A popular family-friendly heritage festival is taking place near Penryn this weekend, and the full line-up of re-enactors, performers, traditional craftspeople and activities has been released.

Awenek! The Great Cornish Heritage Festival is taking place at Enys Gardens in Penryn on Saturday, September 13.

Organised by the independent charity, Cornwall Heritage Trust, the event promises a packed programme celebrating Cornwall’s unique history, landscapes, culture and traditions.

Highlights include seeing a Bronze Age forge in action, weapons displays and combat re-enactments, live music, traditional crafts demonstrations and the chance to craft your own ancient tools, all included in the entry price.

Online advance tickets are discounted for Cornwall Heritage Trust and Enys Gardens adult members and under 18s go free.

Advance ticket sales will close at 9am on Friday, September 12. Tickets will also be available on the door, subject to availability.

The festival will feature demonstrations of ancient crafts like axe-making and flint knapping and traditional skills including Cornish hedging, scything, basket making and blacksmithing.

There will be a foraging tour of the gardens, a guided tour of Enys House and talks on the forgotten ferrywomen of the Fal, Cornish folklore, crossroad burials and the Cornish Native Bee.

The event is designed to be family-friendly, with make-and-take activities to keep children entertained throughout the day, ranging from grinding wheat to make Iron Age honey bread to designing a medieval fish tile, just like the one found at nearby Glasney College.

The music programme features the Red River Singers, Oll an Gwella, Merv and Alison Davey, the Story Republic and Nancothnan. There’ll also be storytelling and theatre performances from the likes of the Cornish Caretakers, Cobweb Tales, Mazed and Multivax.

Awenek! 2025 is sponsored by Coodes Solicitors and part-funded by FEAST Cornwall. 

The full line-up can be viewed here: www.cornwallheritagetrust.org/visit/wasson/awenek-exhibitors