A packed producers’ market, dancing at the live music stage, expert workshops and lots of family fun – they all combined for a great day at the first Taste of Wigton festival.
There were smiles all around as friends and families came together for an autumnal extravaganza of food, the arts, crafts and more.
Water Street Car Park was the main focus for the event and it proved an ideal location in the heart of the town. Market Hall played host to the children’s activities with circus skills, crafts and dressing up all proving popular with visitors of all ages. Outside a story-telling tipi gave little ones the chance to sit down and listen to tales from Dominic Kelly and Jessie McMeekin, while more than 50 youngsters tried their hand at street art.
People had the chance to explore the town and its attractions too. The John Peel Theatre staged workshops, while the Cornerstone Methodist Church was the location for a question and answer session with BBC Radio Cumbria’s Helen Millican and Tom Mahon, head cutter at Redmayne 1860, Wigton’s acclaimed international tailors.
There was also a Find Wigton Ted treasure hunt which took visitors around the town’s shops in search of teddy bears and gave them the chance to win an i-Pad, courtesy of North Allerdale Development Trust. Other local organisations, like Wigton Food Pantry and the Chrysalis charity, were also raising awareness of their work.
In the Producers’ Market, international hot food ranging from Creole to Jamaican proved a hit, washed down with cocktails and beer. Other goodies included gin, cakes, relishes and jams, with a good number of Wigton businesses taking a stall themselves.
One of the traders, Pie Demand from Carlisle, had sold out by lunchtime. Stallholder Laura Twigg said: “It has been phenomenal! What a fantastic turnout. This has been a great day.”
The event was organised by Allerdale Borough Council with the support of Cumbria County Council, Wigton Town Council, North Allerdale Development Trust and Free 4 All community group.
There is one more Taste Cumbria event due to take place this year. Taste Cumbria Christmas is in Cockermouth on December 11 and 12.
