The annual Exmouth Christmas Day Swim - image credit: @lynhalvie
If you’re planning a holiday to the South West this year, why not coincide it with one of the fantastic events in Devon in 2022?
Take a trip to Dartmouth for award-winning food, listen to bands by the beach in Croyde, or enjoy a wonderful family day out to the Devon County Show where competitions, stunts and children’s activities will keep you entertained.
Devon cottages
Read through our list of events to find out what’s on in Devon during 2022 and attend a fun festival or day out during your holiday.
Skip to the month of your visit:
What's on in Devon in January
1st January
Welcome in the new year with a New Year’s Day Fancy Dress Dip with all the other local revellers! Dress up in your best fancy dress (no wetsuits allowed!) and dive into the chilly waters at this beautiful beach location on the phenomenal North Devon coast.
Westward Ho! cottages
What's on in Devon in February
South Devon Coastal Marathon, Beesands
5th February
Pull on your running shoes for this South Devon marathon along the serene and beautiful coastline. There's a limited number of places for this popular race, so book your place quickly on this rugged trail running course. This circular trail begins and ends in Beesands village and the route takes you past Hallsands and Freshwater Bay.
Beesands cottages
Totnes Good Food Sunday Market, Totnes
20th February
There are always a host of monthly farmers' markets and food fairs to attend across the county and our top pick would be the Totnes Good Food Sunday Market, the biggest fine food farmers' market in Devon with a wide selection of delights to sample.
Totnes cottages
What's on in Devon in March
The Story Tram, Seaton
4th March
If you are on holiday in Devon with kids, you should check out The Story Tram on the Seaton Tramway in March. They have an 'Out of this World' adventure story event and run other activities throughout the year too. Watch the countryside pass while your child gets wrapped up in a magical adventure at this family event.
Seaton cottages
What's on in Devon in April
Brixham Pirate Festival, Brixham
30th April - 2nd May
Head to the Brixham Pirate Festival with yer salty sea dogs for a fun few days. Hundreds of people in pirate gear descend on this seaside town each spring for bands, market stalls and re-enactments too. There’s a family area and, best of all, the festival is free!
Brixham cottages
What's on in Devon in May
English Riviera Bike Festival, Paignton
TBD May
Taking place on Paignton Green, by the seafront, the English Riviera Bike Festival is a place for bike enthusiasts and admirers to get together - visit for the day or the whole weekend. Live music will be taking place in local bars and pubs and you’ll be right by Paignton’s sandy beach too.
Paignton cottages
Dart Music Festival, Dartmouth
6th – 8th May
A fantastic event in a wonderful location, the Dart Music Festival offers up free music across a multitude of venues around the town. Spend a relaxed weekend drinking, eating and drifting between the pubs, bars and music venues throughout the area listening to local bands beside the River Dart.
Dartmouth cottages
What's on in Devon in June
Image credit: @cwashingtonpt
Torbay Airshow, Paignton
4th - 5th June
Torbay Airshow is two days of stunts, displays and flypasts - enjoy watching the incredible aerial performances during this event. There’s also plenty of family-friendly entertainment taking place on the ground, including exhibition stands, bars, food stalls, inflatable slides, bouncy castles and fairground rides.
Gold Coast Oceanfest, Croyde
17th - 19th June
Taking place in the cliffs over Croyde Beach, Gold Coast Oceanfest music festival is a top Devon event - chill out on the grass and listen or head to the front of the crowd to see artists perform up close. When you’re ready for a break, head down to beautiful Croyde Beach to surf, swim or just sit and chat on the sand.
Croyde cottages
Axe Vale Show, Axminster
18th - 19th June
Enjoy a relaxed day out to the Axe Vale Show where there’ll be stalls to peruse filled with food, crafts and plants, and plenty of space to sit and unwind. Events taking place include dog shows, stunts, sheep shearing and music over both days.
Axminster cottages
22nd - 25th June
The Shaldon Festival is a classical music festival that aims to ‘provide local people and visitors with access to first-rate, professionally-performed classical music at affordable prices’ and succeeds with a wonderful mix of classical performances taking place in seafront St Peter’s Church.
