Taste Cumbria
Christmas
Taste Cumbria’s Christmas festival in Cockermouth!
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Get in to the festive spirit with Taste Cumbria Christmas in Cockermouth on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December 2023.
We treat you to more than just food and drink at our Christmas event. There will be gifts and homewares, seasonal specials and all the sweet and savoury treats you’d expect from the county’s favourite food festival. Don’t forget to visit Cockermouth’s brilliant independent businesses too.
We’re so pleased to welcome Great British Bake Off star Crystelle Pereira, author and self proclaimed Farmer’s Wife Helen Rebanks and Taste Cumbria fave Fell Foodie, aka Harrison Ward, to the Demo Stage this year. They’ll be signing copies of their books in The New Bookshop on Main Street too.
Have a fabulous Christmas festival!
Here’s a little look at the event line-up – all of this is FREE to attend:
PRODUCERS’ STALLS
Main Street and Market Place
Saturday 9 December – 10am – 5pm
Sunday 10 December – 10am – 4pm
HOT FOOD COURT & PICNIC AREA
Saturday 9 December – 10am – 5pm
Sunday 10 December – 10am – 4pm
THE MUSIC STAGES
Market Place
Saturday 9 December
11am – noon – Fairfield Primary School
Noon – 12:30 – Paddle Primary School
12:45pm – 1:45pm – Mechanics Band
2pm – 3pm – Mojo Rising
3:30pm – 4:40pm – Thomas MacGregor
Sunday 10 December
Noon – 1pm – Alex Freitas
1pm – 2pm – Ryan Davidson
2pm – 3pm – Cockermouth School
3pm – 4pm – Mojo Rising
Main Street
Saturday 9 December
11am – noon – Noir
12:30pm – 1:30pm – Miss Pearl
2pm – 3pm – Leah Belle
3:30pm – 4:30pm – Phil Lewthwaite & Graham Bell
Sunday 10 December
Noon – 1pm – Ryan Davidson
1:30pm – 2:30pm – Alex Freitas
3pm – 4pm – Cockermouth School
THE DEMO STAGE, MARKET PLACE
Saturday 9 December
11am – 11:30am – Fell Foodie, aka Harrison Ward (book signing from noon)
Noon – 12:30pm – Milling grains and flours with Warwick Bridge Cornmill
1pm – 1:30pm – Crystelle Pereira from Great British Bake Off (book signing from 2pm)
2pm – 2:30pm – Russ Stubbs from SA Sauces
3pm – 3:30pm – Sachin Mishra from Dosa Chaska
Sunday 10 December
11am – 11:30am – Manon Plouffe from Wild Zucchinis
Noon – 12:30pm – Helen Rebanks, author of The Farmer’s Wife (book signing from 1pm)
1pm – 1:30pm – Torpenhow Farmhouse Dairy
2pm – 2:30pm – Sachin Mishra from Dosa Chaska
3pm – Bread baking tips with Warwick Bridge Cornmill
**All the book signings will take place in The New Bookshop, Main Street**
Photo credit – Daniel J Toal
CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
Father Christmas in his grotto at Cockermouth Pilates Studio, Banks Court, off Market Place
Saturday 9 December, 11am – 4pm
The Christmas Crafty Tents, Main Street & Market Place
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December
Gingerbread making workshops, write a letter to Santa, face painting, Christmas-themed arts and crafts
Street theatre
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December, throughout town
Fairground rides, Market Place
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December
ELSEWHERE IN TOWN…
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December
Cockermouth Art & Craft Fair, United Reformed Church, Main Street
Etsy Made in Cumbria Market. Kirkgate Arts, Kirkgate
Saturday 9 December, 9am – 5pm
Oyster Bar, Fyne Fish, Station Street
Saturday 9 December, 2pm-4pm
Christmas display of cribs and nativity, and seasonal refreshments, Lorton Street Methodist Church
Saturday 9 December, in the evening
Blood Bikes Cumbria fundraiser with music from Delta Geckos, The Fletcher Christian pub, Main Street
Saturday 9 December, 7pm-8pm (ticketed), 8pm-10pm (open to all), Dark Side cocktails at The Moon & Sixpence, Main Street
Sunday 10 December, noon – 5pm
Ukrainian Café, The Hub, 4 Market Street
Sunday 10 December, 12.30pm – 3.30pm
Fun family cooking drop-in session with Manon Plouffe of Wild Zucchinis
Where to #shoplocal
That phrase 'we've got Christmas all wrapped up' is a bit of a cliche
but it definitely applies to shopping in Cockermouth
This is a town which has something for everyone. Head to Station Street, South Street, Main Street, Market Place, Lowther Went and Kings Arms Lane and shop until you drop!
