45,000 people to the region. The festival has been celebrating Cornish heritage and traditions over the past few days and will run until Sunday, May 18th.
What Cornish heritage and traditions are being celebrated, you may ask? Well, there has been plenty on offer (with more still to come) in a jam-packed line-up of events. To start, there are a few major events that have been part of the program since the Festival’s inception, which many people look forward to each year. Still to come is the Stret Fer, which is the official opening of the 2025 Kernewek Lowender Copper Coast Cornish Festival. Here, there will be a pastry bake-off with some pretty delicious Cornish pasties, maypole dancing, and the Furry Dance, which is one of the oldest traditional Cornish customs.
There’s also the Rotary Village Fair on Saturday, the 17th, with food trucks, show rides, traditional pastries and more. On the same day, there are heritage football and netball matches at Wallaroo Oval, and a Gathering of the Bards at the Wallaroo Town Hall. There’s heaps more throughout the rest of the week, so make sure to run your eyes over the program to see what piques your interest.
This festival has been a staple in the Copper Coast since the 70s and has ever since been a celebration of the region’s significant Cornish heritage. Kernewek Lowender translates to Cornish Happiness, and these events make for the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in this interesting heritage and the happiness that comes with it.
SA Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison shared, “The Kernewek Lowender Copper Coast Cornish Festival is a beloved staple on the events calendar of both Yorke Peninsula and South Australia. The festival week sees tens of thousands of people gather to celebrate Cornish heritage and traditions, while enjoying the best of the region’s food and beverage, culture, and of course, welcoming hospitality.”
So, if you’re looking for something to do later this week or into the weekend, or are simply after a good, authentic Cornish pasty, head down to the Copper Coast and check this out!
Kernewek Lowender Copper Coast Cornish Festival
Where: Copper Coast
When: 12th to 18th May
For more information, click here.
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