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Come for the fells, stay for the festivals, theatrical performances, and arts events. The new decade kicks off with a packed programme of exciting events in the Lake District National Park and we’ve picked out the highlights. These are some of the most exciting events taking place around Cumbria this year, so if you are thinking about booking a Lake District holiday, take a peek to see if there is anything fabulous taking place during your visit!

January is typically the time in the Lake District when things become a little more sedate and sleepy. The tourists have vanished, the last vestiges of Christmas have been stripped away, and even the most ardent fell walkers have retreated into the pubs. But this January, something is stirring deep in the heart of the Lake District, in Grasmere, where there is talk of a resistance and a rebellion fuelled by tea and gingerbread.

Happy New Year! This January not only marks the start of a new year, but also the start of a new decade. What will the 20s bring us? Well, certainly for this month, it’s a little quieter here in the Lake District, as it’s traditionally the time of year when we see the least amount of visitors.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas is approaching fast and here in the Lake District we’re getting in the festive spirit with an abundance of Christmas markets, craft workshops, shows, and other festive themed events. Santa can be seen throughout the month at various locations across the national park, thanks to his ability to travel at great speeds. All we need now is a sprinkling of snow on the fells to complete the magical atmosphere this month.

November is a month of two halves here in the Lake District. The start of the month is filled with crackles and bangs as fireworks displays take place around the county, marking Guy Fawkes night. There follows a temporary lull, with a smattering of theatre and craft events, plus the annual Kendal Mountain Festival.

With swirling mists, towering fells, and nights that turn pitch black, the Lake District is the place to be this October for some spine-tingling Halloween inspired fun.

During the autumn and winter months it’s rare to get a bright, sunny day here in Cumbria, so when I discovered that the forecast for my childfree day was one of crisp, endless sunshine, I could barely contain my excitement. As I set off from Keswick, I felt I had hit the weather jackpot: not too hot, not too cold, no wind, and no rain.

On Monday, 6th October, 2019 at a special awards ceremony in London, there was fantastic news for the Lake District when it was announced that three restaurants in the region have achieved Michelin star status. That puts the total number of restaurants in the national park with a Michelin star at seven, with HRiSHi at the Gilpin Hotel, Rogan & Co in Cartmel, and Forest Side in Grasmere all retaining their single star status, and L’Enclume in Cartmel maintaining its prestigious status as a two Michelin starred restaurant.

This month in the Lake District we welcome the change of seasons with a number of events that take advantage of the darker evenings. Apart from the half term week at the end of the month, October is one of the quietest months in the year, making it the perfect time to take advantage of early morning autumnal mists that can often be found coating the bottom of the Lake District valleys, creating beautiful vistas.

As summer draws to an end many of us are faced with the somewhat irritating prospect of having to spend long hours at work, inside offices with no chance of fitting in an ascent of a Wainwright before breakfast.