What's on in the Lake District: July 2024

July is a busy month in the Lake District in terms of events taking place with a variety of different agricultural shows, outdoor theatre performances, music festivals, and vintage cars.

July Agricultural Shows

The Lake District is famous for its summer Agricultural Shows in the Lake District, celebrating all things agricultural with farmers showcasing livestock, local traders selling their goods, sheep and dog shows, sports and competitions, vintage tractors – with each show offering something slightly different to the next. Here is a line-up of all of July’s agricultural shows:

Cockermouth Live

The Cockermouth Live festival is taking place between the 5th and 7th of July, and offers live music and entertainment for all ages. The full schedule will be released on the official website in June.

Mill Tour & Foodie Fridays at Heron Corn Mill

The Heron Corn Mill is putting on two events in the month of July, including one of their mill tours and demonstrations on Friday the 5th of July from 11.30am to 1pm and a mini food market also on Friday the 7th from 1-3pm. Here you will find artisan bread for sale by local bread makers using flour from the mill, as well as homemade pies, and delicious cakes.

Hutton-in-the-Forest: July Events

Hutton-in-the-Forest list a number of events for July, including the Skelton Show that takes place on their grounds on the 6th & 7th of July (listed in the table above).

There is also an estate walk planned, a foraging course, and a performance by the Three Inch Fools Shakespeare theatre group of The Secret Diary of Henry VIII. All three of those events take place on Sunday the 14th of July at various different times.

Lastly, there is something called Potfest taking place between the 26-28 July from 10am to 4.30pm each day, celebrating all things pottery and ceramics.

EskFest

Eskfest is a micro festival in the Eskdale Valley and is taking place between the 11th and 13th of July. The festival includes live music, workshops, talks & interviews, a silent disco, kids’ entertainment, street food, cocktails, an ice cream shack, street performances, and chill out areas.

Live Outdoor Theatre at Muncaster Castle

Muncaster Castle is putting on two outdoor live theatre shows in July, including The Comedy of Errors on Wednesday the 17th at 7pm and The Secret Diary of Henry III on Thursday the 18th at 7pm. Both performances are put on by the theatre group, Three Inch Fools.

Silloth Vintage Rally

The Silloth Vintage Rally takes place on the 20th and 21st of July on Silloth Green, and will display vintage vehicles, such as steam engines, tractors, motorbikes, and classic cars. There will be organised entertainment, such as sheep, geese and duck demonstrations, along with a live performance of a local concert band and comedy jugglers. There will also be food & drinks stands, as well as a fairground, and trade stalls.

Lake District Summer Music

The Lake District Summer Music festival takes place between the 26th of July to the 4th of August and brings together world-class classical musicians for a series of concerts and performances scattered around the Lake District. Be sure to check out the full line-up on their official website where you can also purchase tickets. 

A couple of these events worth highlighting, which are brought to you by the Lakeland Arts - a heritage, arts and culture charity - include:

Space Adventures

• Date: 28 July 2024
• Time: 11am-4.30pm (3 showings, 60 min long)
• Location: Windermere Jetty Museum, Rayrigg Rd, LA23 1BN
• Website: lakelandarts.org.uk/events/lake-district-summer-music-festival-space-adventures

Paganini Caprices 1

• Date: 31 July 2024
• Time: 5-6.20pm
• Location: Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3JT
• Website: lakelandarts.org.uk/events/lake-district-summer-music-festival-paganini-caprices-1

Westmorland Dales Festival

The Westmorland Dales Festival is taking place on Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th of July in Kirkby Stephen, celebrating the landscape, heritage, and the people of the Westmorland Dales with various events and activities taking place over the weekend. Activities will include things, such as guided walks, arts and crafts, circus skills workshops, a Cumbria Wildlife Trust creative drop in - just to name some. There will also be markets, featuring local artists and producers. 

Charmaine Watkiss: Legacy at Abbot Hall

Charmaine Watkiss: Legacy is a solo exhibition of contemporary artist, Charmaine Watkiss, including a collection of works that explores the connection between people and nature. The artist mainly draws with pencil and adds colour with watercolour and ink. The exhibition will take place between the 20th of July and the 28th of December 2024 at Abbot Hall and will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.

Lakeland Arts Summer Activities (July-Sept)

The Lakeland Arts are putting on some summer activities at their various venues, including the Windermere Jetty Museum, Blackwell, and Abbot Hall. Each will include fun self-led activities throughout the summer months, starting on the 20th of July and running all the way into early September.

Summer of STEAM

Learn about boat building, steam, and wind power.

• Date: 20 July – 3 September
• Time: 11-3.45pm
• Location: Windermere Jetty Museum, Rayrigg road, Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 1BN
• Website: lakelandarts.org.uk/events/summer-of-steam

Summer of Symmetry

Show your crafty side with creative works, doodles, sketches, and look for hidden animals all over Blackwell.

• Date: 20 July – 3 September
• Time: 10-5pm
• Location: Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house, Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 3JT
• Website: lakelandarts.org.uk/events/summer-of-symmetry

Summer of Creativity

Interact with artwork at Abbot Hall’s displays and exhibitions with fun self-led activities.

• Date: 20 July – 3 September
• Time: 10-3.45pm
• Location: Abbot Hall, Kirkland, Kendal, LA9 5AL
• Website: lakelandarts.org.uk/events/summer-of-creativity