Cornwall Council car parks to go free for one day in December

Christmas shoppers heading into town next month could leave their wallets in their pockets at the parking machine, for one Saturday at least.

Parking will be free all day in every Cornwall Council pay-and-display car park on Saturday 5 December, timed to coincide with Small Business Saturday.

Why Saturday 5 December?

Small Business Saturday is a national campaign that falls on the first Saturday of December each year. It encourages people to shop local and spend their money with independent traders in the run-up to Christmas.

The council is billing the free parking as a little early Christmas present, and a reason to put off the online shopping for a day. The idea is to get people into town centres to pick up gifts, visit independent shops and support local businesses.

In Newquay, the message is to make a day of it and enjoy everything the town has to offer.

How the free parking works

The offer covers all-day parking in Cornwall Council pay-and-display car parks on Saturday 5 December 2026.

Drivers are asked to check the signage at whichever car park they choose. Payments made by mistake on the day will not be refunded, so it is worth reading the signs before reaching for the machine.

Car parks run by town councils or private operators are not part of the offer.

You can find every car park the council runs on the full list of Cornwall Council car parks.

Shop local this Christmas

Cornwall Council has backed Small Business Saturday with a free parking day for several years running. For many independent shops, the weeks leading up to Christmas are the busiest of the year.

The council’s message for the day is short: shop local, support independent, make a day of it.

📷The Manor Long Stay Car Park, Newquay. Credit: Google Maps