From pumpkin picking and carving at Walby Farm Park near Carlisle and Grasmere’s Allan Bank to spooky storytelling at Brockhole Visitor Centre and Muncaster Castle, there’s a packed season of family events this autumn right across Cumbria.
Sample and buy local produce at one of Cumbria’s autumnal food and drink festivals such as Taste Cumbria, which is hosting two events in the coming months including Taste Carlisle in November and Taste Christmas at Cockermouth in December.
Other seasonal festivals showcase life in Cumbria across the ages including Winter Droving in Penrith on October 26 as a celebration of all things autumnal, Ulverston’s Dickensian Festival on November 23 and 24 and Kendal’s annual Mountain Festival from November 21-24.
Bonfire Night is celebrated all across Cumbria’s towns and villages, with major events at Hayes Garden World in Ambleside, where a combined firework display and late-night Christmas shopping evening takes place on November 1.
Carlisle’s majestic Fireshow comes to Bitts Park on November 2, with 2,000 fireworks bursting into the skies to a curated soundtrack.
As Christmas approaches, Cumbria comes to life with events from early November to the end of December. Towns including Keswick, Ambleside and Workington are all hosting events to launch their Christmas lights, while Sizergh Castle is launching a new event for 2024, Winter at Sizergh from November 22 until December 24.
Shopping for Christmas is made easy via a number of markets and fairs including Holker Hall’s Winter Market on November 1-3, Netherby Hall Christmas Craft Fair on November 23 and 24 and Sedbergh late night Christmas shopping event on Wednesday, December 4.
Over the weekend of December 7 and 8 fill an entire weekend from dawn to dusk visiting all the Christmas markets across the county including at Beetham Nurseries (December 5-8), Kirkby Lonsdale (December 6-8), Hawkshead (December 7 and 8) and Barrow’s ‘Another local Christmas Market’ (December 8).
Cultural festivities are celebrated at Dove Cottage in Grasmere on December 21, with its Georgian Christmas event, or join the team at The World of Beatrix Potter on December 14 for a tour, lunch, gifts and special screening of The Snowman.
Post Christmas events include Lakeland Motor Museum’s Boxing Day Ride & Drive In Day (December 26), ‘Winter Warmer Trains’ on Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (December 26-Jan 1) or enjoy The Little Mermaid Christmas Pantomime at Rheged (December 29 and 30).
For more details visit https://www.visitlakedistrict.com/whats-on/seasonal-events.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here