Flagship Taste Cumbria Festival Returns To Cockermouth
Taste Cumbria is returning to Cockermouth for a major weekend celebration bringing together food, drink, entertainment and family activities across the town.
The festival will take place on Saturday September 26 and Sunday September 27, with an additional Friday night street party giving visitors an early start to the weekend.
The event will return to the town where Taste Cumbria began 16 years ago. Since its launch, the festival has developed into a major annual celebration of local food, drink and community life.
The weekend will begin with the Friday Night Chill Out in Market Place, running from 7pm until 9pm. Visitors will be able to enjoy hot food, cold beers and live music during the opening evening.
The main festival will then run from 10am until 5pm on Saturday, followed by a further day of activities from 10am until 4pm on Sunday. Events and attractions will be spread across several central locations in Cockermouth.
Producers’ stalls will line Main Street, while Market Place will host the street party and music stage. Jennings Brewery will provide another area for festival attractions, adding to the range of locations visitors can explore.
Entertainment will feature prominently throughout the weekend, with street theatre, a caricaturist, a hot food court, picnic areas and fairground rides among the attractions planned for visitors.
Food demonstrations will also form an important part of the festival programme. The Demo Stage will feature a line-up of chefs and food experts preparing dishes for visitors, including Michelin-starred chef Kevin Scanlan.
Scanlan, head chef at SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel, will be joined by his colleague Ralph Rojas, head chef at Gilpin Spice. Their appearances will provide visitors with the opportunity to watch experienced chefs demonstrate their skills.
Beer will also feature prominently, with Jennings and Crooked River providing drinks alongside al fresco bars in the town. The festival will therefore offer a broad selection of food and drink experiences throughout the weekend.
Additional activities will take place away from the main festival areas. An art and craft fair will be held at the United Reformed Church on Main Street, while a sporting goods sale will take place at Kirkgate Arts.
Market Place Print Studio will also host food-themed drop-in workshops, while pubs around Cockermouth are expected to provide further live music during the weekend.
The festival has become a major attraction for the town, with tens of thousands of visitors expected to make their way to Cockermouth for the celebrations. The range of activities is designed to provide something for visitors of different ages and interests.
Taste Cumbria was established following the devastating floods that affected Cockermouth in 2009. The festival has since grown into one of the county’s largest food-focused events and has become an established fixture in the local calendar.
The Cockermouth event is organised by Cumberland Council, with support from Cockermouth Town Council, Jennings Brewery, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, Milburns Solicitors and Rock With.
With food producers, demonstrations, entertainment, markets, workshops and live music taking place across the town, the return of Taste Cumbria is set to bring a busy and colourful weekend to Cockermouth.
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