What's on in Cumbria and the Lake District in October 2026

Thursday 1 October 2026

• Tessa Bunney: What the Sea Decides to Give You

  The Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness · Free

  Photographs taken in Morecambe Bay working with local fishermen, in Tessa Bunney's first exhibition in Barrow. It closes on 4 October and the museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Organiser

• The Brilliance of Birds

  Rheged, Penrith · £3, children 16 and under free

  Work by 57 UK artists celebrating the beauty, behaviour, symbolism and diversity of birds, in Rheged's gallery. It closes on 4 October. Organiser

• Forage and Nibble with The Forage Box

  11:00 Holker Hall and Gardens, Cark-in-Cartmel · £40 adults, £22.50 children

  A guided forage through Holker's parkland and gardens with The Forage Box, learning to identify wild ingredients and tasting nibbles made from them. It lasts about three hours, so wear sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing. Organiser

• Tiddlers: Museum Explorer Group

  13:00 The Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness · Free

  A hands-on group for little ones with crafts, play and gallery exploration, with a different theme each month. It is designed for children from 18 months and younger children are welcome too. Organiser

• Back to the Moon for Good Planetarium Show

  16:30 Grizedale Observatory, Grizedale · £13 adults, £8 children, family £35

  A presentation and planetarium film about returning to the Moon, followed by a look at the observatory's meteorite collection, including lunar samples. Lasts about 1.5 hours. Organiser

• The High Road to Dalton

  18:30 Oxen Park Reading Room, Oxen Park · £5 suggested donation (cash)

  Local historians trace the ancient High Road from Hawkshead to Dalton, a network of tracks linking Furness farmsteads since the 12th century. A Cumbria Wildlife Trust local group talk; the venue is wheelchair accessible. Organiser

• National Theatre Live: The Misanthrope

  19:15 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £18.00, £17 concessions, £16 under 26s

  Sandra Oh plays the title role in Martin Crimp's version of Molière's comedy, screened from the National Theatre. Rated 15. Organiser

• A Brief Case of Crazy

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £16, £12 under-26s

  A wordless physical comedy of mime, clowning and puppetry about an awkward office worker, his boss and a troublesome briefcase. Also on the evening of 30 September. Organiser

• Brockhole 125: The Story of Brockhole from the Gaddum Archives

  19:30 Cartmel Village Hall, Cartmel · £3 visitors, free for members

  Kevin Grice tells the story of Brockhole, now 125 years old, drawing on the Gaddum family archives. A Cartmel Peninsula Local History Society talk. Organiser

• Early screening of The Chosen, season 6 episode 1

  19:30 St John the Evangelist Church, Carlisle · Free

  A free early showing of the opening episode of The Chosen season 6, with refreshments and discussion afterwards. Tickets are needed through TryBooking. Organiser

• Interstellar: The Organ Concert

  19:30 Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle · £25, £20, £15

  Roger Sayer, the organist on the Interstellar soundtrack, plays his arrangements of Hans Zimmer's score, opening with pieces from Holst's The Planets. His playing is projected on big screens and there is a Q&A afterwards. Organiser

• Talk: The Penrith2Kendal Arc

  19:30 Parkin Memorial Hall, Pooley Bridge · Free

  Lee Schofield of the Lowther Farming Partnership talks about nature recovery between Penrith and Kendal, for the Friends of the Ullswater Way. Organiser

Friday 2 October 2026

• Humphrey the Roman Boar Storytelling

  Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport

  Storytelling with Humphrey the Roman boar at the Senhouse Roman Museum. Organiser

• Lakes International Comic Arts Festival

  Brewery Arts and venues across Kendal, Kendal · Tickets via TryBooking, prices vary by event

  Three days of comic art in Kendal with exhibitions, talks, live drawing and screenings. Guests include Bill Sienkiewicz, the opening night is Asterix vs. Tintin: The Rematch, and Little LICAF has family activities. Organiser

• Mini Retreat Break: Recharge Your Batteries

  Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre, Ulverston · £15 event only

  A short weekend break of guided meditation and talks at the Buddhist centre in Conishead Priory, with time for woodland walks and the cafe. Accommodation and meals are booked separately. Organiser

• Moon Lates at Carlisle Cathedral

  Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle · £7.50 entry, £15 with Moon View Tour

  See Museum of the Moon after hours with atmospheric lighting and soundscapes, with an optional climb up the sandstone stairs for a view from height. Further Moon Lates run on 3, 9, 22, 28 and 29 October and 1 November. Organiser

• Out of Ink: Cumbria Printmakers exhibition

  The Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth

  A weekend exhibition of original prints by members of Cumbria Printmakers. Organiser

• The Retrosettes at Zeffirellis

  Zeffirellis, Ambleside

  Live music at the Zeffirellis jazz bar in Ambleside, listed on the venue's programme for 2 October. Book through Zeffirellis. Organiser

• Art Workshop: Block Printing

  10:30 Holker Hall and Gardens, Cark-in-Cartmel

  Learn Indian block printing with hand-carved wooden blocks inspired by the Holker gardens, then print a tote bag, apron or cushion cover to take home. All materials are provided and no experience is needed. Bring an apron or old shirt. Organiser

• Backstage Tour

  10:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £12

  A guided tour of the technical box, wings and stage with a member of theatre staff, lasting about 90 minutes. Groups are limited to 12 and children under 16 need an adult. Organiser

• Early screening of The Chosen, season 6 episode 1

  13:30 St John the Evangelist Church, Carlisle · Free

  A free early showing of the opening episode of The Chosen season 6, with refreshments and discussion afterwards. Tickets are needed through TryBooking. Organiser

• Maryport Mussels Wildlife Watch Group

  16:00 Maryport Harbour, Maryport

  A meeting of the Maryport Mussels Wildlife Watch group, Cumbria Wildlife Trust's local nature club for children and families, based at the harbour. Organiser

• Muncaster Open Mic Night

  18:30 Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass

  A Friday evening open mic session at Muncaster Castle for local performers and anyone who fancies an evening of live music. Organiser

• CeCe Monsoon presents Bold As Brass

  18:40 The Royalty, Lake Road, Bowness-on-Windermere

  An evening of drag cabaret with international performer CeCe Monsoon, raising funds for Rainbow Hub. Organiser

• 67,000 Barrovians Can't Be Wrong

  19:00 Cooke's Studios, Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness · Free

  A Theatre Factory production of stories old and new celebrating Barrow and its people. Free or pay by donation, but seats must be booked in advance through TicketSource. Organiser

