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Your Guide to What's On 2008 in the English Lake DistrictThis page covers Lakeland events up to the end of September 2008. For events after that date, please click here. To have your event included here, please email info@lake-district-guides.co.uk April 25 - May 4
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24th March 2008, Aquarium of the Lakes
All New Interactive Dive Bell Launch Party
Be part of the exciting launch of the world's first interactive diving bell. Face some of the world's scariest animals, including hippos, sharks and alligators (maybe not real ones!)
April 2008 - Friday 18th 5pm-10pm,
Saturday 19th 8:30am-10pm, Sunday 20th 9am-2pm
Lakeland Trails Running and Walking Festival
At Hawkshead Showground, with a carnival atmosphere, an exciting off-road course with a full drumming band, lots of music, children's bouncy castles and slides, a feature climbing wall and kids' face painting. 01539 723535
Saturday 19th April 2008
Damson Festival
Low Farm, Lyth Valley, Crosthwaite, Kendal
The damsons have always been important in
the economy of the Lyth Valley. This festival celebrates their history and
seeks to publicise the abundance of the harvest and the food it produces.
With entertainment, food
and craft stalls.
Damson Day
Phone: 015395 68599
Friday 25th April to Sunday 4th May 2008
Ulverston Walking Festival
Lace up your walking boots and fill your lungs with the freshest of Lakes air with a couple of weeks of organised events. Phone: 01229 587120
Wednesday 30th April 2008
National Garden Scheme Open Day
Lakeside Hotel, Lake
Windermere
In superb gardens with choice plants and carefully designed planting, the
National Gardens Scheme finds
the ideal location along the edge of Windermere.
May 2008
Print Fest, Ulverston
Saturday 3rd - Sunday 4th May 2008 10am-5pm, Coronation Hall, Ulverston
The finest contemporary artists offer high
quality prints for exhibition and sale.
Phone: 01229 480539
May 2008
Cumbria
Life Food and Drink Festival at Rheged
& The Lakeside Hotel
This food fair will feature the best of Cumbria's specialist food producers, and the Lakeside Hotel serves a showcase of local ingredients as follows:
Lunch, served in the Lakeview Restaurant between 12 noon - 3pm: you can try a special three course lunch menu from £27 per person. If you prefer, traditional afternoon tea, served in the Lakeview Conservatory, is available from 3pm - 5pm, and includes the finest Cumbrian ingredients: Cartmel Valley smoked salmon, Cumbrian sugar baked ham and Foulshaw free range egg with local mayonnaise. Fruit tarts feature Lakeside lemon curd, Borrowdale Tea Bread, and of course the famous toasted Keswick wholemeal fruit and nut bread, with the delicious Westmorland cherry cake and almond cake, and home made scones with clotted cream and (naturally) Lyth Valley damson jam, and fresh English strawberries. To finish: Farrer's Lakeland Special Tea or freshly ground coffee, and it's only £28.00 for 2 people!
May 2008
British Red Cross Open Gardens
An invitation to visit the spectacular Lakeside Hotel Gardens, which are this year helping to celebrate 100 years of the Red Cross in Cumbria. With so many spectacular trees, shrubs and perennials, along with scented and subtropical gardens, and a wonderful rooftop garden overlooking Gummers How, you'll be occupied all afternoon!. Adults £3, children free.
Sunday 18th May 2008 10.30am, Brathay Hall
near Ambleside
Windermere Marathon 2008
Whether you run or watch, this occasion is
always fun and helps to raise money for charity. For all the information
or an entry form
click here.
Phone: 015394 39730
Saturday 24th, Monday 26th, Wednesday 28th
May 2008
Cartmel
Race Meetings
Cartmel Races is one of the most famous
race meetings in Britain, and has been happening here since 1845! Race
days at Cartmel are - would you believe? - the biggest gatherings in the
entire National Hunt calendar.
Phone: 015395 36340
Sunday 25th to Thursday 29th May 2008
10.30-6pm
Ravenglass Festival of Fools
Cheer the jesters, salute the jugglers,
laugh at the hilarious street entertainers and enjoy Muncaster
Castle. Take part in the International Jester Tournament on the Thursday
of this week.
Phone: 01229 717614
Saturday 21st June 2008 - first race starts 5.30pm, second race starts at 6.30pm June 2008
Gummers How Fell Race
A breath-defying race, from the Lakeside Hotel to Gummers How and back, via a boat in which competitors row across Lake Windermere, a race up and down Gummers How and a sprint home across the fields. Mark Croasdale, the record holder, did it in an amazing 25 minutes and 48 seconds.
