From a delicious selection of local producers and some brilliant live music, to a silent disco and loads of family fun - Taste Cumbria’s Wigton festival brought smiles all around on Saturday.
It was the first event of the year and kickstarted the Taste Cumbria calendar in style. The festival was free to attend and took place right in the heart of the town.
As well as the Producers’ Market, hot food court, music stage, climbing wall and children’s rides, the neighbouring Market Hall hosted plenty of family entertainment. With a magician, balloon modelling, free face painting, and arts and crafts with NADT Youth, the Wigton festival proved to be another hit with visitors.
Meanwhile, a competition to design a new celebratory flag for Wigton was won by local resident Elli Logan-Airey. Her colourful creation featured a throstle, the bird associated with Wigton, and the pump and lamp from the Market Square, amid the blue of the Solway, green grass and a ploughed field to showcase the rural location, and a rainbow to demonstrate the town’s positivity and inclusivity. She was presented with a trophy by Ian Brown, Deputy Lieutenant for Cumbria, and Sandra Hodson, the town’s Mayor.
The Taste Cumbria food festivals are organised by Cumberland Council.
Councillor Anne Quilter, the Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“Thank you to everyone who came and supported another great Taste Cumbria festival, and to the council’s event team and volunteers who work so hard to make this happen.
“We stage these events to boost the local economy, both in the towns and city we visit and for the hugely enterprising small businesses who trade at them, and this is really reaping rewards. I can’t wait for the rest of the year’s events and really hope you will come and support them.”
The next Taste Cumbria event is the Taste of the Sea festival in Maryport on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August, before the flagship Taste Cumbria festival in Cockermouth on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September then the second Taste Cumbria Carlisle event on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November. Taste Cumbria Christmas on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December, also in Cockermouth, will end the year.
Trader pitches are now available for the Producers’ Markets. Visit www.tastecumbria.co.uk and follow the link to the application forms. Priority is given to Cumbrian producers, but the organisers welcome enquiries from other areas.
Photos by Tom Kay.