What's happening in the city
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Carlisle is a renowned shopping destination. At Christmas the city centre is transformed with a blaze of festive lighting and decorations. There are many festive events happening over the festive period throughout Cumberland, including those listed below.
Please note that Markets and Fairs are listed separately further down the page, as are Santa’s Grottos and Events.
Tuesday 28 November to Friday 8 December - The Naturally Local Cumbria Christmas Pop-Up Shop in The Lanes Shopping Centre. For further information visit their Facebook event page.
Thursday 30 November to Saturday 9 December – Dick Whittington and His Cat at West Walls Theatre. Further information
Friday 1 December - A Special Festive Concert by Zing!, Carlisle's Rock Choir, at Armathwaite Old School Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £10 (£2.50 children). For further information phone 07876 485011 or visit www.carlislezing.org
Saturday 2 December - Charity Christmas Party at Cummersdale Village Hall. Further information
Saturday 2 December - Christmas Coffee Morning in the Victory Hall, Dalson, 10am-12pm. In aid of St Michael's Church, Dalston and St John's Church, Cumdivock.
Saturday 2 December - Millom Christmas Lights Switch-On. For further information visit millomtowncouncil.co.uk
Sunday 3 December - Aspatria Christmas Lights Switch-On. For further information visit their Facebook page
Monday 4 December - Paint a Nativity Scene on Stones at Carlisle Cathedral. For further information visit carlislecathedral.org.uk
Wednesday 6 December - Holly at Christmas at The Coro, Ulverston. For further information visit www.thecoro.co.uk
Thursday 7 December - Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden at Brewery Arts, Kendal. For further information visit www.breweryarts.co.uk
Friday 8 to Sunday 10 December - Jack and the Beanstalk at Harraby Theatre. For further information visit harrabytheatre.co.uk
Friday 8 December - Cloudbusting - The Music Of Kate Bush: December Will Be Magic Again at The Old Fire Station. Further information
Friday 8 December - Whitehaven Harbour Lights Show and Christmas Firework Display. For further information visit www.whitehaventowncouncil.co.uk
Saturday 9 December - Christmas Pudding 10K starting from New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Great Langdale. For further information visit www.brathaychallenges.com
Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 December – Kendal Christmas Celebration. For further information visit visit-kendal.co.uk
Sunday 10 December - Carlisle Community Choir Christmas Concert at St Cuthbert's Church. For further information visit www.carlislecommunitychoir.com
Sunday 10 December - Brampton Chamber Choir present a Christmas Concert at Lanercost Priory. For further information visit bramptonchamberchoir.co.uk
Tuesday 12 to Sunday 31 December – Wolf at Theatre By The Lake, Keswick. For further information visit www.theatrebythelake.com
Wednesday 13 December - Joint Services Christmas Carol Concert at St Aidan's Church. Doors open 6.30pm, concert starts 7pm. Free tickets available from the Carlisle Tourist Information Centre.
Thursday 14 December - The Nutcracker at Brewery Arts, Kendal. For further information visit www.breweryarts.co.uk
Thursday 14 and Friday 15 December – Christmas Gala Concert at Carlisle Cathedral. For further information visit carlislecathedral.org.uk
Friday 15 December - ABBA Reunion Christmas Special at Brewery Arts, Kendal. For further information visit www.breweryarts.co.uk
Friday 15 December - Carlisle Green Party Christmas Quiz at the Carlisle RAOB Club on Fisher Street, 7pm. £7 per person, maximum 4 people per team.