• Salsa Night: Dance and Dine

  19:00 Skiddaw Hotel, Keswick · £32 per person

  A live salsa demonstration and beginner lesson with Keswick Salsa, with a tapas platter and a glass of sangria; no partner or experience needed. Book through Brasserie 31 at the hotel. Organiser

• A Brief Case of Crazy

  19:30 The Victoria Wood Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere · £16, children £12

  A silent physical comedy of mime, clowning and puppetry in the style of the old silent film stars, about a shy office worker and a troublesome briefcase. Runs for an hour with no interval. Organiser

• Monstering the Rocketman

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake (Studio), Keswick · £16, £12 under-26s

  An award-winning solo show about Elton John's 1980s libel battle with The Sun. It runs about an hour and a quarter with no interval. Organiser

• Showaddywaddy

  19:30 The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £29.70

  Showaddywaddy play The Sands Centre. Organiser

• The Smiths Ltd and Transmission

  20:30 The Coro, Ulverston · £23 standing, £28.50 balcony, including booking fee

  A double bill of tribute bands, The Smiths Ltd and Transmission, playing the songs of The Smiths and Joy Division. Doors open at 7.30pm and the venue lists it as 14 and over. Organiser

Saturday 3 October 2026

• Apple Tasting Weekends at Acorn Bank

  Acorn Bank (National Trust), Temple Sowerby · Free event, normal admission applies

  Every October weekend you can taste apples from Acorn Bank's orchard of 165 varieties, some with hints of pineapple, aniseed or strawberry. Meet in the courtyard by the café; sessions may end early if the crop runs out. Organiser

• Carlisle Cathedral Farmers' and Makers' Market

  Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle · Free

  Local food producers, crafts and charity stalls in the cathedral grounds and the Fratry. A good one to pair with a look at Museum of the Moon. Organiser

• Dinosaur World Live

  The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £16.01

  An interactive family show with life-like dinosaurs including T-Rex and Triceratops, lasting 50 minutes plus a 15-minute meet and greet. It won the 2024 Olivier Award for Best Family Entertainment. Organiser

• Moon Lates

  Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle · £7.50 entry, £15 with Moon View Tour

  See the Museum of the Moon after hours with atmospheric sound and a pop-up bar. The optional Moon View Tour climbs the narrow stone stairs to the clerestory; evening start times are on the cathedral website. Organiser

• Stevie Williams at Zeffirellis

  Zeffirellis, Ambleside

  Live music at the Zeffirellis jazz bar in Ambleside, listed on the venue's programme for 3 October. Book through Zeffirellis. Organiser

• Kirkby Stephen Craft and Food Producers Market

  09:00 Masonic Hall and Silver Street Gardens, Kirkby Stephen · Free

  The first-Saturday market of local food, jams, plants and crafts, mostly indoors. Organiser

• Marine Survey Day: Shoresearch

  09:30 St Bees Beach, beachfront car park, St Bees

  Volunteer Marine Champions lead one of their monthly survey days on the shore at St Bees, finding and recording marine life. Meet at the beachfront car park. Organiser

• Lakeland Motor Museum Monthly Morning Meet

  10:00 Lakeland Motor Museum, Backbarrow

  The museum's monthly morning meet, 10am to 12.30pm. Organiser

• Ford Park Apple Day

  11:00 Ford Park, Ulverston · Free

  A free community day with apple pressing, an Apple Day bake off, children's crafts, traditional games, plant and apple sales and a makers market. Drop in, no booking needed. Organiser

• Gosling Sike Apple Day

  11:00 Gosling Sike, Houghton, Carlisle · Free

  Cumbria Wildlife Trust opens its community orchard for apple picking. Bring bags or baskets and take home as much fruit as you like; dogs on leads are welcome. Organiser

• Dalton Castle Open Afternoon

  14:00 Dalton Castle, Dalton-in-Furness · Free

  Friends of Dalton Castle open the castle for the last time this season, so you can climb the spiral staircase, see the dungeon and dress up. It opens on the first Saturday afternoon of each month until October. Organiser

• Guided Walk: Harvest Reflections

  14:00 Sizergh, Sizergh · Free with normal admission

  Photographer Joanne Coates leads a harvest-season walk through the fields and hedgerows, talking about her Daughters of the Soil project. Bring a phone, camera or sketchbook; booking is essential on 015395 69818. Organiser

• A Brief History of Music (Arts Out West)

  19:00 Bassenthwaite Parish Room, Bassenthwaite

  GreenMatthews take a 90-minute comic tour through 600 years of music on instruments such as the virginal, lute and rauschpfeife. Doors 6.30pm. Organiser

• Another Lesbian Marxist Dystopian Panto

  19:00 Laurel and Hardy Museum, Ulverston · £12.50

  A queer, dystopian twist on the fairytale panto, with sharp humour and revolutionary songs. Tickets are sold through TryBooking. Organiser

• An Evening of Flanders & Swan and Hinge & Bracket

  19:30 The Victoria Wood Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere · £16 adults, £14 Friends of the theatre

  A tribute evening of witty songs and sketches from two much-loved British comedy double acts. Runs for 1 hour 50 minutes. Organiser

• Illegal Eagles: Hotel California Tour

  19:30 The Coro, Ulverston · £39.50 including booking fee

  The Illegal Eagles play the whole Hotel California album followed by the Eagles' greatest hits. Doors open at 6.45pm and there is a 20 minute interval. Organiser

• Monstering the Rocketman

  19:30 The Beggar's Theatre, Millom

  A touring stage show at the Beggar's Theatre in Millom. Organiser

• Attention All Shipping: A Celebration of the Shipping Forecast

  20:00 Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven

  A comedy evening celebrating the Shipping Forecast, staged at Rosehill Theatre. Organiser

Sunday 4 October 2026

• Apple Tasting Weekends at Acorn Bank

  Acorn Bank (National Trust), Temple Sowerby · Free event, normal admission applies

  Every October weekend you can taste apples from Acorn Bank's orchard of 165 varieties, some with hints of pineapple, aniseed or strawberry. Meet in the courtyard by the café; sessions may end early if the crop runs out. Organiser

• Charity Wagon Pull

  08:30 Devil's Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale · Free

  A team of 78 pulls an 11.5 ton wagon 10.5 miles from Devil's Bridge to Sedbergh, raising money for the Samaritans, Cancer Research and the Rawthey Project. Come and cheer them on. Organiser

• Calligraphy for Beginners with Claire Gould

  10:00 Rheged, Penrith

  A three-hour beginners' calligraphy class with Claire Gould. Organiser

• Mystery Apple Identification Day

  11:00 Acorn Bank (National Trust), Temple Sowerby · Free event, normal admission applies

