The first Taste Cumbria festival of the year takes place in Wigton this Saturday, 22 April.
It has everything you would expect from the county’s best festivals – a Producers’ Market packed with more than 40 stalls, chef demos, live music, and lots of lovely food and drink.
The live music stage will be right next to the picnic area, where visitors will be able to enjoy the entertainment while tucking into hot and cold snacks and dishes, and perhaps a beer or a cocktail or two.
There will be loads of family activities too, including fairground rides, street art sessions, circus skills workshops and loads of food-themed arts and crafts.
Those who like to know about the origins of their food and drink – or who just love a proper cuppa – can enjoy a free talk about the origins of tea in Cumbria. It takes place at the Market Hall at 2pm and is hosted by historian Steven White. There is no need to book, just turn up.
There will also be a Taste Cumbria Comedy Night to kick off the festival on Friday, 21 April. If you are quick, there may be a few tickets left. Search ‘Taste Comedy Wigton’ at eventbrite or click here.
The festival starts at 10am on Saturday and finishes at 5pm. Water Street car park is closed from 3pm on Friday to allow the event team to set up.
For all the details and timings of the event, go to visitallerdale.co.uk
Taste Cumbria Wigton will be followed by the Taste of the Sea festival in Maryport on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 August, then the flagship Taste Cumbria festival in Cockermouth on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September. Taste Cumbria Christmas on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December, also in Cockermouth, will end the year.
Trader pitches are now available for the Producers’ and Young Entrepreneurs’ Markets and hot food courts at each of the events. The Entrepreneurs Markets are open to those aged 16 to 25 who have a new small independent business or who make, bake and create as an aside to school or college.
Visit Taste Cumbria to apply. For more information email anna.chippendale@cumberland.gov.uk Priority is given to Cumbrian producers, but the organisers welcome enquiries from other areas.
The Taste Cumbria food festivals have historically been organised by Allerdale Borough Council and will continue under the new Cumberland Council.