This year’s Fal River Festival is well and truly underway, with more than 150 events due to take place over the ten-day event.

The festival the unique stretch of water that is the River Fal, bringing the community together with a footfall of over 100,000 people in recent years.

It launched on Friday with the extremely popular annual Beer Fleet parade – a flotilla of boats packed full of shanty singers, pasties and plenty of beer, sailing from Truro to Falmouth.

Over the weekend the Fal Fish Festival ran on Events Square in conjunction with the larger event, promoting the produce caught in the waters around Falmouth. 

Falmouth Packet:

This year’s festival’s title sponsor is Falmouth University and a recent graduate is behind the establishment of one of the new events – Matt Loots has organised a kayakathon which will be taking place this Sunday.

Any experienced sea kayakers will have the opportunity to take part in the coastal endurance challenge - paddling over 20 miles along the stunning Cornish coastline, starting at Swanpool Beach and passing sites such as Mylor Yacht Club and Pendennis Point on their way.

The annual National Maritime Museum Cornwall abseil will also take place on Sunday, to support BF Adventures' work with disadvantaged and disabled children and adults; participants will once again be raising funds by abseiling 95 feet down the museum’s lookout tower.

Anyone looking to take part in something a little less energetic, but just as exciting will be pleased to hear that Jazz on the Quay will return to St Mawes tomorrow, Wednesday and Film on the Fal will return on Thursday and Friday.

Sam White, marketing and festivals officer for the Fal River Festival, said: “Across the ten days there really is an event for everyone. The festival is now in its ninth year and with the line-up incorporating established events and new surprises, we hope to see over 100,000 visitors to the festival once again.”