🌿 Our Story: How Morvala Came to Life
Morvala Festival of Arts grew from a simple idea shared among a close-knit group of musicians, creatives and friends from Cornwall:
What if there was a festival in the UK that brought back the magic of the gatherings we grew up with? A festival full of imagination, community, creativity, and connection — without the heavy commercialism that has taken over so many UK festivals today.
Founded by Jon Stafford (frontman of Haunt the Woods), Morvala was built by the same passionate team behind Kernowfornia Festival in Looe — you can read more about that at kernowforniafestival.com. What began as a conversation between friends became a shared mission: to create a new kind of Cornwall festival that felt meaningful, welcoming and rooted in place.
🌊 Inspired by Cornwall — and the Festivals That Shaped Us
Growing up in Cornwall, many of us found our love of music, art and storytelling at Port Eliot Festival in St Germans. It was a beautifully non-commercial, imaginative and atmospheric festival — one of those rare events where creativity felt woven into the landscape. A place where we discovered new artists, performed some of our first festival gigs, and fell in love with the idea of artistic community.
When Port Eliot eventually came to an end, the loss was felt deeply across Cornwall’s creative world. Morvala isn’t a recreation — nothing could be — but it is a way of carrying forward that spirit: a festival that feels human, inspiring and true to the landscape.
🎶 A Team Built on Friendship, Music & Cornish Roots
Morvala is created by a young team of twenty and thirty-somethings — many of whom have worked together for over a decade. Alongside Jon are his bandmates in Haunt the Woods, the long-time crew who have travelled and toured together, and the wider group of friends who’ve shared studios, stages and creative projects since they were teenagers.
They’re musicians, designers, technicians, organisers and artists — all fiercely proud of where they come from, and fiercely committed to building something authentic for Cornwall and the wider UK festival community.
Additionally, acclaimed, professional opera singer, Charlotte Badham (also Jon's partner!) joined the team as Morvala’s Community Engagement & Activities Manager, shaping the workshops, wellbeing areas, family spaces and creative activities that form the heart of Morvala’s atmosphere.
Every part of the festival — from the line-up to the art installations to the food and workshops — comes from the collaboration of people who care deeply about this county and its culture.
Creating a Festival Experience Rooted in Place
Set on the breathtaking grounds of Mount Edgcumbe on the Rame Peninsula, Morvala brings together music, arts, creativity, and nature in one of the most beautiful festival settings in the UK. It’s a place where people come not just for the line-up, but for the coastal walks, the gardens, the sea views, and the feeling of escape.
We wanted Morvala to be a festival that feels like a true UK holiday as much as a cultural experience — somewhere people can unwind, connect and feel part of something real.
🌀 Why We Built Morvala
We built this festival because we believe in:
Creativity without ego
Community without barriers
Spaces where people feel welcome
Line-ups chosen with heart, not algorithms
Art that inspires curiosity
Music that brings people together
The idea that Cornwall deserves world-class cultural events made by the people who live here
A sustainable, low impact way of enjoying festival and large events
Morvala is our way of giving something back to the place that raised us, and creating a gathering that feels genuine — the kind of festival people return to year after year because it feels like home.
🌞 Where the Story Goes Next
Morvala is still young, but its foundations run deep: music, friendship, creativity, and the belief that festivals can still feel magical.
We hope people discover Morvala while searching for Cornwall festivals, summer UK holidays, arts festivals in the South West, or simply a place to feel inspired again. But however people find us, the goal remains the same:
To welcome them into something real, created with love, and shaped by the community around it. And this is only the beginning.
🌊 See You at Morvala 2026
25–28 June 2026 • Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall
Four days of arts, music, nature and community.
Explore the full line-up and secure your tickets below.
Share this post: