The English Lake District National Park is open year round, with local events being organised as normal which visitors to this beautiful area may also enjoy. At this time of year, Christmas fairs are rife, with a number being held during the first weekend of December. So, if you are up for a little bit of mooching around the stalls and soaking in the atmosphere of a Lakeland Christmas fair, do come and join us this December. Stay for a few days, and don’t forget to take in the pulchritudinous sights of this marvellous region as well!
Blenheim Lodge, our Bed and Breakfast, is located in picturesque Bowness-on-Windermere. Just across from us on the other side of Lake Windermere is Hawkshead, easily reachable within 20 minutes by ferry and road. On 6th and 7th December, Hawkshead will host a Christmas Fair and Beer Festival. Here is a description of the event:
The annual Hawkshead Christmas Fair is a traditional family fair offering seasonal shopping and entertainment. There’s free admission and all the picturesque alleys, squares and cobbled streets of Hawkshead village will be seasonally decorated.
There’ll be children’s rides and visitors will be entertained by some great street entertainers including jugglers, stilt walkers and magicians. There’ll be late night shopping (until 8pm on Friday), over 50 market and seasonal craft & gift stalls, plus seasonal entertainment. Stalls in the the Market Hall and Beatrix Potter Gallery will be selling everything from handmade rugs and trinkets to pies, puddings and pickles and Father Christmas will be in his grotto. There’ll be a lantern parade on Saturday at 4:00pm followed by traditional Community Carols in the Main Square at 4:30pm. For the fifth year a Winter Beer Festival is being held with Hawkshead pubs selling twenty-five selected winter ales and beers and Hawkshead Brewery will be offering an extensive range of festive ales.
(www.yourguide2thelakedistrict.co.uk/hawkshead-christmas-fair-i1154.html)
Keswick, a larger market town further to the north of the Lake District National Park, is also holding a Christmas fair on 7th December. There are buses from Bowness to Keswick or one can drive. It takes about 40-45 minutes going at a leisurely pace along the A591, considered England’s most beautiful highway. Along the way, visitors will pass not one, not two, but four lakes: Windermere; Rydal; Grasmere; and Thirlmere. Then, in Keswick itself, there is also Derwentwater.
The Traditional Christmas Fayre in Keswick starts at 10:30 am and concludes at 3:30 pm. This event will be held in the Market Place.
The 27th Keswick Traditional Christmas Fayre takes place this year on Sunday 7th December 2014. There’s always a tremendous festive atmosphere in Keswick town centre with 25 decorated charity stalls offering seasonal food, raffles, tombolas, crafts and gifts, plus superb street entertainment. . . . There is also a small funfair for young children and a Santa’s Grotto with six Cairngorm reindeer and sleigh. Carol singing takes place in the Market Square and there is a carol concert at St John’s Church at 4.30 pm.
The Keswick Traditional Christmas Fayre first began in 1988 when it was known as the Keswick Victorian Fayre. It is organised by Keswick and Bassenthwaite Rotary Clubs, Keswick Lions Club,Keswick Inner Wheel and other local volunteers. The Fayre provides stalls for charities and local organisations to raise funds for their own good causes. None of the stalls are commercial and theKeswick Traditional Christmas Fayre is run on a non-profit making basis.
(www.yourguide2thelakedistrict.co.uk/keswick-traditional-christmas-fayre-i1505.html)
These are just two of the fairs being held in Cumbria in December. I’ll write more about other events in another blog post. Meanwhile, if you are thinking of visiting the Lakes this December, do contact us for late B&B deals. We also have late availability if you wish to see in the New Year in the Lake District. Do phone or email us for more information or to book. Our details are at the bottom of this blog post.
Blenheim Lodge . . . panoramic Lake views, peace and tranquillity, nestled against acres of beautiful fields and woodlands, in the heart of the English Lake District National Park.’
Leave a Reply