Cockermouth will be full of festive cheer this weekend as the Taste Cumbria Christmas festival returns to the town.
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December are the dates for this year’s sparkling extravaganza and the festival is completely free to attend.
There will be loads of stalls packed with goodies made by local traders, live music and festive street theatre, along with expert demos, fairground rides, face painting and children’s crafts. Father Christmas will be in his grotto on the Saturday from 11am and Cockermouth’s wealth of independent shops will be lighting their doorways with lanterns, and the pubs and eateries will be serving up some great food and drink, all joining in the fun.
Main Street and Market Place will be the place to be, with Santa’s grotto inside Cockermouth Pilates Studio, and the Demo Kitchen hosted by Cockermouth Kitchen Company. From homewares and gifts, to the tastiest food and drink, the producers’ stalls will be packed with lovely things to try and to buy.
There’s an art and craft fair in the United Reformed Church on Main Street that weekend too, while Market Place Print Studio is hosting drop-in sessions to make pretty Christmas gifts.
Meanwhile, the Taste Cumbria Christmas Comedy Night will be held at Jennings Brewery on Saturday 6 December. Tickets are on sale on the Taste Cumbria website priced just £15 per person. A Michelin-starred Supper Club has already sold out.
Taste Cumbria is now famed as the county’s biggest and best food festival. The events, now also held in Carlisle, Maryport and Wigton, bring millions of pounds into the local economy each year.
The festivals are organised by Cumberland Council. Councillor Anne Quilter, Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said: “Cockermouth’s final Taste Cumbria event of the year is like the star on top of the Christmas tree. It means you can put the finishing touches to all your festive plans – and sort out all the shopping!
“We are thrilled that Santa will be visiting us again this year, though don’t miss his grotto which is only open on the Saturday. And please do support the brilliant musicians who will be performing. They are guaranteed to get you into the Christmas spirit.
“And finally, thank you to everyone who has supported Taste Cumbria again this year. We can’t wait for what’s to come in 2026.”
The Taste Cumbria Christmas festival is sponsored by Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery and Milburns Solicitors, and supported by RockWith and Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade.
For more details visit www.tastecumbria.co.uk/taste-cumbria-christmas
Photo Credit: Tom Kay Photographic