Summer circus camp near Penryn, and the free places on offer

Four circus classes to choose from every hour, a swimming pool, and a sauna that stays open until ten at night. Summer Circus Camp 2026 runs at Chyan Cultural Centre at Halvasso, just outside Penryn, from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August. Some of the places on it will not cost anything at all.

Four classes an hour, and a long list to pick from

The camp is run by Swamp Circus Trust and its circus school Circo Kernow, at Chyan Cultural Centre. Across the three main days there are daily classes with four options running every hour.

The list covers tumble track, silks, trapeze, lyra, hula hoop, balance acrobatics, swinging trapeze, tight wire, slack line, juggling and diabolo, with more besides. Anyone arriving early gets a head start, with a circus class at 2pm on Thursday 27 August and a yoga class at 5pm. The camp winds down on Monday 31 August with an 8am yoga class and circus on demand.

What a day actually looks like

The published timetable gives a sense of the pace. Mornings open with yoga and a warm-up before breakfast. From 10am the site splits across the Big Top, the Circus Dome, the Apple Barn, the Sky Barn, the Circus Barn, the Apple Tent and the lawn, with handstands and partner acrobatics, unicycle and balance skills, beginners silks, Cyr wheel, beginners trapeze, hat juggling and tumble track all running at once.

Elevenses at 11, then clown play, walking globe, beginners aerial hoop, diabolo and devil stick, improvers silks and dance. Lunch at one. The afternoon brings juggling, partner acrobatics, intermediate silks, trapeze and lyra, tight wire, stilts and rolla bolla, plus a slack line strung over the pool. Tea at half past four. Then a yoga warm-down, or a free skill-share session where the board decides what happens.

Camping, a spa, and a river due some beavers

Camping tickets take in camping itself, hot showers, the spa, the swimming pool and a vegan cafe doing meals, snacks, fresh juice and ice creams. There are walks by the river and through the woods, with beaches not far away.

The site sits beside the Lystranes river, which the organisers say is soon to have beavers. Chyan Farm describes itself as a place to celebrate connection, community and creativity. You can come for the day or stay over in a tent or the hostel.

Free places, and the small print

Two sets of free places are being offered. Volunteers who come along to help can attend for nothing, and there are free places for families on benefits.

Day tickets cover a full day of circus with the same four-an-hour choice of classes. Children aged eight and under need to be accompanied by an adult caregiver.

Evenings are given over to practice time and rehearsals for a cabaret from 8pm, with the sauna running alongside until ten.