On the build up to this year’s Small Business Saturday (2 December) Cumberland Council is encouraging residents to shop local and support local businesses.
Alongside town councils, the council has lined up events to attract visitors and showcase the shops and traders within the area.
Events coinciding with Small Business Saturday include a Teenage Market in The Lanes Carlisle, a Christmas Market in Carlisle city centre, Millom’s Christmas Market and Lights Switch-On and a Farmers’ Marker at Carlisle Cathedral.
Other upcoming events include:
- Late Night Shopping in Carlisle - every Thursday, starting on Thursday 30 November and ending on Thursday 21 December.
- Friday 1 to Sunday 17 December - Carlisle Christmas Market in Carlisle city centre. Visit the Discover Carlisle's website.
- Saturday 2 December - Millom Christmas Market and Christmas Lights Switch-On. For further information visit the Millom Town Council website.
- Saturday 2 December - Carlisle Teenage Market. For further information visit the Cumberland Council website.
- Saturday 2 December - Carlisle Christmas Farmers’ Market at Carlisle Cathedral. For further information visit Carlisle Cathedral's website.
- Sunday 3 December - Keswick Victorian Fayre. For further information visit Visit Keswick website.
- Sunday 3 December - Aspatria Christmas Lights Switch-On. For further information visit the Aspatria Town Council Facebook page
- Friday 8 December - Whitehaven Christmas Fair. For further information visit the Whitehaven Town Council website.
- Friday 8 December - Whitehaven Harbour Lights Show and Christmas Firework Display. For further information visit the Whitehaven Town Council website.
- Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 December - Taste Cumbria Christmas in Cockermouth. For further information visit the Taste Cumbria website.
Cumberland Council is providing free parking in the following car parks on these dates:
- Carlisle’s Bitts Park; Lowther Street; Castle; Caldew Riverside; The Sands; Swifts Bank; Viaduct; Civic Centre and West Walls car parks free parking after 3pm on the following dates: Thursday 30 November, Thursday 7 December, Thursday 14 December and Thursday 21 December. To coincide with late night shopping.
- Keswick Central car park - all day free parking on Sunday 3 December - Keswick Victorian Fayre.
Free parking was also provided for the Keswick Lights Switch-On event, Cockermouth’s Light Switch-On, Cockermouth’s Late Night Shopping event, Workington’s Christmas Festival and Light Switch-On plus Egremont’s Winter Wonderland Christmas Fayre.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“Cumberland has a packed programme on the build-up to Christmas and we encourage local residents and visitors to support the many events planned over the weeks running up to the festivities.
“We also support Small Business Saturday and encourage people to shop local and support local businesses.
“We are offering free parking on some key dates, and we hope this serves as an incentive to make a visit to local towns and our city.”
For a full list of events planned for the Cumberland area, visit www.discovercarlisle.co.uk