There’s loads for little foodies to see and do at next month’s Taste Cumbria Christmas festival in Cockermouth.
From arts and crafts or science experiments, fairground rides, fairy princesses and storytelling, the organisers are pulling out all the stops to make sure even the youngest visitors can have a great weekend.
The event takes place on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8 in the town centre.
The Vicky, a shared workspace on High Sand Lane, will be the venue for most of the children’s crafty activities. From 10am to 4pm on both days there will be the chance to make Christmas cards and decorations with a little help from the fairy princesses from Rainbow Jelly Productions. They will also be able to design and make their own masks which they can take along to storytelling sessions packed with tales with entertainer Steve Wharton.
The Vicky will also be the location for child-friendly science and engineering experiments by the teams from the Royal Society of Chemistry and the National Nuclear Laboratory.
The fairground rides will be on Main Street, next to the big producers’ market which will be packed with food and drink, pretty gifts and homewares. There will be hot meals and snacks to eat on the spot, and a bar run by Jennings Brewery with their real ales and festive fizz.
The Main Street marquee will be a great destination for families who love a singalong thanks to a free concert by the Rosehill on the Road initiative, courtesy of Rosehill Theatre in Whitehaven. The chefs from The Green Room Restaurant at the theatre will also be providing nibbles for visitors to try, while the bar will stay open throughout.
The free concert takes place from 4pm on the Saturday. Pianist Anna Tilbrook, Cumbrian soprano Kirsty McLean and tenor Glen Cunningham will entertain with some rousing carols as well as operatic favourites from the likes of Verdi, Puccini and Gounod, and songs from popular musicals such as West Side Story, My Fair Lady and Carousel.
Taste Cumbria Christmas is organised by Allerdale Borough Council and festival organiser Anna Chippendale says: “There will be more family fun than ever at this year’s Taste Cumbria Christmas festival. Whether you want to make something crafty to take home, or get involved in the festive singing, or try your hand at some science activities with a real wow factor, it’s going to be an event that everyone can enjoy.
“Combine this with some great shopping in the producers’ market, as well as in the brilliant independent businesses around town, and it promises to be a great weekend.”
For more information about Taste Cumbria email festivals.events@allerdale.gov.uk or call 01900 702969.
