Events & festivals
Shows, sports days, guided walks and festivals across the Lake District — verified against the organiser, month by month, with the nearest town, indoor/outdoor and family-friendly all noted.
The Lake District has one of the most distinctive events calendars in Britain — a summer and autumn full of traditional Lakeland sports (guides' fell races, Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling, hound trailing), agricultural shows and shepherds' meets, plus music, food, literary and film festivals and some gloriously odd local traditions. This page lists what's on month by month, each tagged with its nearest town (linked to our full guide), whether it's indoor or outdoor, and whether it's family-friendly.
We only show a firm date once it's confirmed against the organiser's own site; where a date isn't out yet we say “usually [month]” and link the organiser. Dates change — always check the official link before you travel.
What’s on while you’re here
Tell us your dates and we’ll show only the events that overlap them — and say plainly which ones aren’t confirmed yet.
Coming up
- National Park guided walks programme
The National Park Authority's own programme of free walks led by volunteers, in groups of up to twenty, graded 1 to 5 from a flat lakeshore stroll to a summit day. The 2026 season runs from Sunday 29 March to Saturday 31 October, with twenty walks in October alone from Glenridding, Keswick, Coniston, Buttermere, Elterwater and Bowness, and there is no programme from November to February. Every walk is booked free on Eventbrite; families are welcome on all of them. Dates and starts from the Authority's published 2026 calendar.
- Lakeland Trails in Helvellyn
Marked trail runs of 5, 10 and 15 km in the foothills below Helvellyn from Jenkins Field in Glenridding, an entry-level way into running on Lakeland ground. Saturday 31 October 2026, confirmed on the organiser's site; entries are paid, and no dogs on the course.
Make a day of it Glenridding Dodd, Sheffield Pike, Catstye Cam, Birkhouse Moor · ~5–7 h · Hard at its hardest
A mountain and adventure film, book and culture festival — films, speakers, athletes and exhibitions across venues in Kendal — 19–22 November 2026.
Make a day of it Orrest Head · ~1–1½ h · Moderate at its hardest
- Kendal Mountain Trail Runs
The festival's running day: a 10 km through the streets and paths of Kendal at 11am, a 50 km ultra at 9am, and a new 25 km for 2026, all organised by Maverick Race. Saturday 21 November 2026, confirmed on the festival's site; the Quid Games checkpoint run is the Friday evening before.
Make a day of it Orrest Head · ~1–1½ h · Moderate at its hardest
- Keswick Victorian Fayre
Keswick's festive kick-off, costumed stalls, street entertainment and Christmas shopping through the town centre, with traders and visitors in Victorian dress. Free to wander; Sunday 6 December 2026, confirmed on the organiser's own site. A town day rather than a fell day: pair it with a short walk from Keswick.
Make a day of it Castlerigg Stone Circle (from Keswick) · ~1½–2½ h · Easy at its hardest
Month-by-month calendar
October 2026
- National Park guided walks programme
The National Park Authority's own programme of free walks led by volunteers, in groups of up to twenty, graded 1 to 5 from a flat lakeshore stroll to a summit day. The 2026 season runs from Sunday 29 March to Saturday 31 October, with twenty walks in October alone from Glenridding, Keswick, Coniston, Buttermere, Elterwater and Bowness, and there is no programme from November to February. Every walk is booked free on Eventbrite; families are welcome on all of them. Dates and starts from the Authority's published 2026 calendar.
- Lakeland Trails in Helvellyn
Marked trail runs of 5, 10 and 15 km in the foothills below Helvellyn from Jenkins Field in Glenridding, an entry-level way into running on Lakeland ground. Saturday 31 October 2026, confirmed on the organiser's site; entries are paid, and no dogs on the course.
Make a day of it Glenridding Dodd, Sheffield Pike, Catstye Cam, Birkhouse Moor · ~5–7 h · Hard at its hardest
Usually October
- Lakes in a Day
A fifty-mile mountain ultra the length of the Lake District, Caldbeck to Cartmel over the Helvellyn ridge and down Windermere's western shore, with a half on the same day. Saturday 10 October 2026, confirmed on the organiser's site. A day for runners and their supporters; the organiser sets where support is allowed.
- Langdale Horseshoe fell race
One of the classic long fell races of the Lakes, a big loop over the Langdale tops from the Old Dungeon Ghyll, run by Ambleside AC. Saturday 10 October 2026 at 11:00, as listed by the Fell Runners Association. Free to watch from the valley; the race line is not a walking route.
Make a day of it Langdale Pikes Round · ~3¾–5¼ h · Severe at its hardest
- The Winter Droving
An evening of folk theatre, fire and music ending in a torchlit, masked procession, costumed animals, lanterns and street food, marking the old droving tradition. After fourteen years in Penrith the 2026 edition moves twenty miles to Carlisle, on Saturday 24 October according to the BBC's report of 11 September quoting the organiser, Eden Arts; whether it returns to Penrith is not promised. A town evening on the northern edge of the Lakes rather than a fell day. Confirm the date with Eden Arts before travelling.
- World's Biggest Liar
A wonderfully Cumbrian competition to tell the most convincing tall tale, reputedly in honour of a 19th-century Santon Bridge landlord and champion fibber. The original run at the Bridge Inn ended in 2019; Jennings Brewery has revived it at its Cockermouth taproom on Saturday 24 October 2026 at 7pm, ticketed through the brewery. An evening for adults, and a fair finish to a day in the western or north-western fells.