  Bring up to three apples for Acorn Bank's gardener and the North Cumbrian Orchard Group to identify. Slots are handed out on arrival, and there is free apple tasting in the courtyard the same day. Organiser

• Free Tours of Acorn Bank's Orchard

  12:00 Acorn Bank (National Trust), Temple Sowerby · Free with normal Acorn Bank admission

  A volunteer-led walk through the orchard covering its history, the 165 varieties and how they are looked after. Ten places per tour, first come first served at the Shepherd's Hut; a second tour runs at 2pm. Organiser

Monday 5 October 2026

• Keeping Up Appearances (the stage play)

  West Walls Theatre, Carlisle

  A stage adaptation of the Roy Clarke sitcom, with Hyacinth trying to win a leading role in the church hall's amateur production. Directed by Jason Munn at the Carlisle Green Room. Organiser

• Guided Walk: Prehistoric Sizergh

  11:00 Sizergh, Sizergh, near Kendal · Free

  A volunteer-led two hour walk up Sizergh Fell past prehistoric burial sites and Roman traces, with views over Morecambe Bay. Booking is essential on 015395 69818; wear boots and waterproofs. Organiser

• Guided Walk: Ancient Trees and Magnificent Murals

  13:30 Sizergh, Sizergh, near Kendal · Free

  A volunteer-led walk of about two hours through farmland and ancient limestone woodland to see a historic mural, with views across the Lyth Valley. Booking is essential on 015395 69818. Organiser

• A Life with Insects: Confessions of a Lepidopterist

  15:00 Kirkby Stephen Methodist Chapel, Kirkby Stephen · £3 suggested donation

  Entomologist Dr Howard Bell talks about a life with insects and the battle to keep out non-native pests. A short local group AGM follows. Organiser

• An Evening with Larry Lamb

  18:00 Brantwood, Coniston · £35 including supper

  The actor shares poetry, stories and conversation in John Ruskin's Drawing Room, after a bowl of homemade chilli (meat or vegan). There is a chance to meet him and buy a signed copy of his autobiography. Organiser

Tuesday 6 October 2026

• Rusland Woods Workparty

  09:30 Rusland Woods (meet at Lane Ends junction off the A590), Rusland · Free

  A conservation volunteering day helping with woodland management in the Rusland Valley, fuelled by Friends of the Lake District's well-known cakes. Book through the online form. Organiser

• Nature Tots at Foulshaw Moss

  10:00 Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, Witherslack · Free

  Themed play in nature and a craft out on the reserve for pre-schoolers and their grown-ups. Buggy friendly, with undercover areas if it rains. Organiser

• Talking Tuesday: Illustrated History of Newhouses

  14:00 The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven

  Local artist John Armstrong shares his paintings of Newhouses, which tell the history of the mining community. Booking is essential. Organiser

• Protecting Dark Skies: A Talk by Friends of the Lake District

  19:00 Swarthmoor Meeting House, Swarthmoor

  A talk on why dark skies matter for wildlife and the wider environment, with tea, coffee and cake. The organisers describe it as non political and say everyone is welcome. Organiser

• The Shaddongate Uprising 1826

  19:00 New Waterton Hall, Carlisle · £4 members, £7 non-members, including refreshments

  An illustrated talk by Mark Costello on the 1826 Shaddongate election riot, when troops shot three hand-loom weavers. Pay at the door; hosted by Carlisle and District Civic Trust. Organiser

• Open Space

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £8

  Local artists share works in development in front of a live audience, a chance to see new performance ideas early. Organiser

• The Great British Bake Off Musical

  19:30 The Coro, Ulverston · £15 to £17

  A stage musical set in the baking tent, with bakers facing buttercream disasters and piping challenges. Doors open at 6.45pm and there is a 20 minute interval. Organiser

Wednesday 7 October 2026

• Guided Walk with a Gardener

  11:00 Sizergh, Sizergh, near Kendal · Free, normal admission charges apply

  One of the Sizergh gardeners walks you round the garden and explains what has been happening and what is planned for the month ahead. Meet at Visitor Reception; the walk runs on the first Wednesday of the month. Organiser

• Ecstasy of the Virtues

  19:30 Barrow Town Hall Banqueting Hall, Barrow-in-Furness · £10, £5 BSL or relaxed seats

  A new mystery opera composed by Nwando Ebizie, with a BSL movement artist in the cast. There are BSL seats with a vibrating bench and relaxed floor seating with cushions, both at the lower price. Organiser

• Hannah Scott

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £16, £12 under-26s

  Folk-inspired songs and storytelling from singer-songwriter Hannah Scott. In the Studio. Organiser

• Walter Trout with Laura Evans

  19:30 Old Fire Station, Carlisle · £30 to £33.60 (as listed)

  American blues-rock guitarist Walter Trout plays with support from Laura Evans. Doors 7.30pm. Organiser

Thursday 8 October 2026

• The Rut on Foot with the RSPB

  Wild Haweswater, Bampton

  A guided walk with the RSPB at Wild Haweswater during the red deer rut. Timings and prices were not listed when checked. Organiser

• Supper and Stories: Wild Venison Week Special

  18:30 Holker Hall and Gardens, Cark-in-Cartmel · £29.95

  A supper of wild venison dishes, with a talk from Joe Groom, Wildlife Officer for Forestry England, on deer management and woodland conservation. Vegetarian and vegan alternatives are not available. Organiser

• Making Peatlands Work for Butterflies and Moths

  19:00 Quaker Meeting House, Penrith · £3 suggested donation (cash)

  Kay Andrews of Butterfly Conservation explains how peatland restoration helps threatened butterflies and moths, and how you can get involved in survey work. Organiser

• The People's Emergency Briefing and Q&A

  19:00 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £10.50, £9.50 concessions

  A screening and panel discussion with Lancaster University's Professor Mike Berners-Lee and environmentalist Kate Rawles on the climate and nature crisis. Organiser

• National Theatre Live: The Misanthrope (subtitled)

  19:15 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £18.00, £17 concessions, £16 under 26s

  A subtitled screening of the National Theatre production with Sandra Oh. Rated 15. Organiser

• The Long Ryders

  19:30 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £27.50, £25 concessions

  The alt-country band play the Malt Room standing, with Reuben Tighe supporting. Doors open at 7.30pm. Organiser

• Top of the Wold by Mikron Theatre

  19:30 Threlkeld Village Hall, Threlkeld · £15 adults, £7.50 under-18s

  A musical comedy about a quirky mobile library visiting East Riding communities, from the touring Mikron Theatre Company. Bar and box office open from 6.45pm. Organiser