Shaldon cottages
Devon County Show, Clyst St Mary
30th June - 2nd July
This Devon County Show has a host of livestock competitions with over 100 rare and minority breeds in attendance. There’s lots going on: enjoy the food fair, Craft and Gardens Pavilion, Children’s Garden, see horse show jumping, the dog show and chef demonstrations, vintage tractors and steam engines, and sip delicious craft beers and ciders. Phew!
What's on in Devon in July
Image credit: @sgbroad
Chagstock Music Festival, Chagford
22nd - 23rd July
Chagstock Music Festival started as a private festival by a group of friends in 2003 and now is a public, sell-out, 5,000-capacity music festival in the heart of beautiful Dartmoor. Enjoy great music in a scenic location, and there are also food vans and a kids' area with circus skills, drumming workshops and crazy golf that families will love!
Chagford cottages
Mid Devon Show, Knightshayes
23rd July
The Mid Devon Show is another rural Devon event where entrants show off prized cattle, sheep, and other more unusual livestock. There are food stalls where you can grab a bite, horticulture to discover, music to create a lively atmosphere and plenty of animals to meet in the tents.
Sidmouth Folk Festival, Sidmouth
29th July - 5th August
If you enjoy folk music, attend Sidmouth Folk Festival to see musicians, hear storytelling, take part in workshops and watch dancing take place. There’s even a children’s festival on site and a youth programme so youngsters can have an excellent time too!
Sidmouth cottages
Salcombe Regatta, Salcombe
30th July - 6th August
Watch boats sail past and cheer on your favourites at the Salcombe Regatta. Taking place in a beautifully scenic location, make sure you find a good spot in a café or pub garden beside the water so you can sit and take in the fantastic spectacle of boats steering about against an exquisite backdrop.
Salcombe cottages
What's on in Devon in August
The North Devon Show, Umberleigh
3rd August
Another chance to see livestock competitions, dog shows, and horticulture exhibitions while browsing stalls of food, drink and crafts; the North Devon Show is a top local attraction and a great family day out. There’s also falconry, axe throwing, horse show jumping and lots of other exciting things to see and do at this North Devon event.
Umberleigh cottages
Jazz by the Sea, Bude
30th August - 2nd September
Taking place across a few different venues in the centre of Bude, Jazz by the Sea is a great chance to listen to iconic and new music in an incredible seaside location. It’s a holiday resort so you can make the most of your time here by seeing a band play, grabbing food in a seafront café, then heading down for a stroll along the beach.
Bude cottages
What's on in Devon in September
Plymouth Seafood Festival, Plymouth
TBD September
Visit the harbour city to celebrate the Plymouth Seafood Festival - dine out every night and try new finds during the day as you browse the stalls set up in the Barbican and Sutton Harbour. Cooking demonstrations and children's workshops take place too.
Plymouth cottages
International Agatha Christie Festival, Torquay
10th - 17th September
Get enraptured in storytelling and performances at the annual International Agatha Christie Festival, and listen to talks by other aspiring writers, artists and murder-mystery lovers. The aim of the festival is to celebrate Agatha Christie and to nurture new voices, so expect a host of new talent as well at this event!
Torquay cottages
Image credit: @ellas.devonDevon Open Studios, takes place all across Devon
10th - 25th September
Organised by the Devon Artist Network, the Devon Open Studios event sees artists from all across Devon open up their studios to the general public, so you can view the latest piece they’re working on, see how their work comes together, and meet and chat to the artists about their techniques and inspiration. The above image is a piece by local artist Ella Slade - you can discover more work at Ella's Studio in Exmouth, South Devon.
All Devon cottages
Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival, Budleigh Salterton
14th - 18th September
Meet authors you love and discover new ones at the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival taking place on the East Devon coast. The events take place at a range of venues across the town so you can explore this coastal gem while you enjoy the festival atmosphere and get inspired by writers and artists attending and speaking.