Make a day of it Wastwater Shore (the Screes view) · ~1¾–2¾ h · Moderate at its hardest
- Borrowdale Shepherds' Meet & Show
The Borrowdale valley's traditional autumn meet: Herdwick sheep judged on the show field between Keswick and Rosthwaite, with the Dale Head Fell Race starting and finishing beside it. Sunday 18 October 2026, confirmed on the organiser's site.
Make a day of it Castle Crag, Brund Fell & Great Crag · ~4–5¾ h · Hard at its hardest
November 2026
A mountain and adventure film, book and culture festival — films, speakers, athletes and exhibitions across venues in Kendal — 19–22 November 2026.
Make a day of it Orrest Head · ~1–1½ h · Moderate at its hardest
- Kendal Mountain Trail Runs
The festival's running day: a 10 km through the streets and paths of Kendal at 11am, a 50 km ultra at 9am, and a new 25 km for 2026, all organised by Maverick Race. Saturday 21 November 2026, confirmed on the festival's site; the Quid Games checkpoint run is the Friday evening before.
Make a day of it Orrest Head · ~1–1½ h · Moderate at its hardest
December 2026
- Keswick Victorian Fayre
Keswick's festive kick-off, costumed stalls, street entertainment and Christmas shopping through the town centre, with traders and visitors in Victorian dress. Free to wander; Sunday 6 December 2026, confirmed on the organiser's own site. A town day rather than a fell day: pair it with a short walk from Keswick.
Make a day of it Castlerigg Stone Circle (from Keswick) · ~1½–2½ h · Easy at its hardest
Usually July
One of the great traditional Lakeland sports meetings — fell racing, Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling, hound trailing and track-and-field in a field below the fells, on the last Thursday of July.
Make a day of it Stock Ghyll Force · ~½–¾ h · Moderate at its hardest
August 2027
One of the oldest and best-known traditional Lakeland sports days — guides' fell race, Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling and hound trailing — in a natural amphitheatre of fells, on the late-August bank holiday Sunday.
Make a day of it Grasmere lake circuit · ~1¼–1¾ h · Moderate at its hardest
Usually August
- Grasmere Rushbearing
A centuries-old ceremony in which villagers carry rushes and floral 'bearings' through Grasmere to St Oswald's Church — a charming, free piece of living Lakeland tradition, usually in early August. Confirm the date on the official listing.
Make a day of it Grasmere lake circuit · ~1¼–1¾ h · Moderate at its hardest
The big northern-Lakes agricultural show — Herdwick and Swaledale sheep, horses and fell ponies, sheepdog trials, hounds, Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling and the show ring — held on the August bank-holiday Monday in fields near Braithwaite, just outside Keswick.
Make a day of it Friar's Crag & the Derwentwater shore · ~¾–1¼ h · Moderate at its hardest
A traditional one-day agricultural show near the pretty village of Hawkshead — prize livestock, Lakeland sheep, horticulture, crafts, food and a busy show ring — on a Tuesday in mid-to-late August.
Make a day of it Tarn Hows circuit · ~½–1 h · Moderate at its hardest
Usually September
One of England's oldest fairs (dating from 1267), famous for the gloriously daft World Gurning Championships (pulling faces through a horse collar), plus greasy-pole climbing, pipe-smoking and the apple cart. In the western Lakes, usually mid-September — confirm the date on the official listing.
By type
Agricultural shows & shepherds’ meets
- Borrowdale Shepherds' Meet & Show — usually October
- Keswick Agricultural Show — usually August
- Hawkshead Agricultural Show — usually August
Traditional Lakeland sports
- Lakes in a Day — usually October
- Langdale Horseshoe fell race — usually October
- Lakeland Trails in Helvellyn — Sat 31 Oct 2026
- Kendal Mountain Trail Runs — Sat 21 Nov 2026
- Ambleside Sports — usually July
- Grasmere Lakeland Sports & Show — Sun 29 Aug 2027
Literary, film & culture
- Kendal Mountain Festival — Thu 19–22 Nov 2026
Traditional & quirky
- The Winter Droving — usually October
- World's Biggest Liar — usually October
- Grasmere Rushbearing — usually August
- Egremont Crab Fair & World Gurning Championships — usually September
Seasonal & Christmas
- Keswick Victorian Fayre — Sun 6 Dec 2026
Guided walks & programmes
- National Park guided walks programme — until Sat 31 Oct 2026
Events near each town
Pair an event with one of our in-depth town guides for parking, getting there and the best walks nearby.
Events near Keswick
- Keswick Victorian Fayre — Sun 6 Dec 2026
- Keswick Agricultural Show — usually August
Events near Ambleside
- Ambleside Sports — usually July
Events near Grasmere
- Grasmere Rushbearing — usually August
- Grasmere Lakeland Sports & Show — Sun 29 Aug 2027
Events near Hawkshead
- Hawkshead Agricultural Show — usually August
Plan your visit around an event
Make a day of it: most events sit right under the fells, so check the live best fells today, browse our walking routes and fell guides, and use the relevant town guide for where to stay, parking and buses.