July 2008
Barrow and the Lakes Peninsulas Walking Festival
July 2008
Coniston Water Festival, Coniston
Discover the amazing landscape between the fells and the sea during a month of varied walks, with many events for people of all abilities and ages. It's a fusion of the arts, sport, food and local enterprise, with a focus on the culture of this stunning lake.
Friday 11th and Saturday 12th July 2008
Kirkland Festival, Kendal
Enjoy a relaxed summer extravaganza with
much to do and see: live music, superb food and drink, all manner of
stalls and fairground rides, with the bonus of the beauty of the grounds
of Abbot Hall Art Gallery.
Phone: 015397 25758
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July 2008
Langwathby Scarecrow Festival, Near Penrith
Follow the scarecrows' fascinating trail
and enjoy the life-size characters planted in local gardens, along the
charming village green, inside the school, drinking at the pub and even in
the local tearoom.
Phone: 01768 867466
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July 2008
Lakeland Rose and Flower Show, Crooklands,
Near Kendal
If you're interested in roses, this wonderful event is not to be missed, with the county's biggest show of roses as well as other flowers, floral arts and local crafts, all topped off with local bands and music.
July 2008
Millom and Haverigg Scarecrow Festival
You'll enjoy the whacky scarecrows as they
appear all round the village!
Phone: 01229 774819
Sunday 13th July 2008, 10am-4pm
Lakeland Classic and Vintage Car Rally
Leighton Hall, Carnforth,
Lancashire
Hundreds of superbly restored classic cars will converge on Leighton Hall
in July for a fascinating day of nostalgia. Leighton Hall lends itself to
the vans, classic convertibles and other unusual cars which attract
thousands of visitors.
Contact: Suzie Reynolds Phone: 01524 734474
Saturday 12th to Monday 14th July 2008
Furness Traditional Folk Music and Craft Festival, Ulverston
Join in the celebration of the traditions and crafts of Furness, with events ranging from music concerts to ceilidhs, crafts and displays of local dances.
Sunday 20th July 2008
Coniston Country Produce and Fair, Coniston
You can get a fascinating insight into Lakeland life and its historic culture as you enjoy displays featuring local pastimes and traditions, all located in the grounds of Coniston Hall on the shores of the delightful Coniston Water.
Saturday 26th July 2008
Ambleside Traditional Lakeland Sports
Rydal Park, Rydal Road, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9PL
Apparently this is the Lakes' last traditional sports fair, with
wrestling, fell and guide races, the ever-popular hound trials, foot and
cycle races, a traditional fairground, and the highly enjoyable "Made in
Cumbria" stalls, may exciting side shows, local exhibitions, traditional
crafts, a great bar, food marquee, and a local band - it all adds up to a
unique experience. A
traditional Lakeland show and fair, with all the sports such as wrestling,
trialling, fell running, cycling, but with a full complement of fairs,
sideshows, attractions and entertainments as well.
Contact: Mr J Hirst Phone: 015394 35351
Wednesday 30th July 2008, 8.30am-5pm
North Lonsdale Traditional Agricultural Show, Ulverston
Ulverston's Bardsea Park is home to the
all-day extravaganza, with rural working animals, home-made produce and
local industries, complete with floral art, vegetables and craft
exhibitions.
Phone: 01229 580640
Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July 2008
Windermere's Famous Airshow
Specific displays will be confirmed nearer the time, but those who have visited before know that this show always means thrills and excitement - and a good time for all the family.
Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July 2008,
gates open from 9:00am
Cumbria Steam
Rally and Gathering, Flookburgh
As huge and exciting as it always is, this fair now boasts more than 1,200 classic exhibits, which will include steam traction engines, other vehicles propelled by steam, a fair ground, superb displays, exciting stalls, excellent music and wonderful food.
Wednesday 6th August 2008, 9am-6pm
Cartmel Agricultural Show Cartmel Park, Grange over Sands
The biggest, and, some would say, the best
show in the North, set in Grange's magnificent parkland. There will be a
super parade of prize winning farm and pet animals, plus loads more fun
for everyone in the family. Come along and see the Riverboat Days Jazz
Duo, ride on a fire engine, laugh at Punch & Judy, play on the bouncy
castle and whizz down the slide, try the climbing wall, have your face
painted, and more.