You can get the ingredients for a Christmas feast – from meat and cheese, to bread and cakes, and even the fruit, vegetables and fish, the herbs and spices, and the larder staples that you need to see you through the festive season.
If you’re searching for homewares, look no further – find the pots, the pans, the crockery, cutlery and glasses you need in many shops. There are gifts galore too. Discover quirky artisan crafts for a really unique present, or pick up something pretty in its boutique stores.
There are practical options as well – from hardware for the home or garden, as well as clotes, shoes and wet weather gear. And don’t forget the little ones … Toys and games, stocking fillers and educational fun are all on offer, and there are even presents for your four-legged friends.
Cockermouth Country Market is taking place in the Kirkgate Arts centre on Friday 9 December from 9am to 12:30pm, and on Saturday 10 December from 9am to 3pm.
Cockermouth Art and Craft Market is taking place in the United Reform Church, Main Street, from 10am to 4:30pm on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December.
Supper Club at Low Hall the Lakes
Thursday 7 December
Arrive 6:30pm – Seated by 7pm
Price: £45.00
Location – Low Hall The Lakes – the beautiful restored farmhouse and its event space, the Loveable Old Barn, on the outskirts of Cockermouth near Blindbothel.
Saturday 10th December
10am – 3pm – Santa Claus @ Kirkgate Arts
The big man himself is in town, with a little help from Cockermouth Rotary Club.
Tickets cost £2 per child and everyone receives a small gift to take home.
Saturday 10th December
10am – 3pm – Main Street Kid’s Gazebo – face painting with Silly Gilly of Party Fun
10am – 3pm – Main Street Kids’ Gazebo – elf workshops
10am – 3pm – throughout town – street theatre
10am – 3pm – Blossom Valley artisan gift shop, Main Street – Christmas crafts – make a snow globe, festive slime and a traditional Christmas decoration. £3.50 per child.
10am – 5pm – fairground rides – Main Street
Sunday 11th December
10am – 3pm – Main Street Kid’s Gazebo – face painting with Silly Gilly of Party Fun
10am – 3pm – Main Street Kids’ Gazebo – elf workshops
10am – 3pm – throughout town – street theatre
10am – 3pm – Blossom Valley artisan gift shop, Main Street – Christmas crafts – make a snow globe, festive slime and a traditional Christmas decoration. £3.50 per child.
10am – 4pm – fairground rides – Main Street
Live music
Saturday 10th December
10:45 – 11am – Fairfield Primary School Choir
11am – 12pm – Cockermouth Mechanics Brass Band
12:15pm – 1:15pm – Miss Cindy Hoten
1:30pm – 2:30pm – Chelsea Reynolds
2:45pm – 3:45pm – Pecker
4:00pm – 5:00pm – Mojo Rising
Sunday 11th December
11am – 12pm – Alex Freitas
12:15pm – 1:15pm – Gary Jackson
1:30pm – 2:30pm – Chelsea Reynolds
2:45pm – 3:45pm – Miss Pearl
Special thanks to our event supporters
This year’s Taste Cumbria Christmas is organised by Cumberland Council, sponsored by Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, Rock With, Holmen Iggesund and Milburns Solicitors, and supported by Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade.
Getting here
The nearest mainline train station is Penrith. Connecting buses take about an hour to transport you to Cockermouth. Alternatively, arrive via Carlisle Railway Station, then take the train to Maryport, then the number 68 bus or a taxi. If you are travelling by car, leave the M6 at junction 40, take the A66 west and you should be here in 40 minutes. For bus timetables throughout Cumbria click here.
Accommodation
Make a weekend of it by booking some accommodation. Allerdale has an excellent range of accommodation from hotels, campsites and B&Bs to self catering. And don’t forget to visit the wealth of independent businesses in Cockermouth.
Other 2022 dates for your diary
Taste Cumbria Wigton – 22 April 2023
Taste Cumbria Maryport – Taste of the Sea 12 & 13 August 2023
Taste Cumbria Cockermouth – 23 & 24 September 2023
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