EXCITEMENT is growing for Taste Cumbria’s flagship food and drink festival which is back in Cockermouth this weekend.

The celebration promises to be a great showcase of the county’s produce, as well as a chance for visitors to enjoy the town’s fabulous independent businesses. The main event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, with live music and the Festival Bar opening on the Friday night to get the party started.

This year’s festival will be smaller than previous years to ensure visitor numbers are manageable, but there will still be plenty of activities taking place.

The ever-popular producers’ market will take place on Main Street, while over in Memorial Gardens Car Park, off Wakefield Road, will be the Festival Bar, music stage and picnic area, with fairground rides too.

New for 2021 are two exclusive events at the Tithe Tap, the town’s newest venue, though they have already sold out. They feature a cocktail masterclass on the Friday and a spirit tasting night with The Lakes Distillery. There will also be a comedy night on the Friday at Cockermouth Cricket Club and plenty of musical entertainment throughout the weekend.

In Market Place, already a hub for some of the town’s great pubs and food businesses, there will be a Saturday street party. All around Cockermouth, The Fairly Famous Family will be bringing some laughs with their street theatre, while in The Vicky, on High Sand Lane, there will be children’s activities with festival favourites Rainbow Jelly Productions.

As always, loads of the town’s businesses will be getting involved, including SLO Food Suppers – a Cockermouth business which focuses on seasonal, local and organic food. They’re offering a special Taste Cumbria weekend menu.

Follow Taste Cumbria on Facebook and Twitter for updates on parking for the event.

Taste Cumbria is organised by Allerdale Borough Council and sponsored by Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery and Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors. It is supported by Bottled in Cumbria, Tractor Shed Brewing, Tithe Tap, The Trout Hotel and Cockermouth Cricket Club.

And this year’s Taste Cumbria fun doesn’t end in Cockermouth. On Saturday, 23 October, there will be a one-day Taste of Wigton event in another of Allerdale’s pretty market towns, followed by Taste Cumbria Christmas in Cockermouth on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 December 2021.

Trader pitches are available for the Wigton and Christmas events. For more information, click here, email ellie.jones@allerdale.gov.uk or call 01900 702969.