Friday 9 October 2026

• Moon Lates

  Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle · £7.50 entry, £15 with Moon View Tour

  See the Museum of the Moon after hours with atmospheric sound and a pop-up bar. The optional Moon View Tour climbs the narrow stone stairs to the clerestory; evening start times are on the cathedral website. Organiser

• Historic Hawkshead Guided Walk

  10:00 Hawkshead National Park car park, Hawkshead · Free

  A 2.6 mile volunteer-led stroll past the Old Grammar School where Wordsworth studied, St Michael's Church and Ann Tyson's cottage. Grade 2, on pavements and good paths. Organiser

• Industrial Heritage of Acorn Bank Guided Tour

  12:00 Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby · Free with normal Acorn Bank admission

  A volunteer-led tour through the woods and the watermill to uncover the estate's industrial past. Paths are rooty and steep and the mill has steep steps; meet at the Shepherd's Hut. Organiser

• The Secret Table with Peter Sidwell

  18:30 Underscar Manor, Applethwaite, Keswick

  A guest-chef dining evening at Underscar Manor with chef and TV presenter Peter Sidwell. Contact Underscar for the menu, price and booking. Organiser

• Evening of Latin America at The Book Brewery

  19:00 The Book Brewery, Ambleside

  Tickets include three freshly made empanadas and samples of three Argentinian wines, plus an introduction to Latin American literature and a browse of the books, which are 10% off that night. Organiser

• MUSE and FOO's Double Header Tribute Night

  19:00 The Royalty, Bowness-on-Windermere

  Two tribute acts back to back: EMUS playing early Muse albums and In Your Honour playing the Foo Fighters' first five albums and best-known songs. Organiser

• PAVÉ with Mindskrew and Ant1-T4nk

  19:00 Barrow Town Hall Banqueting Hall, Barrow-in-Furness · £10, £5 students and unwaged

  A gig by PAVÉ with local support acts, part of Barrow Music Week. A mixer for young musicians and bands runs from 6pm. Organiser

• Brewery Poets Reading

  19:30 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £8 online, £10 on the door

  Brewery Arts poets read their latest work, including Harriet Fraser and Helena Sanderson. Organiser

• Elvis Returns

  19:30 Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven

  An evening of Elvis songs at Rosehill Theatre. Organiser

• Dark Sky Astronomy

  20:00 Grizedale Observatory, Grizedale

  A three-hour evening on moonless nights at Grizedale Observatory, with hands-on use of telescopes, the planetarium, meteorites and a robotic telescope, and a complimentary hot drink. Book through the observatory. Organiser

Saturday 10 October 2026

• Apple Tasting Weekends at Acorn Bank

  Acorn Bank (National Trust), Temple Sowerby · Free event, normal admission applies

  Every October weekend you can taste apples from Acorn Bank's orchard of 165 varieties, some with hints of pineapple, aniseed or strawberry. Meet in the courtyard by the café; sessions may end early if the crop runs out. Organiser

• Oktoberfest at Greystoke Castle

  Greystoke Castle, Greystoke · £10 per person per night; free for castle members

  Live music, bratwurst hot dogs, BBQ and pizza, cold beer and a carousel bar in the castle grounds over the weekend. Organiser

• Orton Farmers' Market

  Orton village, Orton · Free

  The monthly farmers' market in Orton, free to visit. Organiser

• Wasdale Head Show and Shepherds' Meet

  Show Field, Wasdale Head, Wasdale Head

  A traditional fell-farming show at the head of England's deepest lake, with Herdwick sheep, shepherds' crooks, hound trails and a fell race. Organiser

• Lakes Deer Fest

  09:30 Rheged, Penrith · Free

  A free day celebrating Cumbria's red and roe deer, with cookery and butchery demonstrations, free venison burgers, films, talks, willow weaving and family activities. Organiser

• Catbells Terrace National Park Guided Walk

  10:00 Theatre by the Lake (main entrance), Keswick · Free

  A 7.5 mile volunteer-led walk that starts with a launch across Derwent Water, then returns along the Catbells terrace path with views to Skiddaw and Blencathra. Grade 4, so a reasonable level of fitness is needed. Organiser

• Forest Bathing and Nature Connection

  10:00 Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre, Braithwaite, Keswick · £35 per person

  A three-hour guided forest bathing session inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, a slow, sensory walk with time for stillness and a shared forest tea. You need to be able to walk slowly on uneven ground. Organiser

• Lakes Deer Fest

  10:30 Rheged, Penrith · Most talks free

  A day of talks about deer and the Lake District landscape, from a Behind the Lens session at 10.30am to films from the landscape at 4.15pm. Five of the talks are listed as free; check the Rheged page for the ticketing on each. Organiser

• Industrial Heritage of Acorn Bank Guided Tour

  12:00 Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby · Free with normal Acorn Bank admission

  A volunteer-led tour through the woods and the watermill to uncover the estate's industrial past. Paths are rooty and steep and the mill has steep steps; meet at the Shepherd's Hut. Organiser

• Introduction to Stained Glass

  12:00 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £54 plus £15 materials paid to the tutor

  A beginners' workshop where you cut glass, assemble a panel with lead and solder the joints. All tools and materials are provided. Organiser

• Family Silent Disco at the Dock Museum

  14:00 The Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness · £7.50, £5 children

  A family silent disco at the museum, part of the Barrow Music Weekender. There are two sessions, at 2pm and 3.30pm, and under 16s pay a lower price. Organiser

• Lakes in a Day Half Distance

  14:30 Rothay Park, Ambleside

  A waymarked 23-mile trail run from Ambleside down the western shore of Windermere over Claife Heights and past Bigland Tarn to Cartmel, with about 850m of ascent. Organiser

• RLPO: Pops Goes Classical

  18:00 Barrow Town Hall Banqueting Hall, Barrow-in-Furness · £25, £23 concessions, £10 under 25s

  The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra plays popular classical favourites on The Forum on Tour. There are two performances, at 6pm and 8pm. Organiser

• Albert Lee

  19:30 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £28.50

  The Grammy-winning guitarist, once hailed by Eric Clapton as the ultimate virtuoso, plays with his UK band in the seated Extended Theatre. Organiser

Sunday 11 October 2026

• Apple Tasting Weekends at Acorn Bank

  Acorn Bank (National Trust), Temple Sowerby · Free event, normal admission applies

  Every October weekend you can taste apples from Acorn Bank's orchard of 165 varieties, some with hints of pineapple, aniseed or strawberry. Meet in the courtyard by the café; sessions may end early if the crop runs out. Organiser

• Tour of Acorn Bank's Orchard

  12:00 Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby · Free with normal Acorn Bank admission

  A volunteer-led walk through the orchard covering its history, the 165 varieties and how they are looked after. Ten places per tour, first come first served at the Shepherd's Hut; a second tour runs at 2pm. Organiser

• Holker Hosts the Roast

  13:30 Holker Hall and Gardens, Cark-in-Cartmel

  A Sunday roast in the Ilex room at the cafe during Wild Venison Week, with roast venison haunch, turkey or a nut roast and all the trimmings. Garden entry is included with pre-booked tickets. Organiser

• The Big Bike Film Night

  16:00 Rheged, Penrith

  A touring programme of short bike films, about two and a half hours long. Organiser

• Jimeoin: BALLYHOO!

