Porthleven Food Festival Saturday is in full swing with thousands of people enjoying the food, music and entertainment of the popular annual event.
Often the busiest of the three days, this year is proving no exception thanks to the brilliant sunshine encouraging people outdoors and to the festival.
Festival chef-patron Antony Worrall Thompson opened this morning’s Chef’s Theatre with Porthleven’s Jude Kereama of Kota and Kota Kai giving a live cooking demonstration.
They were followed by Andi Tuck, who appeared on BBC Two’s Great British Menu in 2024, Michelin-starred chef Tom Brown, originally from Redruth, who is renowned for his refined, seafood-focused cooking, and Paul Welburn and Mick Smith.
The rest of the day’s line-up is completed by Guy Owen and Chris Eden at 3pm, and finally Ben Palmer at 4pm.
Chefs appearing on Sunday are:
- 10am – Annie Seabourne and George Morgan
- 11am – Hylton Espey and Tim Kendall
- 12pm – Jamie MacLean
- 1pm – Rick Toogood and Izzy Joscelyn
New to this year is The Chef’s Table, presented by Sharp’s Brewery, which also offers food and drink masterclasses, tastings, and conversations with industry figures.
The venue provides a more intimate setting for relaxed chef chats, expert demonstrations, and hands-on learning.
If all that makes you hungry, food stands and trailers are offering their produce for sale, with crafters and makers also selling their goods around the harbour.
On The Moors playing field, the Moors Village Fair features classic lawn games, a community picnic, and activities from local community groups. All proceeds will go towards the restoration of Porthleven Playground.
Activities at the fair on Saturday, from 10am to 4pm, include a Tai Chi demonstration, a street dance demonstration and workshop, and challenges from the Porthleven Gig Club, the Cricket Club, and Football Club.
An old-school sports day is underway until 4pm, and local buskers providing music.
Earlier, Awen Mor Tai Chi gave a demonstration to celebrate World Tai Chi and World Chi Gong day, and HN Collective Street Dance performed.
The Sunday schedule, also from 10am to 4pm, features the Porthleven Environment Group’s recycling game, the Cricket Club’s bowling challenge, lawn games, an old-school sports day from 1.30pm to 4pm, and music from local buskers.
Many local businesses, including Nauti But Ice and the Ship Inn, have their own programme of music and events throughout the weekend.
The festival was launched on Friday by pupils from Porthleven School parading past the harbour to the Chef's Theatre marquee, where Porthleven chef Jude Kereama demonstrated how to make a microwave cake, followed by tasters for the children.
See pictures from that here: Porthleven Food Festival kicks off with school parade - here's the weekend line-up
Still to come on Sunday
The Porthleven Mermaid and her friends will return to the harbour at 1.30pm on Sunday.
Visitors can meet the mermaids on the slipway, enjoy food from the stalls, and take photos.
Also returning for 2026 is the Comedy Roast. At 3.30pm on Sunday, guests can enjoy a two-course roast dinner alongside performances from Matt Price, Tom Glover, and host Tom Rodgers.
Tickets are £45 per person, which includes a two-course Cornish roast dinner and comedy.
Travel and parking
This year the main festival car park is based at Flambards in Helston, where parking is free. A Park & Ride service is running from the site, taking around ten minutes to reach Porthleven, costing £3 each way.
Find out the full details of that here: Food festival introduces park and ride in crackdown on ‘obstructive parking’
Porthleven Cricket Club and Porthleven Football Club are also offering parking.
Methleigh Farm car park is not operational this year.
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