Admission: Adults £6, £5, School children £1, under 5's get in free!
Phone: 01539 722777
Friday 1st to Sunday 17th August 2008
Lake District Summer Music International
Festival
Can this really be the UK's biggest music festival? It seems so, with events taking place all across the Lake District and Cumbria.
Lake District Summer Music 1-17 August 2008
This outstanding event is always superbly enjoyable. It features excellent music set against the background of the finest scenery in England, with some of the most skilled musicians from the world of the classics performing on the following dates:
International Music Festival: 1-17
August 2008
International Summer Music School: 4-16 August 2008
International Vocal Singing Course: 9-16 August 2008
Young String Venture: 3-8 August 2008
Chamber Music Course for Musical Amateurs: 8-15 August
2008
Highlights from previous festivals include Purcell's Fairy Queen, The Sixteen, The Royal, kampa Quartet, The Chilingirian Quartet, Arnaldo Cohen, Galliard Wind Ensemble,Red Priest, Steven Osborne, Patrick Demenga, and many up and coming professionals. Information on booking tickets for 2008: Full details.
LDSM also offers Summer Schools with a range of courses for ensembles and instrumentalists who have reached a high performance standard. There is one-to-one coaching as well as masterclasses and teaching repertoire for the larger string ensemble. More details.
Box Office Phone: 08456 442144
August 2008
Ambleside Summer Flower Show and Craft Fair
Take in a glorious celebration of the Lakeland summer at this wonderful annual event.
Lake District Annual Sheepdog Trials
August 2008
Kirkby Lonsdale
Sheep dog trials blend with foxhound shows, hound trials,
and the traditional Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling displays.
Plenty of other dog attractions, plus crafts and
displays.
Phone: 015242 71584
Tuesday 19th August 2008
Hawkshead Agricultural Show
A delightful
show in one of the Lakes' loveliest villages. With animals, crafts, home industries,
farming displays and much more besides.
Contact Sue Todd:
Phone: 015394 41004
August 2008
Rusland Valley Show, Whitestock Meadow, Rusland, Ulverston
Traditional Lakeland show with
opportunities for showing horticulture, home produce,
crafts, and enjoying a bit of fell running! There are also children's sports and hound trails.
Contact: Mr Woddy Phone: 015395 31928
August 2008
Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show
Traditionally a place for farmers to meet friends they hadn't seen from one year end to the next, the sports field has become a much wider attraction, with the old favourites of Cumberland Wrestling, hound trails and fell running now joined by cycling, dog shows, an eagle and vulture show, various stalls and stands, made in Cumbria gifts and crafts, helicopter displays, and much, much more.....Their website is not very user-friendly, but if you search long enough you'll be able to find the timetable for the day. Grasmere Sports and Show website. (In response to my comments above, the webmaster sent me a polite and helpful email in which he observes: My site caters for aficionados of the Sports - competitors, long time supporters, stand hiring, etc. It's quite a simple procedure to access all aspects: Grasmere Sports And Show takes you to the opening page, where pressing ENTER takes you straight to Grasmere Day Of Show. Next, selecting the SPORTS DATE will take you to The timetable where you can get directions, parking details and the actual timetable of events when it's released in early August 2008. From there you can click on links to all the major pages of interest, whether you are an aficionado, someone looking for a place to go on Bank Holiday Sunday, a stall holder wanting stand space, or a fell- runner or wrestler checking on previous year's results.)
August 2008
CAMRA Beer Festival, Ulverston
A gloriously hedonistic festival with live music, commemorative beer glasses and more than forty five real ales and ciders on draught. Phone: 01229 587120
August 2008
Kendal Mintfest International Street Arts
Festival
Europe's leading street entertainers,
mime artists, street performers and hilarious comedians once again take to the streets and spaces of Kendal
- watch out, you might just be the one they pick on! Three whole days of laughter and lunacy.
Phone: 01539 725758
August 2008
Cross Morecambe Bay Walk
Dice with death on the famous sponsored walk across Morecambe Bay
sands led by the indomitable Queen's Guide Cedric Robinson. You can see
the
panoramic views of the Lakeland fells and the attractive coast of Morecambe Bay
as you take the three hour walk from Arnside to Kents Bank
railway station. You must book in advance and be sponsored.
Phone: 01772 744148
August 2008
Grizedale Forest Arts and Crafts Workshop
Try it out and then take it home, as you
enjoy the arts and
craft activities for all ages from young to old.