  19:30 The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £24.75

  Stand-up comedy from Jimeoin. Organiser

• Martin Taylor Live at Zeffirellis

  20:00 Zeffirellis, Ambleside · Main room £28, side seats £25

  Fingerstyle jazz guitarist Martin Taylor MBE returns to the Zeffirellis jazz bar with a set of standards. Organiser

Monday 12 October 2026

• Guided Walk: Prehistoric Sizergh

  11:00 Sizergh, Sizergh, near Kendal · Free

  A volunteer-led two hour walk up Sizergh Fell past prehistoric burial sites and Roman traces, with views over Morecambe Bay. Booking is essential on 015395 69818; wear boots and waterproofs. Organiser

• Guided Walk: Ancient Trees and Magnificent Murals

  13:30 Sizergh, Sizergh, near Kendal · Free

  A volunteer-led walk of about two hours through farmland and ancient limestone woodland to see a historic mural, with views across the Lyth Valley. Booking is essential on 015395 69818. Organiser

• Heritage Talk: Common Ground with Angus Winchester

  18:00 The Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth

  Cockermouth-born historian Angus Winchester on the history of common land in Britain and why the commons still matter for farming, recreation and nature. Doors 5.30pm. Organiser

Tuesday 13 October 2026

• The Trial of Romeo Oscar

  The Victoria Wood Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere · £35 adults, £12 under 25s (other concessions available)

  Alan Ayckbourn's latest play is a courtroom drama in which an android is tried for murder. Runs about three hours including an interval. Organiser

• Yew Beauty! Guided Walk in Yewdale

  10:00 Coniston Tourist Information Centre car park, Coniston · Free

  A 2.7 mile National Park guided walk through the Yewdale valley past a limekiln, a bank barn, a 17th century cottage and a Victorian folly. Paths can be uneven or muddy. Organiser

• Harps North West

  11:00 Allan Bank, Grasmere · Free with normal Allan Bank admission

  A harp quartet plays folk, arranged pop, classics and new pieces in the Wordsworth study, with a chance to chat and try the instruments. Pop-up performances between 11am and 1pm; the room is on the ground floor. Organiser

• Funny Girl on Screen

  19:15 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £15.50, £13.50 under 16s

  Sheridan Smith stars as Fanny Brice in the musical, filmed on its national tour at Manchester's Palace Theatre. Rated 12A. Organiser

• Rich Hall: Chin Music

  20:00 Barrow Town Hall Banqueting Hall, Barrow-in-Furness · From £18

  The award-winning comedian brings his touring stand-up show to Barrow Town Hall. Organiser

Wednesday 14 October 2026

• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

  Carnegie Theatre and Arts Centre, Workington

  The Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical comes to the Carnegie Theatre for four days. Organiser

• Just Desserts

  Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £15

  Three short comic plays by Alan Ayckbourn and Jean McConnell about love, infidelity and food: Between Mouthfuls, Cupboard Love and The Kidderminster Affair. Organiser

• Back to the Moon for Good Planetarium Show

  16:30 Grizedale Observatory, Grizedale · £13 adults, £8 children, family £35

  A presentation and planetarium film about returning to the Moon, followed by a look at the observatory's meteorite collection, including lunar samples. Lasts about 1.5 hours. Organiser

• Paddling Film Festival 2026

  19:00 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £16, under 18s and students £8

  Lakeland Canoe Club presents an evening of paddling adventure films, from jungle rivers in Gabon to a 1,000-mile canoe expedition. Organiser

Thursday 15 October 2026

• Garden Talk: Everything Benjes

  14:00 Lowther Castle and Gardens, Lowther · Free with admission to the Castle and Gardens

  A half-hour garden talk on benjes hedges with Andrew Sagar, meeting at the Heronry. Free with castle and gardens admission, but places must be booked. Organiser

• Floating Sound Bath at Lakeside Hotel

  19:00 Lakeside Hotel and Spa, Newby Bridge · £45 per person

  An hour resting on supportive floats in the hotel's warm indoor pool while crystal and Tibetan bowls and a gong are played around the water. Adults only; arrive about 15 minutes early, and a waiver is required. Organiser

• An Evening with Terry Pendry

  19:30 Rheged, Penrith

  Terry Pendry, formerly stud groom and manager to the late Queen Elizabeth II and now a Military Knight of Windsor, looks back over his career. Runs for about an hour and a half. Organiser

• Dara Ó Briain

  20:00 The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £33

  The Irish comedian brings his stand-up tour to Carlisle. Organiser

Friday 16 October 2026

• Death in the Dales Book Festival

  The People's Hall, Sedbergh

  The third annual festival of crime writing in Sedbergh, with author sessions on Saturday and Sunday and a vintage film noir screening with a pie and peas supper on the Friday evening. Organiser

• Hudson and Hudson: Married at First Sleight

  19:00 The Royalty, Bowness-on-Windermere

  A comedy and magic show from married couple Alan and Kat Hudson, mixing stand-up, sketches, magic and mind reading. Alan won Penn and Teller: Fool Us; both have appeared on Britain's Got Talent. Organiser

• Postcards from the Peaks and We Wild Camp

  19:15 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £10.50, £9.50 concessions, £7.50 under 26s

  Two adventure films, one following Stu Skinner's postbox journey through UK national parks and one on wild camping, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker. Organiser

• Brian Bilston: How To Lay An Egg With A Horse Inside

  19:30 The Coro, Ulverston · £21, £18 NUS (including booking fee)

  The hugely popular social media poet brings an evening of comic verse and chat about reading, writing and enjoying poetry, with material from his latest book. Organiser

