We are launching our first Magnolia Festival this April, celebrating one of the most distinctive seasonal moments in Penzance with a programme of events inspired by blossom, creativity and community.
Set against the backdrop of Morrab Gardens in full bloom, the festival forms the centrepiece of a wider Easter holiday programme, bringing together live music, family-friendly activities, practical workshops and opportunities to slow down and connect with nature.
At the heart of our programme is a focus on sharing skills and encouraging sustainable living. Tool Sharpening with Friends of Morrab Gardens (9 and 16 April) offer practical, drop-in sessions helping gardeners prepare for the months ahead, whilst our regular Repair Workshop invites participants to mend and care for clothing – promoting reuse, resourcefulness and a slower approach to consumption.
Creativity and wellbeing also play a central role. A Spring Magnolia Singing Workshop will see participants gather among the gardens’ iconic magnolia trees to explore voice and connection in a unique outdoor setting, whilst our thought-provoking film night this April shows The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom, a stunning documentary by Lucy Walker about survivors in the hardest hit areas of Japan’s 2011 tsunami.
Families are welcomed throughout the Easter holidays with The Gardeners’ House Easter Club – three days of Easter activities booked through our friends at Playwaze.
We will also be running free, drop-in family activities throughout the Easter holidays. Visitors can explore the Morrab Memories exhibition on the mezzanine, with a film playing on a loop, and step into a small “memory booth” to write and share their own postcard reflections. A calm, welcoming space for the holidays, there will also be colouring activities and a selection of books to enjoy—offering families a gentle moment to pause, reflect and spend time together.
The month culminates in a celebration of Penzance’s spectacular magnolia season with the Magnolia Festival. Highlights include Magnolia Music in the Garden Night, an atmospheric evening of live music, cocktails and food set among the trees, with lanterns lighting the stunning magnolias as well as a free Magnolia Festival Day, bringing together community, creativity and nature in full bloom.
Together, these events create a programme that is both grounded and imaginative, offering opportunities to learn new skills, spend time outdoors and connect with others. As spring unfolds in Morrab Gardens, The Gardeners’ House continues to grow as a welcoming place for cultural and community life in West Cornwall.