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Local beer festivals have taken place across Cumbria for years, offering a community for passionate local brewers and allowing visitors to sample a fantastic array of innovative craft beers and traditional Cumbrian ales. Whether you’re a hop connoisseur or just starting to explore the world of craft brews, beer festivals are a perfect way to expand your palate, discover new flavours and have a good time!
Real ale is extremely popular here and this is reflected in the surge of breweries in Cumbria over the last couple of decades, with around 40 breweries across the region in total (that’s pretty impressive for England’s second least densely populated county.) We simply can’t imagine anything better than a refreshing Cumbrian ale, especially after a long day adventuring in the Lake District fells.
Though beer is the main attraction of these events, it’s certainly not the only thing on the agenda. Beer festivals in the UK are a blast – live music fills the air, providing a lively atmosphere as you mingle with friends and fellow beer enthusiasts. And let’s not forget about the food! Beer festivals in Cumbria offer a wide variety of tasty street food vendors that pair perfectly with crisp Cumbrian ales.
So, what’s on the Cumbria beer festival calendar for 2024? We’ve put together a list of the top beer festivals taking place in Cumbria and the Lake District this year, so you won’t miss out.
Date: 7 – 8 June 2024
Location: Davidson Park, Crow Park Road, Keswick CA12 5EG
Find Out More: https://keswickbeerfestival.co.uk/
The Keswick Beer Festival, which was first held in 1997 on Keswick Rugby Club grounds, is returning for its’ 26th anniversary in June 2024. This festival attracts thousands of visitors each year and is one of the largest beer festivals in Cumbria. As well as over 150 ales for visitors to sample, the festival features a variety of live acts which contribute to the vibrant and lively party atmosphere. Tickets always sell out – so grab them while you can to avoid disappointment!
Date: 29 – 31 March 2024
Location: Unit 10, Castle Mills, Aynam Rd, Kendal LA9 7DE
Find Out More: https://www.bownessbaybrewing.co.uk/whats-on/
Bowness Bay Brewery in Kendal has confirmed that its’ popular Easter Beer Festival will be returning for the third time this Easter weekend. As well as Bowness Bay Brewing’s own craft beers, there will be a selection of more than 35 ales and lagers as well as cider, spirits and soft drinks. Attendees can also expect to be entertained with live music throughout the afternoon and evening, a variety of activities for all ages and a number of street food vendors.
Date: 24 – 25 May 2024
Location: Low Hall The Lakes, Blindbothel, Cockermouth, England CA13 0RE
Find Out More: https://www.crooked-river.co.uk/events/north-west-beer-fest
The North West Beer Fest will be launching their very first beer festival at Low Hall The Lakes near Cockermouth this May. This Cumbria beer festival is a celebration of the best craft beer in the region with a wide variety of local breweries attending including Made In Cumbria members Tractor Shed Brewing. As well as sampling beer from some of the county’s best Cumbrian breweries, visitors of this two-day event will enjoy food stalls, live music and family entertainment.
Date: 20 – 23 June 2024
Location: Farm and Fell Campsite, Birks Lane, Sedbergh LA10 5HQ
Find Out More: https://www.farmandfell.co.uk/event-details/farm-fell-summer-solstice-beer-gin-music-festival
This family friendly festival is hosting campers over the Summer Solstice weekend 2024 in a tranquil field 10 minutes from the centre of Sedbergh on the boundaries of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park. As well as a wide variety of local craft beer, wine and spirits to sample, there will also be live folk, blues and country music on The Barn Stage on both the Friday and Saturday which contribute to the party atmosphere.
Date: 17 – 18 May 2024
Location: Fibrus Stadium, Derwent Park, Workington CA14 2HG
Find Out More: https://workingtonbeerfestival.org.uk/
Returning for 2024, Workington Beer, Cider and Gin Festival has a new venue and is being held at a new time of year. Now in its 13th year, the festival will take place over the 17 – 18 May at the Fibrus Community Stadium. This Cumbrian beer festival is a fantastic celebration of local Cumbrian food and drink suppliers, offering a wide variety of Cumbrian ales, lagers, ciders, wine, prosecco and gin. But not only this, the two-day beer festival is also hosting a number of local food vendors and live music acts that are sure to keep the party going all weekend long.
Date: 14 – 15 June 2024
Location: Frenchfield Sports Centre, Carleton, Penrith CA11 8UU
Find Out More: https://penrithbeerfestival.co.uk/
Located at Frenchfield Sports Centre, and hosted in a beer tent, Penrith Beer Festival is a beer lover’s dream come true. Here you can explore a wide variety of delicious Cumbrian ales from local Cumbrian breweries as well as a variety of brews from international breweries all in one place. The beer festival has something for everyone, allowing visitors to indulge in tasty food options from local Cumbrian food suppliers and enjoy live music throughout the afternoon and evening.
Date: 6 – 9 June 2024
Location: Boot, Holmrook CA19 1TG
Find Out More: https://www.facebook.com/bootbeerfestival/?locale=en_GB
The fantastic Boot Beer Festival has been going for several years, starting as a way to get visitors to the valley during the foot and mouth disease outbreak. The beer festival is now a fabulous event spanning across four days with over 40 real ales available and live music in the three pubs at Boot in the Eskdale valley. The three pubs are all in walking distance however due to the events popularity, there will be a shuttle bus running between the venues as well as local campsites.
Date: 3 – 5 May 2024
Location: Raygarth, Kirkby Lonsdale, Carnforth LA6 2DS
Find Out More: https://www.klrufc.co.uk/beer-music-festival/#:~:text=Preparations%20for%20the%202024%20Music,up%20%2D%20see%20festival%20camping%20tickets.
The rugby club at Kirkby Lonsdale host a beer festival each year that is free to attend. As well as a large selection of locally brewed beers and ciders available to sample, there is entertainment from around 30 local bands, a large marquee with children’s entertainment, and a trade area with crafts and other items to buy.
Date: 27 – 29 September 2024
Location: Ambleside (various locations)
Find Out More: https://amblefest.co.uk/
If you like craft beer, good music and tasty street food then you’ll love Amblefest. Expected to be bigger and better than ever, Amblefest is a beer festival held across several venues in the beautiful town of Ambleside, a popular destination amongst hikers and climbers as a base point for exploring the Lake District. There will be more than 40 different craft beers served across the three-day beer festival from northern breweries and lots of great street food choices.
Date: September 2024
Location: Tweedies Bar & Lodge, Red Bank Rd, Grasmere LA22 9SW
Find Out More: https://www.tweediesgrasmere.com/grasmere-guzzler/
The small village of Grasmere in the heart of the Lake District comes alive with music and beer each September as Tweedie’s Bar and Lodge hosts the popular Grasmere Guzzler beer festival. Attracting a few thousand people into the village every year, this beer festival features well over 100 ales and ciders from both local Cumbrian breweries and across the globe. But not only this, the festival has live music, a BBQ and entertainment for children.
There are many festivals and events to be enjoyed in Cumbria this year. So, mark these beer festivals in your calendar and gather your friends for a weekend filled with laughter, energising music and of course, amazing beer. We’ll cheers to that!
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce
3rd Floor
Broadacre House
16-20 Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DA
0845 226 00 40
©Cumbria Chamber of Commerce 2023 | By: We Are Digital
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