The county’s favourite food festival is back in Cockermouth on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September.
It promises to be an event packed with all sorts of entertainment, from a Supper Club and Cocktail Masterclass, to expert demonstrations and family fun, with crafty sessions, live music, walkabout street theatre and more.
Market Place will host its Street Party with the businesses based there spilling out on to the pavements to showcase their wares. On Main Street there will be stalls, acoustic music and the Demo Kitchen. Over the river in Memorial Gardens’ car park, there will be a hot food court, children’s fairground, the festival marquee with the Tractor Shed Brewing bar and the main live music stage. In all three locations there will be picnic areas so visitors can sit, chat, socialise and enjoy the atmosphere.
There will be other attractions around town with many of the independent businesses taking part. The Kirkgate Arts centre is hosting a comedy night on the Saturday and jazz session on the Sunday, while the United Reform Church on Main Street will also be packed with producers’ stalls featuring crafts and food.
The very popular Supper Club with Alec Anderson from West Cumbria-based Takeaway@Home is back for another year. He will be cooking a locally-sourced feast at Cockermouth Cricket Club on the Friday night. There will also be an exclusive Cocktail Masterclass with Cumbria Distilling Co at Cockermouth Kitchen Company in Market Place on the Saturday from 5.30pm. There may still be a few tickets available – visit www.visitallerdale.co.uk/things-to-do/taste-cumbria-cockermouth for details.
There will be children’s activities with Rainbow Wishes Foundation in The Vicky shared workspace on High Sand Lane, with science experiments and crazy family fun.
Around 25,000 people attended Cockermouth’s Taste Cumbria event last year, bringing nearly £2 million into the local economy, and Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, says this is one reason why the council is so keen to bring lively entertainment to all of its towns.
She added: “We love seeing our streets packed with smiling faces at festivals like Taste Cumbria. Yes, we want to see that economic impact, but we also appreciate how important events like this are for quality of life. They’re exciting, they make people happy and they bring people together. I hope everyone enjoys all the entertainment on offer and has the chance to explore the lovely businesses and attractions of Cockermouth too.”
These events couldn’t happen without the festival’s sponsors and supporters. Taste Cumbria is organised by Cumberland Council and supported by Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, Milburns Solicitors, Strolling4Shoes, Tractor Shed Brewing, Takeaway@Home, Cockermouth Cricket Club, Cumbria Distilling Co, Cockermouth Kitchen Company, Lloyd BMW, Rock With and Newsquest Cumbria.
Two Park-and-Stroll parking areas are available over the weekend, next to Lloyd BMW and at the rear of the Lakes Home Centre on Low Road – use the postcode CA130HH to find them.
This event will be followed by another festive favourite - Taste Cumbria Christmas in Cockermouth on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December 2022.
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