Following the success of the Falmouth Spring Festival’s opening weekend, which included thousands of daffodils and hundreds of schoolchildren and spring clean volunteers, the energy levels went up even further for the event in its final week.

Thousands of folk and cider revellers, Zumba dancers, science lovers and spring walkers descended on the town to enjoy the variety of activities on offer as part of this early season, Falmouth BID organised extravaganza, sponsored by the University of Exeter.

The three-day Folk and Cider Fayre, co-ordinated by South West Bars and Events, is one of the main festival activities which took place on Events Square. A firm favourite on the town’s festival calendar, it has grown to become the west country’s largest cider event with a 83 varieties on offer this year.

The liquid refreshment was supplemented by a great music line-up that included many critically-acclaimed bands, Cornish arts, crafts and street-food stalls which made the fayre a must-visit event over the weekend.

Meanwhile on The Moor on the last Sunday, a free family event, Game and Fitness, took place. Ships and Castles staff got into the swing of things by organising a range of studio classes and children’s games, while Zumba Sisterz worked in partnership with the charity Race for Life to lay on a series of energetic Zumba performances throughout the afternoon.

New in the spring festival programme for 2018 was Science in the Pub - free, science-themed talks, given by experts from the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus in five pub venues over five nights. Topics ranged from renewable energy and evolution to camouflage and beach bums (or antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Cornish surfers to be precise).

A programme of professionally guided walks co-ordinated by Paul Simmons of WalkitCornwall and his colleagues, ran throughout the festival. These invited people to discover the area’s cultural, maritime and natural heritage.

Richard Wilcox, Falmouth BID manager said: “The Falmouth Spring Festival has been a real success despite being greeted on occasion by snow, sleet and ice. The most varied programme ever has been delivered and my thanks goes out to the small army of organisations, supporters and volunteers, as well as the University of Exeter who engaged with this community-orientated event so passionately.

"The festival works hard to profile Falmouth and attract additional early season visitors to our special town. It also sets the tone for the enviable range of festivals that are co-ordinated by the Town Team for the rest of the year.”

Ruth Grimmer, from the University of Exeter, added: “We’re really pleased with the range of activities we’ve been able to be involved with this year. Our Science in the Pub sessions have been particularly well received, and residents have said how they enjoyed our researchers bringing a little bit about what they do into Falmouth."