Budleigh Salterton cottages
Abbfest, Newton Abbot
16th - 18th September
Taking place on the outskirts of Newton Abbott, Abbfest is a volunteer-run event that aims to raise money for a variety of charities and have fun doing it! Enjoy good food, beer tents and excellent music at this local festival that always draws a crowd and offers up a relaxed and lively atmosphere.
Newton Abbot cottages
Appledore Book Festival, Appledore
15th - 24th September
Visit to see a whole variety of authors, performers, journalists, musicians, poets and comedians speaking at this exciting book-centric event. At the Appledore Book Festival, there's plenty of things to do including attending exhibitions and workshops, taking part in guided tours, and listening to a variety of talks and discussions.
Appledore cottages
Dart the Dart Foodie Fun Run, Totnes to Dartmouth
25th September
This fun run is not a race but a chance to sample culinary delights and drinks while you run. Stretching 13 miles from Totnes to Dartmouth, the Dart the Dart Foodie Fun Run will lead you alongside the River Dart for wonderful views, and it’s around a £40 admission fee to join the run. Expect great scenery, great food and great camaraderie!
Apple Day, Clovelly
25th September
At Apple Day in beautiful Clovelly, there’s an excellent mix of things to do from the Harvest Hunt, Garden Tour and cookery demonstrations to a range of crafts and activities for kids – they’ll love getting up close and petting animals with South West Animal Services.
Clovelly cottages
What's on in Devon in October
Powderham Food Festival, Kenton, Exeter
TBD October
Spend all day eating and snacking on tasty treats in another fantastic Devon location – Powderham Food Festival at the impressive Powderham Castle. Try chutneys and cheeses, lunch on BBQ delights, sip a beverage from the Beer, Cider and Ale section, and relax on the grass while the atmosphere washes over you.
Exeter cottages
Dartmouth Food Festival, Dartmouth
21st - 23rd October
From the same crew who organise the Dart the Dart Foodie Fun Run, the Dartmouth Food Festival is a staple in the local calendar and a fantastic chance to fill up on a range of tasty goodies. Celebrity chefs make an appearance and there are demonstrations, children's classes, and cookery contests to enter.
What's on in Devon in November
Herring Festival, Clovelly
20th November
This unusual seaside village hosts a range of fun events throughout the year and the second one that’s made this list is the Herring Festival. This wonderful food festival hosts exhibitions and demonstrations, street entertainers, an art workshop, food and drink tasters and music throughout the day.
Torquay Christmas Carnival Procession and Christmas Lights, Torquay
TBD November
There are plenty of exciting Christmas events taking place across Devon, but if you want to get in the Christmas spirit, the Torquay Christmas Lights is a great place to start! Watch decorated floats pass by as well as dancing groups and bands too. Father Christmas will be in his grotto and there’s the Christmas Lights Switch On.
What's on in Devon in December
Christmas at the Model Village, Torquay
TBD December
Babbacombe Model Village is always a great family attraction during a visit to Devon but, when winter arrives, so do the Christmas-themed sets! Find Santa among the sets, enjoy the mini-panto and watch the Christmas lights dazzle during Christmas at the Model Village.
Torquay cottages
Image credit: @lynhalvie
The Exmouth Christmas Day Swim, Exmouth
25th December
Are you brave enough to jump into the freezing cold waters of the English Channel? People flock to Exmouth Beach for the big Christmas Day Swim - test yourself and take in the atmosphere before returning to a welcoming, warm cottage for a well-deserved Christmas lunch.
Exmouth cottages
Attend an event in Devon in 2022
Whatever you are hoping to get up to this year, there’s a whole host of Devon events in 2022 to seek out and this county is an unforgettable place to visit for an exciting holiday. Discover rural Devon at one of the bustling summer county shows where you can meet animals and watch top entertainment, or venture down to the coast and feel invigorated with a winter swim in chilly British waters!
Want more inspiration? To find out more about what’s on in Devon, head over to our blog on top things to do in Devon or take a look through our guide to fun-packed activities you can do in Devon.
Browse our collection of cosy cottages and find the perfect place to stay near one of these events for a wonderful holiday getaway. Discover our cottages in Devon today.
Devon cottages