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
The world's leading 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 · about 1.1 h · Moderate at its hardest
Month-by-month calendar
September 2026
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.
November 2026
- Penrith Winter Droving
A magical evening of folk theatre, fire and music ending in a torchlit, masked procession through Penrith — costumed animals, lanterns and street food, marking the old droving tradition. Free to watch, usually late October/early November. Confirm the date on the official listing.
- World's Biggest Liar
A wonderfully Cumbrian competition to tell the most convincing tall tale — held in a pub at Santon Bridge, reputedly in honour of a 19th-century landlord and champion fibber. An evening event for adults, usually in November. Confirm the date on the official listing.
Make a day of it Wastwater Shore (the Screes view) · about 1.9 h · Moderate at its hardest
The world's leading 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 · about 1.1 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, usually the first Sunday of December. Confirm the date on the official listing.
Make a day of it Castlerigg Stone Circle (from Keswick) · about 1.9 h · Moderate at its hardest
July 2027
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 · about 0.5 h · Moderate at its hardest
August 2027
- 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 · about 1.3 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 Tuesday 18 August 2026.
Make a day of it Tarn Hows circuit · about 0.7 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 bank-holiday Monday 31 August 2026 in fields near Braithwaite, just outside Keswick.
Make a day of it Friar's Crag & the Derwentwater shore · about 0.9 h · Moderate at its hardest
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 · about 1.3 h · Moderate at its hardest
By type
Agricultural shows & shepherds’ meets
- Hawkshead Agricultural Show — usually August
- Keswick Agricultural Show — usually August
Traditional Lakeland sports
- Ambleside Sports — usually July
- Grasmere Lakeland Sports & Show — usually August
Literary, film & culture
- Kendal Mountain Festival — Thu 19–22 Nov 2026
Traditional & quirky
- Egremont Crab Fair & World Gurning Championships — usually September
- Penrith Winter Droving — usually November
- World's Biggest Liar — usually November
- Grasmere Rushbearing — usually August
Seasonal & Christmas
- Keswick Victorian Fayre — usually December
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 — usually December
- Keswick Agricultural Show — usually August
Events near Ambleside
- Ambleside Sports — usually July
Events near Grasmere
- Grasmere Rushbearing — usually August
- Grasmere Lakeland Sports & Show — usually August
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.