Festival Diary
Opening Weekend, Week by Week
A look back at the first days of the festival, from the opening night parade to the quieter moments in between when the town settled into its new rhythm.
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Stories from the Benewquay Festival
Essays, artist notes and behind-the-scenes reports from the 1 November – 1 December 2024 festival season in Newquay.
Latest from the Journal
Three fresh reads from our team, covering the opening weeks of the festival, the artists who shaped our programme and the local businesses that make the season possible.
Artist Notes
Writing Sets for Small Rooms
Performers talk about how they adapt their sets for intimate venues, where every audience member is close enough to notice a change in tempo.
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Local Voices
Warm Rooms and Long Evenings
Cafe owners and bar managers share how the festival changes their trade and why they keep their doors open late through the autumn season.
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Editor's Note
Why We Write About the Coast
The festival runs through the quieter months of the year, when the coastline is wilder and the light changes quickly. Our editors spend time on the cliffs and beaches to understand how the landscape shapes the events we host.
- Features are commissioned from people who live and work locally
- Every article is checked against the published festival programme
- Corrections are published openly on the page where they apply
Next reads
Reader Questions
Answers to the questions we receive most often about submitting pieces and following our coverage.
Yes. We welcome pitches from residents, performers and visitors. Send a short outline through our contact page before writing the full piece.
New articles are published several times a week during the festival dates of 1 November to 1 December 2024, with a summary round-up each Friday.
Visit the Be NQY Guide for travel, accessibility and local tips, or check the What's On page for the full listing of events.
The Journal gave me a way to explain our work to people who had never visited. Every piece felt honest about what the festival is really like on the ground.
Festival volunteer and contributor
Share Your Festival Story
Have a memory, a photograph or a recommendation from the 2024 season? We would love to hear it and may feature it in an upcoming issue.
Get in touch