The Great Estate Festival: Cornwall's Rambunctious Garden Fete
Don’t expect to find anything normal at the Great Estate Festival in Cornwall - it’s all about whacky happenings and escaping the ordinary. We went to join in the fun and explore everything that this crazy festival has to offer. Great Estate Festival is based at Scorrier near Redruth and is certainly one of the best festival’s in Cornwall.
The grounds at Scorrier House welcomed a record-breaking 19,000 people to The Great Estate festival, Cornwall’s most rambunctious garden fete. Celebrating its third anniversary, the festival has already become a favourite with locals and festival-goers looking to escape the ordinary.
Last year we attended the Great Estate but this year I have to say that the team really pulled it off - what a unique festival! During the day, the festival is very family orientated - with a family campsite, arty workshops, circus acts, comedy shows and sumo wrestling (yes, wrestling) it’s a great place for the whole family to create long lasting memories. Of course, there is plenty for adults too! We relaxed on the green and enjoyed the array of music acts under the blue skies whilst sipping on Pimms from the Pimms bus (my favourite kind of public transport!)
This year the festival was headlined by James on Saturday evening, and supported by Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show on Sunday. As you would imagine at any festival, there were endless choices of festival food (AMAZING woodfired pizza) and tents full of live entertainment to check out. Not only was there a wide selection of live music, but also comedy acts and theatrical performances - something for everyone.
I really saw a shift in the festival as soon as it started to get dark. As soon as 9 PM hit, the families thinned and I noticed a real change in the audience. The music got louder, the lights took over the grounds, house/techno music emerged and the woodland silent disco came to life. Now that’s my kind of festival but Mumma T decided to call it a night and left us “youngsters to party”.
So what were the highlights for me this year at the Great Estate?
Hip Hop Karaoke - what a beauty! We laughed and danced along to some of the most timeless hip hop tracks. The singers? Just volunteers from the audience!
Woodland Silent Disco - honestly, the Great Estate is officially home to the BEST silent disco in Cornwall. With a 1000 capacity, the silent disco lights up the whole of the woodland area within the grounds of Scorrier House. The music? From pop and R&B to house and techno.
Pimms Bus - who doesn’t love a jug of Pimms? It’s pretty hard to miss the Pimms bus which is perched bang in the middle of the festival with views right across to the main stage.
The light show - the prestigious manor house and its beautiful surroundings were lit up with technicolour lights throughout the evenings of the festival.
Sure, this festival is AMAZING for families but it sure has its highlights for the young adult too! I’m already looking forward to next year and plan to camp for the whole weekend. Great Estate, I’m SUPER impressed!
*Apologies for the iphone quality images (I can’t trust myself with my proper camera at a festival!) We were kindly gifted tickets however all opinions are my own.
