Over 250 vintage buses, lorries and commercial vehicles on show. Free admission, free bus rides. Family event. Saturday evening road run through the fells, food & drink stalls and vintage funfair.
The Cumbria Easter Rally, the UK’s biggest, free rally of classic commercial vehicles turns 21 on Easter weekend, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April 2019, when the quintessential event returns to Kirkby Stephen and Brough.
Held at some of the most picturesque locations in the Upper Eden Valley and in the Cumbrian North Pennines’ area of outstanding beauty and the recently extended Yorkshire Dales National Park (Westmorland Dales), the two-day event attracts thousands of people to South East Cumbria to view the impressive display of much loved vintage vehicles that, alongside a picturesque road run across the fells, frames a host of other activities and stalls for shopping and food and drink.
Well-preserved and lovingly restored vintage lorries, buses, coaches, Land Rovers, military and utility vehicles, tractors and other farming vehicles, vans, wagons and old pedal bikes will be exhibited across various sites across Kirkby Stephen and Brough with free classic bus rides available between them.
A highlight of the 21st Classic Easter Rally will be the amazing annual road run through the fells, which takes place on Saturday 20th April. The evening procession of classic trucks and buses will delight the crowds lining the route with the fells of the Westmorland Dales creating a spectacularly beautiful backdrop for sightseers, professional photographers and Instagrammers alike.
Entry is free for exhibiting historic, commercial vehicles and the free, family-friendly event features a mini-roundabout and other activities for children, plus local artisan, craft and food stalls and extended parking to manage visitor numbers comfortably. The Easter Rally provides two days of nostalgia as well as a fascinating visual history of commercial vehicles.
Nanette Rigg of Encounter Eden said: “Encounter Eden took on the task of organising and promoting Cumbria Easter Rally in 2018, to help maintain what has become the first main visitor attraction of the Cumbrian tourism calendar.
“The event has also proved its importance to the local community as a flagship event, with local observers reckoning that 10,000 attended the event in 2018, bringing an extremely welcome estimated £100,000 into the local economy. Encounter Eden is looking forward to helping bring together exhibitors, visitors and locals together again for the 21st Cumbria Easter Rally and build upon the much-loved tradition in 2019.”
Encounter Eden, a not-for-profit, social enterprise designed to give the area an economic boost with a series of events in the region took over the co-ordination of the classic commercial vehicle rally last year. The Rally was previously organised by the Eden Classic Vehicle Group and the now-retired Hamer Family (returning as exhibitors).
Entry forms are available from www.cumbriaeasterrally.com Entry to the public is Free.
Email contact: [email protected]
RALLY SITES:
- Grand Prix yard in Brough – classic vehicles and stalls; parking across the road
- Geoff Atkinson’s yard in Brough – The Bedford Enthusiasts Club
- Jubilee Park in Brough – vintage pedal bikes
- The Auction Mart in Kirkby Stephen – classic vehicles and stalls. Limited camping for exhibitors. Please reserve.
- Market Square and Market Street Kirkby Stephen – classic vehicles displayed and craft/artisan and food stalls as well as stalls for motor enthusiasts.
- The Kirkby Stephen CoOp car park – exhibitor displays on Sunday only.
- Kirkby Stephen Parish Church – ‘the Cathedral of the Dales’ – bric-a-brac and cafe
SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEKEND:
The free classic bus service from Kirkby Stephen Railway Station to Brough – buses run in approximately 15-minute intervals. First bus 10:00. Last bus 16:30.
Road Run on Saturday 20th April at 16:30 starting at Grand Prix in Brough. If you want to take a bus to join the route please be at the Grand Prix at 16:10.