• Legend: The Music of Bob Marley

  19:30 The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £30.80

  A live tribute concert to the music of Bob Marley. Organiser

• Norrie MacIver

  19:30 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £21.50, £19.70 under 25s

  A Gaelic singer-songwriter from the Isle of Lewis and former Skipinnish singer. Doors open at 7.30pm; under 16s need an adult at evening events. Organiser

• The Bluetones

  19:30 Old Fire Station, Carlisle · From £27.50

  The Britpop favourites play Carlisle's Old Fire Station. The time given is doors, and some ticket sellers have already sold out. Organiser

• Dark Sky Astronomy

  20:00 Grizedale Observatory, Grizedale

  A three-hour evening on moonless nights at Grizedale Observatory, with hands-on use of telescopes, the planetarium, meteorites and a robotic telescope, and a complimentary hot drink. Book through the observatory. Organiser

• Rosehill's Comedy Club

  20:00 Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven

  A night of stand-up comedy at Rosehill Theatre. Organiser

• Shooglenifty

  20:00 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £23.50

  The Scottish 'acid croft' band bring their mix of folk, beats and electronica to the standing Malt Room, touring their tenth album Stamina Island. Organiser

Saturday 17 October 2026

• Apple Tasting Weekends at Acorn Bank

  Acorn Bank (National Trust), Temple Sowerby · Free event, normal admission applies

  Every October weekend you can taste apples from Acorn Bank's orchard of 165 varieties, some with hints of pineapple, aniseed or strawberry. Meet in the courtyard by the café; sessions may end early if the crop runs out. Organiser

• Archaeological Finds Day

  Penrith and Eden Museum, Penrith · Free

  A free day at Penrith and Eden Museum for people to bring in finds and learn more about the area's archaeology. Organiser

• Brough Farmers' and Makers' Market

  Brough village, Brough · Free

  The monthly farmers' and makers' market in Brough, free to visit. Organiser

• Oktoberfest at Greystoke Castle

  Greystoke Castle, Greystoke · £10 per person per night; free for castle members

  Live music, bratwurst hot dogs, BBQ and pizza, cold beer and a carousel bar in the castle grounds over the weekend. Organiser

• The Beacon School of Magic

  The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven · £15 per child

  A hands-on workshop for young magicians, with sessions at 10am, 12pm and 2pm on both days. Organiser

• Exploring Cyanotype: Printing with Light with Kim Tillyer

  10:00 Rheged, Penrith

  A day-long class in cyanotype printing with Kim Tillyer. Organiser

• Whitehaven Monthly Market

  10:00 King Street, Whitehaven · Free

  An outdoor street market with fresh produce, crafts, gifts and locally made goods, held on the third Saturday of the month. Organiser

• Langdale Marathon and Half Marathon

  10:30 New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Great Langdale · Marathon £52.50, half marathon £42.50 (under 25s £26 and £20)

  A trail marathon and half marathon through Great Langdale, starting and finishing at the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Race numbers are collected on the day and you can swap from the marathon to the half until 9.45am. Organiser

• Autumnal Wreath Making

  13:30 Rheged, Penrith · £95 including materials

  Make a crescent-moon wreath from dried flowers and seed heads grown by The Pretty Wild Flower Co. There are 15 places at most, and tickets are non-refundable. Organiser

• Met Opera: Macbeth

  18:00 Rheged, Penrith

  A screening of Macbeth from the Met Opera on Rheged's giant cinema screen. It runs for about 3 hours 30 minutes. Organiser

• Carrie Hope Fletcher in concert

  18:45 Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle · £17.50 to £47.50

  West End star Carrie Hope Fletcher plays her first Carlisle show, mixing quiet ballads with big musical theatre numbers. The time given is doors. Organiser

• Chaps Choir and The Growing Singers

  19:00 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £20.50

  Two choirs sing acapella in the seated theatre to raise money for Growing Well's mental health work in West Cumbria. Doors open at 7pm. Organiser

• Keswick Choral Society: 250 years of St Mary's Church

  19:00 Threlkeld Village Hall, Threlkeld · £10

  A concert by Keswick Choral Society to celebrate 250 years of St Mary's Church. You can pay on the door. Organiser

• 80s Live!

  19:30 The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £30.80

  A live 1980s music show. Organiser

• Hauntings: Tales of the Supernatural

  19:30 Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven · £18 / £16

  An evening of atmospheric ghost stories on the Rosehill stage, ahead of Halloween. Organiser

• Hauntings: Tales of the Supernatural

  19:30 Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven

  An evening of supernatural tales at Rosehill Theatre. Organiser

• The Simon & Garfunkel Story

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £24 to £34

  A concert-style show in the Main House, with projected photographs and film footage and a live band playing the hits. It was marked as sold out on the booking page when checked. Organiser

• Dom Joly: Trigger Happy TV 25th Anniversary Tour

  20:00 The Beggar's Theatre, Millom

  Dom Joly's live show for the 25th anniversary of Trigger Happy TV. Organiser

• Live/Wire: The AC/DC Show

  20:00 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £28.50

  A two-hour AC/DC tribute set covering Back in Black through to PWR UP. Doors open at 8pm. Organiser

• One Night in Nashville

  20:00 Old Fire Station, Carlisle · £25 to £28 (as listed)

  A Nashville-themed country tribute show. Doors 8pm. Organiser

Sunday 18 October 2026

• Apple Tasting Weekends at Acorn Bank

  Acorn Bank (National Trust), Temple Sowerby · Free event, normal admission applies

  Every October weekend you can taste apples from Acorn Bank's orchard of 165 varieties, some with hints of pineapple, aniseed or strawberry. Meet in the courtyard by the café; sessions may end early if the crop runs out. Organiser

• Indoor Car Boot Sale

  Penrith Leisure Centre, Penrith

  An indoor car boot sale at Penrith Leisure Centre, so it goes ahead whatever the weather. Organiser

• Wild Sauna and Forest Plunge

  09:00 Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre, Braithwaite, Keswick · £15.50 per person

  Hourly sauna sessions in the visitor centre car park at Whinlatter, starting at 9am, 10am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm. Organiser

• Make a Mug with Marianne Lusby

  10:00 Rheged, Penrith

  A pottery class making a mug with Marianne Lusby. Organiser

• Woodland Reset

  10:00 Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre, Braithwaite, Keswick · £60 per person plus booking fee, with a 2 for 1 offer

  A wellness day in the forest with walks, breathwork, gentle movement, sound baths and meditation, with refreshments provided. Organiser

• Tour of Acorn Bank's Orchard

  12:00 Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby · Free with normal Acorn Bank admission

