The 2020 Taste Cumbria food festival will go ahead with all measures in place to keep traders and visitors safe.
The event will happen in Cockermouth on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September. This year’s festival will be smaller than previous years to ensure visitor numbers are manageable, but there will still be plenty of activities going on.
There will be a producers market on Main Street with 40 stalls, strategically placed to allow plenty of social distancing. Visitors will be able to buy tickets for a marquee in Memorial Gardens Car Park, off Wakefield Road, to watch live entertainment and order hot food via table service. In Market Place, there will be more food and drink stalls and a picnic area, hosted by Cockermouth businesses. Elsewhere in town, there will be children’s activities and live music.
Stallholders will trade until 7pm to spread out the time people can visit and the town’s shops will be encouraged to stay open to give everyone more space to browse. The organisers are also planning some online content for those who can’t visit, showcasing chefs and experts, and their businesses.
Councillor Mike Johnson, the deputy leader of Allerdale Borough Council which organises Taste Cumbria, said: “We really, really want to boost Cumbrian businesses after the terrible uncertainty of recent months so we have deliberated long and hard about how to stage Taste Cumbria in the safest way possible. That’s why the festival will be smaller than in previous years, with loads of arrangements in place to remind people of the importance of keeping their distance, cleaning their hands, and wearing face coverings in shops. We’ve learned what works well from the reopening of Keswick Market, like increased stewarding and one-way routes for visitors, and will be replicating those measures here.
“We want everyone to have a great weekend and that means considering everyone around you as you explore everything Cockermouth has to offer.”
Councillor John Cook, who has responsibility for leisure and tourism, added: “Taste Cumbria is a firm favourite in every food-lover’s calendar and is such a fantastic showcase of the county’s produce, as well as putting Cockermouth and Allerdale on the map. Small independent businesses need support, now more than ever, and we want to do whatever we can to help them, while giving everyone a safe and enjoyable day out.”
Taste Cumbria is supported by Cockermouth Town Council and Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade.
Andrew Marshall, the Chamber chairman, said: “We’ve always promoted Cockermouth as a great place to eat, drink, shop and explore and traders have worked hard to make the town as welcoming as possible, while remembering the Covid precautions. I’d encourage visitors to avoid the middle of the day when the festival is usually at its busiest and come early or stay late to make the most of safe shopping – and eating!”
For more information or to book a stall, email anna.chippendale@allerdale.gov.uk.
Tickets for the entertainment in the Memorial Gardens Car Park Marquee will go on sale very soon on www.visitallerdale.co.uk. To enquire about stall bookings or for more information about Taste Cumbria email festivals.events@allerdale.gov.uk or call 01900 702969.
