From mulled wine and mince pies, to festive fizz and fancy cakes, all the flavours of the season will be on offer in Cockermouth at the 2019 Taste Cumbria Christmas festival.
And, for the first time, there will be a classical addition to the weekend with a free concert taking place in the Main Street marquee, complete with mulled wine and food for an evening treat.
Taste Cumbria Christmas takes place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December and promises to offer the perfect opportunity to eat, drink, shop and explore. Throughout the two days there will be a giant producers’ market with 60 stalls, a hot food court with meals and snacks, and a bar packed with ales and fizz. There will also be plenty of family activities and festive entertainment, with a fairground and Christmassy arts and crafts.
The festival’s new musical offering will feature three talented performers in a festive feast of music and song in a special ‘Rosehill on the Road’ concert from 4pm on the Saturday. Pianist Anna Tilbrook, Cumbrian soprano Kirsty McLean and tenor Glen Cunningham will entertain with operatic favourites from the likes of Verdi, Puccini and Gounod, alongside songs from popular musicals such as West Side Story, My Fair Lady and Carousel. There will also be carol singing with plenty of opportunity for audience participation, as well as samples from the Green Room restaurant at Whitehaven’s Rosehill theatre.
Taste Cumbria Christmas is organised by Allerdale Borough Council and festival organiser Anna Chippendale says: “What makes Taste Cumbria Christmas extra special is Cockermouth itself. We reckon this town has some of the loveliest Christmas lights in the county, and when all the shops put candle lanterns outside their doors and dress their windows with colour and light, it’s just beautiful.
“I am really keen to bring the arts on to the streets of Allerdale so I’m looking forward to a great singalong with the team from Rosehill. If you love food, drink and music, and fancy the chance to do some great festive shopping, Taste Cumbria Christmas is the place to be.”
Now firmly established as the biggest and, arguably, the best foodie events in Cumbria, Taste Cumbria began in Cockermouth, a traditional market town renowned for its wealth of independent businesses. The festival was created following the floods of 2009 with the aim of revitalising Cockermouth and West Cumbria, areas which suffered terrible damage in the November storms.
Ironically, the first Taste Cumbria Christmas event took place in December 2015, just a week after Cockermouth was hit by Storm Desmond and flooded once again. Local retailers and the owners of the pubs and restaurants pushed for the festival to go ahead to keep the town on the map and to ensure locals and visitors alike knew it was open for business. Since then, the event has attracted thousands of people who come to do their Christmas shopping and explore the town.
For more information about Taste Cumbria email [email protected] or call 01900 702969.