  A volunteer-led walk through the orchard covering its history, the 165 varieties and how they are looked after. Ten places per tour, first come first served at the Shepherd's Hut; a second tour runs at 2pm. Organiser

• Hadestown: The Musical

  13:30 Rheged, Penrith

  A screening of the Hadestown stage musical, rated 12A and running for about 2 hours 37 minutes. Organiser

• Beyond The Barricade

  19:30 The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £26.95

  A musical theatre concert at The Sands Centre. Organiser

• Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £22, £12 under-26s

  An interactive screening of the Murder, She Wrote episode Paint Me a Murder, hosted by Tim Benzie with games, prizes, a Cabot Cove quiz and a theme tune singalong. In the Main House. Organiser

• Take Care: An Evening with Lindsey Burrow

  19:30 The Coro, Ulverston · £33 with a signed book, £23 without, including booking fee

  An evening with Lindsey Burrow, with a signed book included in the higher-priced ticket. There is a 20 minute interval and doors open at 6.45pm. Organiser

Monday 19 October 2026

• Guided Walk: Prehistoric Sizergh

  11:00 Sizergh, Sizergh, near Kendal · Free

  A volunteer-led two hour walk up Sizergh Fell past prehistoric burial sites and Roman traces, with views over Morecambe Bay. Booking is essential on 015395 69818; wear boots and waterproofs. Organiser

• Guided Walk: Ancient Trees and Magnificent Murals

  13:30 Sizergh, Sizergh, near Kendal · Free

  A volunteer-led walk of about two hours through farmland and ancient limestone woodland to see a historic mural, with views across the Lyth Valley. Booking is essential on 015395 69818. Organiser

• Ash

  19:00 Old Fire Station, Carlisle · From £19.54

  Northern Irish rock band Ash return to Carlisle for the first time in nine years. The time given is doors. Organiser

Tuesday 20 October 2026

• Northern Quilts

  Tullie, Carlisle · Included with museum admission

  Three days only to see 16 quilts from the Tullie collection that have not been on public display for over 20 years, including a wedding quilt from 1790 by Betty Ballas of Appleby. Organiser

• Penrith Farmers' Market

  Market Square, Penrith · Free

  The third-Tuesday farmers' market, with local producers selling seasonal food and crafts in the town centre. Organiser

• The Gruffalo

  The Coro, Ulverston · £15.50, £13.50, including booking fee

  Tall Stories' musical adaptation of the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler picture book, in four performances over two days. Doors open 45 minutes before each show and there is no interval. Organiser

• The Picture of Dorian Gray

  Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £11 to £32

  A stage version of Oscar Wilde's gothic novel about beauty, corruption and consequence, a good fit for the run-up to Halloween. Organiser

• Cantate Showcase Under the Moon

  18:30 Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle · £15 adults, £7.50 children

  The cathedral's Cantate children's choir sings beneath Museum of the Moon. Ticket money goes to the cathedral's organ restoration project. Organiser

• Macbeth: The Met Opera

  18:30 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £19.00, £18 concessions, £17 under 26s

  Verdi's Macbeth from the Metropolitan Opera with Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen, screened live to cinema. Rated 12A. Organiser

• Darol Anger and Bruce Molsky

  19:00 Malt Kiln Village Hall, Bardsea · £20

  Fiddlers Darol Anger and Bruce Molsky play together at Bardsea's village hall. Tickets are sold through TryBooking. Organiser

• Borderlines: Lee and Andrew Child in Conversation

  19:30 Old Fire Station, Carlisle · £22

  The Borderlines Carlisle Book Festival opens with the brothers behind Jack Reacher talking about their new thriller, Chain Reaction. Under-26s get £2 off. Organiser

• Friends of the Lake District: Hedgerows Update

  19:30 Methodist Church Hall, Hartley Street, Ulverston · £3 suggested donation (cash)

  Leanne Parr gives an update on Friends of the Lake District's conservation work, with a focus on their hedgerow projects. Hosted by Cumbria Wildlife Trust's local group. Organiser

• Yatter: Spoken Word Night

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £8

  An evening of stories, poems and spoken word hosted by storyteller Jessie McMeekin, with guest performers and open mic slots for local voices. Organiser

Wednesday 21 October 2026

• Building Detectives Walking Tour

  10:30 Townend, Troutbeck, Windermere · £10 per adult

  A guided look at traditional Lake District buildings in Troutbeck, including the outside of Townend and rare access to a bank barn on a working farm. Book on 0344 249 1895; meet in the courtyard 10 minutes early. Organiser

• Twilight Tales at Dove Cottage

  16:00 Dove Cottage and Wordsworth Museum, Grasmere · Children £10, adults £5

  A Halloween family session with hot chocolate, gingerbread and crafts, then Georgian dress-up and a chance to hear the Wordsworths' writing. At dusk the group moves into Dove Cottage for spooky Cumbrian stories. Book through Wordsworth Grasmere. Organiser

• Family Dark Sky Canoeing on Coniston Water

  17:10 Brown Howe Car Park, Coniston · £57 adults (14+), £52 children

  Paddle rafted canoes across Coniston Water at dusk, stop in a quiet bay for hot drinks and stargazing, then return by glow-stick light. Part of the Cumbria Dark Skies Festival; also on 28 Oct. Organiser

• Martin Simpson: Some Kind of Jubilee Tour

  19:30 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £25.50, £23.30 concessions

  The folk guitarist marks 50 years since his debut with songs from his latest album. Doors open at 7.30pm. Organiser

• Royal Northern Sinfonia: Vivaldi's Four Seasons

  19:30 The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £11

  The Royal Northern Sinfonia plays Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Tickets start at £11, which makes it a good first orchestral concert. Organiser

Thursday 22 October 2026

• Moon Lates

  Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle · £7.50 entry, £15 with Moon View Tour

  See the Museum of the Moon after hours with atmospheric sound and a pop-up bar. The optional Moon View Tour climbs the narrow stone stairs to the clerestory; evening start times are on the cathedral website. Organiser

• Blawith Beacon Trek

  10:00 Torver Parish Rooms, Torver · Free

  A 7 mile volunteer-led trek over Torver Low Common and the Beacon, with archaeology, lunch at Beacon Tarn and views of Coniston Water. Expect boggy paths and steep climbs. Organiser

• Jump Season Opener

  11:52 Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle · From £15.30, under 18s free

  The return of jump racing at Carlisle, with hurdles and fences on the card. Gates open 11.52am, first race 1.52pm. Organiser

