Taste Cumbria Christmas is back in Cockermouth on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December and there’s a fabulous festive weekend in store.
From producers’ stalls packed with food, drink, crafts and homewares, to family entertainment including a visit from Santa, a snow globe, children’s book and film characters, and fairground rides, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
Foodies will love the chef demonstrations and the chance to quiz the experts, while those in search of Christmas shopping inspiration will be able to visit Cockermouth’s great independent shops for gifts and all their seasonal essentials. The pubs, restaurants and cafes will also be open for warming drinks and good food.
Taste Cumbria is now heading into its 15th year and is the county’s biggest and best food festival. It was created in the wake of the 2009 floods which devastated Cockermouth. The aim was to keep the town, and the wider area, on the map, and the strategy has worked - the festival in September brought £2.2 million into the local economy, with some of the town’s businesses reporting record sales.
The whole festival is free to attend, though there are some extra events too. The Taste Cumbria Comedy Night will be held at Cockermouth Cricket Club on Saturday 7 December. Tickets are on sale on the Taste Cumbria website.
In addition, there will be a Michelin-starred Supper Club at Low Hall the Lakes, with food created by the team from The Cottage in the Wood, though this sold out within 72 hours of tickets going on sale.
The events are organised by Cumberland Council. Councillor Anne Quilter, Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“Cockermouth looks gorgeous at Christmas and the last Taste Cumbria event of the year is guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit.
“We always push the ‘shop local’ message as we appreciate how vital our thriving high streets are for our communities, and that message is particularly important at Christmas when businesses need a sales boost. We are blessed with some really special businesses in Cumberland and I would urge you to support them all year round.”
The Taste Cumbria Christmas festival is supported by the UK Government’s UKSPF scheme and sponsored by Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade and Milburns Solicitors, and supported by RockWith.
For more details visit the Taste Cumbria Christmas website.