What's On in 2024
There’s always a good reason to visit the Isles of Scilly not least because of our tempting festival line-up this year which will bring colour and vibrancy back to our islands. Start planning your dream getaway now!
As well as our topline events, browse our Things To Do page for everyday Scilly magic!
Why 2024 is set to be a bumper year on the Isles of Scilly...
The season will kick off in style with some Scillonian favourites making a welcome return.
We're delighted to announce Walk Scilly (12-21 April 2024) will return in all its glory. Covering the five inhabited islands, as well as some of the uninhabited too, the outdoorsy event has a little something for everyone and all abilities. Enjoy 10 days exploring the Isles of Scilly guided by local experts, discovering rich history and archaeology, or take a sea safari to see Scilly’s spectacular wildlife. Full programme will be brought to you shortly.
Image credit: Walk Scilly in April
At the end of April we welcome back the 33rd World Pilot Gig Championships (3rd - 5th May) to be held, as usual, over the first May Spring Bank Holiday weekend. The biggest event never disappoints bringing both spectacle and colour in one fell swoop. The Championships were first held in 1990, only attracting a few crews from Cornwall, but in the intervening years the amount of pilot gigs attending has increased with crews coming from all over the South-West and now the world. Exact details for race times tbc.
Image credit: World Pilot Gig Championship by John Dyer
We also see the return of Creative Scilly (10-19 May) with endless days of Scillonian inspired arts and culture. Many of the local artists and creatives will be opening their galleries and studios for a range of workshops together with an ensemble of pop-up theatre, music and poetry on Scilly.
Later in the year - Aug/Sept - we introduce a new nine-day nautical festival to the events calendar for 2024 and beyond: Ocean Scilly (23 Aug - 1 Sept). It’s a celebration of the sea from wildlife, marine activity, watersports to gig history, shipwrecks and lighthouses. And as part of the festival, the weekend finale is all about Scilly60 Events who will be hosting five exciting Swimrun adventures! Watch this space!
For 10 days in September (12-22 Sept) we welcome the return of Taste of Scilly, a mouth-watering and distinctive celebration of the islands’ fayre, so local you can often point to the fisherman or farmer that’s hooked it or grown it. Tuck into our tasty programme, packed full of Scillonian shellfish, island-hopping supper safaris as well as yummy markets, menus and masterclasses; farm tours and tastings and much more!
Image credit: Taste of Scilly Festival in September by Danny North Photography
Weekly What’s Ons
There’s a lot going on all season on Scilly – from guided walks, tours and talks, live gigs and visiting theatre, to outdoor cinema, shark fishing (tagging) experiences, fêtes, beachcombs, supper boats, rockpool roams, and wildlife boating safaris. Keep up to date by picking up the weekly What’s Ons (March to October) at our award-winning Tourist Information Centre and follow us on social media @iosTIC
Through the seasons
In spring watch out for Restorative Wild Yoga, Sunrise Meditation, walks, Trail Runs, invigorating sea swims and adventure yomps across the boulders are all designed to shake off the winter blues and refresh your mind, body and soul.
In summer, we leave it to you to enjoy – kayaking, sailing, coasteering, sea-swimming, snorkelling, island hopping, fishing or simply soaking up the island hues and vistas.
Throughout autumn, specifically September and October, Scilly becomes a bird watching hotspot! Island hop your way around and venture out to remote uninhabited islands designed to capture nature in action.