Phone: 01229 860010
August 2008
Hawkshead Music for a Summer Evening
Hawkshead Parish Church is featuring some evening concerts for the summer season at 8 pm. St Michael's church, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria. Website. Phone: 015394 31070
August 2008
Evening Bat Walk
Fell Foot Country Park, Newby
Bridge - directly opposite the hotel
Take an interesting stroll along the lakeshore to see and hear the local
bats - but bring a torch and put on some warm clothes!
Phone: 015395 31273
September 2008
Ulverston Charter Festival
Join the attractive market town's annual celebration of its Royal Charter with dozens of events ranging from dancing to archery!
Wednesday 3rd September 2008
National Garden Scheme Open Day
Lakeside Hotel, Lake Windermere has gardens with superb rare plants, carefully designed and offset by the location on the edge of Windermere. As a garden of character and interest, it's right that they've been invited to take part in the National Gardens Scheme.
Friday 15th to Sunday 17th September 2008
Helvellyn Triathlon, Glenridding
For the fittest athletes, this mile-long Ullswater swim, followed by a close-on-forty mile cycle ride over the demanding Kirkstone Pass, with an eight mile race to the top of Helvellyn is a gruelling test of stamina and endurance. Come and watch, or take part if you dare!
September 2008
Classic Car Rally Sizergh Castle and Garden, Sizergh, Kendal
A large display of classic and vintage vehicles,
which will keep everyone in the family entertained from 13.00 onwards - normal admission prices apply.
Contact: Michele Drasdo Phone: 015395 60951
Thursday 11th September 2008
Westmorland County Show
One of the biggest shows in Britain and one
of Cumbria's longest-established. As you'd expect, there are all the
animals of the farm: sheep,
cattle, pigs, goats, horses, poultry. There are also dogs and some rare
breeds displays - all the animals that have made Cumbria what it is. And
as you'd also expect, there are
Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling, the WI is on hand with its range
of activities, and there's a big focus on local food with over 200 stalls.
Of course there is much more besides.
Westmorland County Showfield, Lane Farm, Crooklands, Milnthorpe, Cumbria
Phone: 015395 67804 Westmorland
county Show
September 2008
Kendal Torchlight Procession Stricklandgate, Kendal, Cumbria
A truly spectacular cavalcade with more than a hundred entries, forming a two mile long chain of thousands of people in a cavalcade of light, colour, music and extreme merriment. Enjoy the wonderful themed floats complete with classic cars, people on foot, the vintage cycles, hundreds of commercial vehicles, and the great street entertainers...oh, not forgetting the horse carriages pulled by ten horse, the vintage steam engines and over twenty marching bands.....! Phone: 015395 63018
September 2008
Freespirit Craft Fair
Paintings, pottery, patchwork and (fruit?
meat?) pies are
a few of the vast range of goods on sale here, just some of the products
at this massive event which features a fascinating mixture
of crafts and foods. With more than 120 craftsmen and women taking part,
this is the ideal place to buy your Christmas presents.
Phone: 01524 734474
Saturday 20th September 2008
Egremont Crab Fair Baybarrow, Orgill, Egremont, Cumbria.
The Egremont Crab Fair is as famous as the
world's biggest liar competition at Stanton Bridge. The reason is that the
fair includes the Gurning competition - a competition to pull the ugliest
face possible. Sounds simple? Well, some of the winners in the past have
been absolute crackers. The whole thing is made sillier and funnier by the
fact that the contestant has to put his/her head through a horse collar
before pulling the face. Needless to say, though this is an important part
of the show, there are many more traditional activities on offer,
including Lakeland sports, food, drink and entertainments. By the way, in
case it escaped you, this is not a fair named after seafood but after crab
apples.....sour and bitter, they make you pull a face when you bite into
them....
Egremont
crab fair
Phone: 01946 820693
September 2008
Grizedale Forest Mountain Bike Challenge
A thirty mile ride though some of the challenging terrain in Grizedale Forest, this must be one of the country's finest mountain bike trails.
From Steam to Stream, Aquarium of the Lakes
September 2008
A weekend of exciting family fun courtesy of the Aquarium of the Lakes and the fun-packed Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam Railway.
Friday 26th to Sunday 28th September 2008
Coniston Walking Festival
A very popular festival, which suits all ages and abilities, with events to try from short strolls to long treks. Phone: 015394 41533
For events after this date, please click here!
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