Following all of those fun-filled Easter egg hunts and half-term activities, the Lake District continues to put on some great events in the month of April, including the famous Marmalade Festival at Dalemain, a food festival in Wigton, and another spectacular outdoor art display at Lowther Castle.
You will also want to keep a look out for the bluebells toward the end of the month and into early May. We list some of the best places to check them here and here. Be sure to keep to paths and keep your dogs on lead so as to preserve them for everyone to enjoy!
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April at Lakeland Arts
Lakeland Arts April events include:
Broad Leys and Blackwell Tour
Discover two arts & crafts houses on this informational tour, including Broad Leys & Blackwell, ending with a cream tea.
- Date: 11 & 21 April 2024
- Time: 1.30-5pm
- Location: Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3JT and Broad Leys, Newby Bridge Rd, Windermere LA23 3LJ
- Website: lakelandarts.org.uk/events/broad-leys-and-blackwell-tour/var/ri-2.l-L1
Easter Holidays Nature Trails
Learn about local birdlife whilst looking for hidden Easter eggs around the museum and pick up a nature trail guide to look for various plants and animals around the lake.
- Date: 29 March – 14 April 2024
- Time: 10-4pm
- Location: Windermere Jetty Museum, Rayrigg Road, Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1BN
- Website link: lakelandarts.org.uk/events/easter-holidays-nature-trails
Easter Holidays Creative Fun
Build your own model boat from recycled materials in the Learning Centre throughout the Easter break.
- Date: 29 March – 14 April 2024
- Time: 10-3.45pm
- Location: Windermere Jetty Museum, Rayrigg Road, Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1BN
- Website link: lakelandarts.org.uk/events/family-activities-wjm
Family Activities
These are self-led activities for children and their parents. They include sketching flowers in the visitor sketchbook, as well as family-friendly trail where you can spot hidden animals around Blackwell.
- Date: 1 March – 5 May 2024
- Time: 10-4pm daily
- Location: Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3JT
- Website link: lakelandarts.org.uk/events/family-activities-blackwell
Keswick Choral Society Spring Concert
The Keswick Choral Society are putting on their spring concert on Saturday 27 April from 7.30pm at St John’s Church, Keswick. Expect Mozart, Elgar, Faure, Rutter and more.
Taste of Wigton Food Festival
Taste of Wigton is part of the Taste Cumbria food festival and will be taking place on Saturday, 20 April. The festival will include market stalls, an outdoor picnic area with live music, hot food stalls, fairground rides, and children’s activities.
The Marmalade Festival & Other Marmalade Events
The Festival
The annual Marmalade Festival is returning to Dalemain on Saturday 20 April from 10am to 4pm. There will be displays of marmalade around the mansion, along with marmalade tastings, the opportunity purchase marmalade from this years’ winners, and the chance to meet the famous Paddington Bear!
The Stagecoach
In addition, Pooley Bridge will be turning orange with local businesses donning the colour orange over the festival weekend and a Marmalade Stagecoach Bus running between Penrith Railway Station, Dalemain and Pooley Bridge. The timetable will be announced shortly and posted on the official Marmalade Festival website.
The Marmalade Gin Tasting Cruise
Additionally, you can take a Marmalade Gin Tasting Cruise on the Ullswater Steamers from 6-8pm on the evening of the 20th.
A Marmalade Church Service & The Classic Car ‘Drive It Day’
If you still haven’t had your fill of marmalade by Sunday 21 April, there will be a marmalade church service at St Andrews, Dacre, followed by a cup of tea at Dalemain with the Classic Car ‘Drive It Day’, which will also be taking place.
Hutton-in-the-Forest Foraging Courses
Hutton-in-the-Forest will be host to two foraging courses in the month of April on Sunday the 7th and Thursday the 18th run by Wild Food UK. The foraging will take approximately 2.5 hours and the day will end with a Wild Food meal. Tickets can be purchased on the Wild Food UK website.
OR Art Installation at Lowther Castle
Following the successful Ten Thousand Daffodils display in 2023, Lowther Castle will be host to another charitable art display called OR, which will see 500 golden textile flags on the South Lawns. The display crafted by artist, Steve Messam, will benefit three local charities in the Lake District, including: James’ Place, Restore and the Lowther Church Restoration Fund. The art display will run from 19 April to 6 May and is free to view with the regular Lowther Castle admission.
Woolpack Inn: Cider & Sausage Weekend
The Woolpack Inn will be hosting their annual Cider & Sausage Weekend from the 26th to the 28th of April. The event will include 40 different ciders, 20 flavours of sausages, as well as live music.
Carlisle International Market
Marketplace Europe hosts a number of International markets across the UK with one taking place on Carlisle in April on Monday the 1st. The market will run from 10am to 6pm on English Street with a selection of artisan vendors.
Peter Rabbit Tea Party
The World of Beatrix Potter is offering a number of added events in the month of April, including Tea with Peter Rabbit, Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit live shows, and craft sessions, such as bunny ears decorating and mask making.
Heron Corn Mill: Mill Tour & Milling Demonstration
Heron Corn Mill is putting on a mill tour and milling demonstration on Friday the 5th of April from 11.30am to 1pm where you will be guided through the 18th century watermill and learn about the fascinating history behind Heron Corn Mill. Bags of fresh flour will be available for purchase after the tour.
Path to Adventure: Dark Sky Canoeing
Path to Adventure are running two special events on Wednesday 3rd April at 7.15pm and Wednesday 10th April at 7.30pm that involve a journey around Coniston Water in rafted canoes with star gazing if the weather permits. The minimum age for this activity is 8 years old.
Brewery Tours at Bowness Bay Brewing
Bowness Bay Brewing have now launched Brewery Tours where you can tour the Bowness Bay Brewery and learn how they make beer. The tour lasts two-hours and costs £15, which includes a beer tasting at the end of the tour. Those under the age of 18 will be provided with soft drinks instead of beer.