Various dates from Saturday 16 December - The Winter City Walking Tour. Further information
Saturday 16 December – Solway Singers: Christmas Music at St. Cuthbert’s Church. Further information
Saturday 16 December - Christmas Story Time and Biscuit Decorating at Carlisle Cathedral. For further information visit carlislecathedral.org.uk
Saturday 16 December - Forest Bathing: Winter Solstice (Yule) at Whinlatter Forest, Keswick. For further information visit www.forestryengland.uk
Saturday 16 to Sunday 24 December - The Gingerbread Man at Brewery Arts. For further information visit www.breweryarts.co.uk
Sunday 17 December - Christmas Jumper Raceday at Carlisle Racecourse. Further information
Tuesday 19 December - Dickensian Christmas Crime at Castle Green Hotel, Kendal. For further information visit www.castlegreenhotel.co.uk
Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 December - Christmas Family Crafts at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. For further information visit tullie.org.uk
Wednesday 20 to Thursday 21 December - Royal Northern Sinfonia: The Snowman at The Sands Centre. Further information
Thursday 21 December - Georgian Christmas at Wordsworth Grasmere. For further information visit wordsworth.org.uk
Friday 22 December - Party Eh! 5th Birthday Christmas Charity Bash at The Brickyard. Further information
Friday 22 December - Women's Winter Solstice Cacao Ceremony at Whinlatter Forest, Keswick. For further information visit www.forestryengland.uk
Friday 22 December - Dark Skies Walk: Festive Edition at Whinlatter Forest, Keswick. For further information visit www.forestryengland.uk
Friday 22 December - Festive Pet Encounters at The Beacon, Whitehaven. For further information visit www.trybooking.co.uk
Saturday 23 December – Hardwicke Circus at The Brickyard. Further information
Saturday 23 December - Dark Skies Walk: Festive Edition at Whinlatter Forest, Keswick. For further information visit www.forestryengland.uk
Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 December - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Carnegie Theatre and Arts Centre, Workington. For further information visit carnegietheatre.ticketsolve.com
Tuesday 26 December - Boxing Day Classic Drive and Ride In Day at the Lakeland Motor Museum, Ulverston. For further information visit www.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk
Thursday 28 December - Comedy Store: Christmas Show at The Old Fire Station. Further information
Thursday 28 to Friday 29 December - Beauty and the Beast at The Rheged Centre, Penrith. For further information visit rheged.com
Friday 29 December - Pat Sharp: End Of Year Party at The Old Fire Station. Further information
Sunday 31 December - Anything Goes Silent Disco at The Brickyard. Further information
Tuesday 7 November to Sunday 3 December - The Carlisle Creative Winter Pop-Up Shop at Intro. Further information
Various dates from Thursday 30 November - Christmas Market Weekends at Beetham Nurseries, Milnthorpe. For further information visit www.beethamnurseries.co.uk
Friday 1 to Sunday 17 December - Carlisle Christmas Market in Carlisle city centre. Further information
Friday 1 to Sunday 2 December - Quirky Eclectica Christmas Fayre at Carlisle Cathedral. Further information
Saturday 2 December - The Carlisle Christmas Teenage Market in The Lanes Shopping Centre. Further information
Saturday 2 December – Carlisle Christmas Farmers’ Market at Carlisle Cathedral. For further information visit carlislecathedral.org.uk
Saturday 2 December - Christmas Market at Cummersdale Village Hall, 11am-2pm. £1 entry. For further information phone 01228 541974 or visit the Cummersdale Village Hall Facebook page.
Saturday 2 to Sunday 3 December – Christmas Fair at Rydal Mount and Gardens and Rydal Hall. For further information visit www.rydalmount.co.uk
Saturday 2 to Sunday December – Hawkshead Christmas Fair. For further information visit www.hawksheadchristmasfair.co.uk
Saturday 2 December - Millom Christmas Market. For further information visit millomtowncouncil.co.uk
Sunday 3 December - Christmas Craft and Shopping Fayre at The Fleece at Ruleholme. For further information visit thefleeceruleholme.com
Sunday 3 December - Christmas Table Top and Craft Fair at Brampton Community Centre. For further information visit www.bramptoncc.org.uk
Sunday 3 December – Keswick Victorian Fayre. For further information visit www.keswick.org
Thursday 7 December - Festive Night Market at StArt Open Studios. For further information visit their Facebook event page.
Friday 8 December - Whitehaven Christmas Fair. For further information visit www.whitehaventowncouncil.co.uk
Saturday 9 December - Northern Crafts Christmas Craft Fair in Carlisle's Old Town Hall, 10am-4pm. For further information phone the Carlisle Tourist Information Centre on 01228 598596.
Saturday 9 December - Denton Holme Christmas Fayre at St James' Parish Centre, 2pm-6pm.
Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 December - Taste Cumbria Christmas in Cockermouth. For further information visit visitallerdale.co.uk
Saturday 9 December - Eskdale Book Club presents the Winter Wonderland Christmas Fayre at Eskdale Village Hall, St Bega's, 10am-4pm. For further information visit www.eskdale.info
Saturday 16 December - Quirky Eclectica Monthly Artisan Craft Fair in Carlisle city centre. Further information
Various dates from Saturday 18 November – Santa’s Grotto at The Swan Hotel and Spa, Newby Bridge. For further information visit www.swanhotel.com
Various dates from Saturday 25 November - Santa's Grotto in The Lanes Shopping Centre. For further information visit www.lanescarlisle.co.uk
Various dates from Saturday 25 November – Santa’s Breakfast at Dobbies Garden Centre. For further information visit events.dobbies.com
Various dates from Saturday 25 November – Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies Garden Centre. For further information visit events.dobbies.com
Various dates from Saturday 25 November – Father Christmas on the Farm at Walby Farm Park. For further information visit www.walbyfarmpark.co.uk
Various dates from Saturday 25 November – Santa Express trains on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. For further information visit ravenglass-railway.co.uk
Saturday 2 December - Santa's Christmas Wish at Harraby Theatre. Further information
Various dates from Saturday 2 December - Breakfast With Santa at Houghton Hall Garden Centre. For further information visit www.klondyke.co.uk
Saturday 2 to Sunday 3 December and Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 December – Festive Fun Weekends at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. Further information
Saturday 2 December - Children's Christmas Party at Cummersdale Village Hall. Further information
Various dates from Saturday 2 December – Santa Paws (a Santa’s Grotto for your furry friend) at Dobbies Garden Centre. For further information visit events.dobbies.com
Various dates from Saturday 2 December - Father Christmas Tea Party at The World of Beatrix Potter, Bowness-On-Windermere. For further information visit www.hop-skip-jump.com
Various dates from Saturday 2 December – Lunch With Santa at The Swan Hotel and Spa, Newby Bridge. For further information visit www.swanhotel.com
Sunday 3 December – Carlisle Santa Dash. For further information visit sportinaction.co.uk
Various dates from Friday 3 November - Santa's Winter Wonderland at Hayes Garden World, Ambleside. For further information visit www.hayesgardenworld.co.uk
Various dates from Friday 8 December - Santa's Quiet Grotto at Dobbies Garden Centre. For further information visit events.dobbies.com
Various dates from Sunday 10 December - Sunday Lunch with Santa at Inn on the Lake, Ullswater. For further information visit www.tickettailor.com
Saturday 16 to Thursday 21 December - Santa's Grotto at The Beacon, Whitehaven. For further information visit www.trybooking.com
Various dates from Saturday 16 December – Santa’s Christmas Wish at The World of Beatrix Potter, Bowness-On-Windermere. For further information visit www.hop-skip-jump.com
Sunday 17 December - Meet Santa at The Fleece at Ruleholme. For further information visit thefleeceruleholme.com
Late Night Shopping in Carlisle will take place every Thursday from the 30th November until Christmas Day. For further information visit www.lanescarlisle.co.uk
Cumberland Council will be supporting the local high street by providing Free after 3pm parking on Late Night Thursdays.
Starting on Thursday 30 November, the free parking scheme will be available in the following Cumberland Council car parks: Bitts Park, Lowther Street, Carlisle Castle, Caldew Riverside, The Sands Centre, Swifts Bank, Viaduct, Civic Centre and West Walls.
The offer will be available on the following Thursdays: 30 November and 7, 14, 21 December.
The Free after 3pm scheme aims to support high street businesses in Carlisle by encouraging more visitors to park-up, stay local and shop local.
The car park barriers in Carlisle Castle, Caldew Riverside, and West Walls will close at 11.30pm on each Late Night Thursday.
If you are using West Walls Car Park check in/check out service on the Late Night Thursdays, ensure you check out by 3pm to take advantage of the free after 3pm offer.
For further information visit the Cumberland Council website.
The Cathedral will have a number of other Christmas events and services taking place. For further information visit carlislecathedral.org.uk
This events list has been compiled with the best possible intention. If you have an event that you would like to feature on this page, please email us at [email protected]
Fri 24 Nov
Wed 7 Apr
Mon 21 Feb
Tue 28 Nov
Thu 1 Jul
Thu 23 Nov
Wed 29 Nov
Fri 6 Apr
Mon 26 Mar
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