Flaming tar barrels, Newquay’s Boardmasters festival and fireworks championships.
We have highlighted six events that took place in Devon and Cornwall in 2025.
Thousands flock to town for flaming tar barrels
‘Sun, sea and good vibes’ at Boardmasters

British Firework Championships return to Plymouth
Jason WayPlymouth’s annual hosting of the British Fireworks Championships took place in August.
SelStar Fireworks, from Selsey, in West Sussex, won the two-day event while BBB Fireworks from Battle, East Sussex, was named as runner-up, 1st Galaxy Fireworks from Nottingham finished in third place, and Devon-based Sonic Fireworks came sixth.
This year’s event included 10-minute displays from six previous winners as they competed for the “champion of champions” title.
Devon and Cornwall mark 80th anniversary of VE Day
People in Devon and Cornwall marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe.
On 8 May 1945 at exactly 15:00 BST, Sir Winston Churchill took to the radio waves to announce Nazi Germany’s surrender.
The date is known as VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, and this year marked 80 years since the announcement.
A number of events were held across the counties including two minutes of silence, parades, marches, wreath-laying, concerts, beacon lighting and bell ringing.
Northern Lights sparkle in night sky
Cornwall_Colours/BBC Weather Watchers
NickF/BBC Weather WatchersThe Northern Lights put on colourful displays in the night sky across Devon and Cornwall on several occasions this year, including in April.
Spectacular images were taken by BBC Weather Watchers across both counties as the lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, appeared.
The lights, which had a pink-purple hue, were spotted over parts of the north Devon coastline including Croyde and Woolacombe.
People also spotted the lights over St Ervan, Zennor and Stithians.

