A HUGELY popular food festival is set to make its first-ever appearance in Carlisle later this year. 

Taste Cumbria, which has drawn in crowds made up of thousands at Wigton, Maryport and Cockermouth over the years, will be headed to Carlisle to coincide with the city’s Fireshow weekend in November.

The Taste Cumbria producers’ market will be in the Market Square from 10am to 6pm on November 2, and 10am to 4pm on the Sunday (November 3). 

It will offer visitors the chance to eat, drink and shop ahead of watching the city's fireworks display in Bitts Park on Saturday night.

Additionally, the festival is set to spice up Carlisle's annual Christmas market on December 14 and 15, extending the festive cheer ignited by its regular Christmas event in Cockermouth.

Taste Cumbria's Taste of the Sea event in Maryport will be going ahead on August 10 and 11, with its flagship festival in Cockermouth running from September 28.