For the first time, Taste Cumbria will be bringing its food and drink festival to the Cathedral grounds, in the heart of Carlisle, on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 November 2024.
It’s part of the Carlisle Fireshow, which takes place on the Saturday night. The two events are joining forces to create one big blazing weekend of fun for all the family.
Taste Cumbria is partnering with the Carlisle Farmers Market too, and setting up with them in the beautiful grounds of the Cathedral. The event will include 40 food and drink traders, live music on the festival stage, hot food stalls, children’s activities and face painting, street theatre and fire-themed entertainment.
Stalls will be open between 10am and 5pm on the Saturday and between 11am and 4pm on the Sunday, while the sparkling Fireshow will start at 6.30pm on Saturday. There will be centre piece bonfire and more than 2,000 spectacular fireworks, set to music, will light up the sky.
This will be the 35th Fireshow event to be held in Bitts Park and is the biggest event in the region attracting more than 35,000 people. This year’s event is organised in conjunction with Merlin Fireworks Ltd.
The Taste Cumbria and Fireshow events are both organised by Cumberland Council and supported by UK Government funding.
The Taste Cumbria events bring millions of pounds into the Cumberland economy each year through their events in Cockermouth, Maryport and Wigton.
Cllr Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“We’re really excited to bring a delicious Taste Cumbria festival to Carlisle for the first time this year. Our calendar of events, and the amount of people who come and enjoy them, is really growing.
“The Fireshow already attracts thousands of visitors, and we hope they will love the chance to tuck in to some brilliant food and drink while they’re here.”
Carlisle’s city centre programme will also include a Carlisle Teenage Market on Saturday 23 November in the Lanes Shopping Centre and a Devonshire Street Party on Sunday 24 November.