• Planetarium Show: Messengers of Space and Time

  16:30 Grizedale Observatory, Grizedale

  A talk in the lounge followed by a planetarium film on how real-time data is changing our view of the universe. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours. Organiser

• Burneside Brass and Burneside Training Band

  19:00 The Victoria Wood Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere · £10 adults, £7.50 seniors and children

  A concert of film and television favourites from a local brass band and its training band. Runs for 1 hour 50 minutes. Organiser

• Murder at Gatsby Manor

  19:00 Merewood Country House Hotel, Windermere · £49 per person

  A 1920s murder mystery dinner with a pre-dinner Prosecco, two-course dinner and a live Criminal Cabaret performance. Gatsby-style dress is optional. Organiser

• Hadestown: The Musical on Screen

  19:15 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £15.00, £14 concessions, £13 under 26s

  The Tony-winning musical filmed live in London's West End. Rated 12A. Organiser

• Furness on Film

  19:30 The Roxy Cinema, Ulverston · £10

  The North West Film Archive screens footage of life in and around Furness over the last 100 years. The screening has closed captions and a BSL signer. Book through the Roxy Cinema. Organiser

• Off Grid

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £16, £12 under-26s

  A comedy about two men on a camping trip in Lancashire with no internet, some beer and years of resentment. In the Studio. Organiser

• Peatbog Faeries

  19:30 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £26.50

  The Isle of Skye band blend jigs and reels with dance-floor grooves in a standing gig in the Malt Room. Organiser

Friday 23 October 2026

• Potfest in the Pens

  Cumberland Auction Mart, Penrith

  The annual Potfest in the Pens, a selling show of contemporary ceramics, held over three days. Organiser

• Backstage Tour

  10:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £12

  A guided tour of the technical box, wings and stage with a member of theatre staff, lasting about 90 minutes. Groups are limited to 12 and children under 16 need an adult. Organiser

• Ghastly Stories for Gruesome Gremlins

  16:00 Gleaston Village Hall, Gleaston · £5

  A silly and spooky storytelling show from Gav Cross, aimed at ages 6 and over with their families. It lasts about an hour. Organiser

• Back to the Moon for Good Planetarium Show

  16:30 Grizedale Observatory, Grizedale Forest, Grizedale · £13 adults, £8 children, family £35

  A presentation and planetarium film about returning to the Moon, followed by a look at the observatory's meteorite collection, including lunar samples. Lasts about 1.5 hours; also on 1 and 14 Oct and 5, 18 and 27 Nov. Organiser

• Cosmic Cumbria Evening: Talk, Film and Exhibition Launch

  19:00 Rheged, Penrith

  An evening of talk and film that also launches the Cosmic Cumbria exhibition. Check the Rheged page for the running order. Organiser

• Big Fish Comedy Club

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £15, £12 under-26s

  Three comedians from the North West scene and beyond in the Studio's small-pond, big-fish comedy night. Organiser

• Jason Byrne: 30 Years Byrning

  19:30 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £33.50

  The Irish comedian marks three decades of stand-up with a high-energy show full of audience interaction and daft stunts. Organiser

• Mark Borthwick: The War of the Birds

  19:30 Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven

  A live music evening with Mark Borthwick at Rosehill Theatre. Organiser

• Republica

  19:30 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £33.50

  The Nineties band celebrate 30 years of their hit single, with Trampolene in support. Doors open at 7.30pm; 16 and over, and under 18s need an adult. Organiser

• The War of the Worlds: A Performed Reading

  19:30 Gleaston Village Hall, Gleaston · £10 to £15

  Gav Cross gives a solo reading of H G Wells' novel in the style of a Victorian parlour reading, with an original soundtrack. It runs for about 100 minutes and is recommended for ages 12 and over. Organiser

• Dreamboys World Tour

  20:00 The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £28.60 including booking fee

  The Dreamboys touring variety show, listed by the Sands Centre as a variety show. Organiser

Saturday 24 October 2026

• Apple Tasting Weekends at Acorn Bank

  Acorn Bank (National Trust), Temple Sowerby · Free event, normal admission applies

  Every October weekend you can taste apples from Acorn Bank's orchard of 165 varieties, some with hints of pineapple, aniseed or strawberry. Meet in the courtyard by the café; sessions may end early if the crop runs out. Organiser

• Carlisle Carnivale and The Winter Droving

  Carlisle city centre, Carlisle · Free

  Eden Arts moves its Winter Droving from Penrith to Carlisle this year, bringing the Drovers Cup, dog fancy dress, music, street theatre and a twilight procession. Timings and route are still to be confirmed. Organiser

• John Lydon: I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right

  The Beggar's Theatre, Millom

  John Lydon in an evening of stories and questions from the audience. Organiser

• Northern Crafts: Appleby Makers Market

  Public Hall, Appleby-in-Westmorland · Free

  A makers market at Appleby Public Hall with free entry. Organiser

• Shap Farmers' and Makers' Market

  Shap village, Shap · Free

  The monthly farmers' and makers' market in Shap, free to visit. Organiser

• Storytime with Gruffalo Granny

  Grizedale Forest, Grizedale · Free

  Hear the brand-new Gruffalo story and meet the Gruffalo, with forest crafts and games. Meet-and-greets are first come, first served, so arrive early. Organiser

• World's Biggest Liar Contest

  Jennings Brewery, Cockermouth

  The World's Biggest Liar Contest is listed for Saturday 24 October at Jennings on the Cockermouth town guide. Start time and entry details were not given on the listing. Organiser

• Life as a Spiritual Journey

  09:00 Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre, Ulverston · £30 event only

  A day retreat of teachings and guided meditations on finding meaning in everyday life. It suits beginners and experienced meditators, with three sessions through the day. Organiser

• Barrow Autumn Fest

  10:00 Barrow town centre, Barrow-in-Furness · Free

  A free family day in the town centre with pumpkin picking, craft workshops, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, face painting and alpacas to meet. The Pumpkin Patch returns for 2026. Organiser

• Felt and Textile Landscape Workshop

  10:30 Plumgarths, Kendal · £55

  Artist Penny Hillier-Evans guides you through felt and textile techniques to make your own autumn landscape. No drawing or painting experience needed, and refreshments are included through the day. Organiser

• Royal Ballet and Opera: Macbeth

  13:30 Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven

  A cinema screening of the Royal Ballet and Opera's Macbeth, shown at Rosehill Theatre. Organiser

• Frightful Family Halloween Crafts

  14:15 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £6.50 per person (£12 with the Hocus Pocus screening)

  A Halloween craft session making spooky decorations, with costumes welcome and all materials provided. Wear clothes that can get messy. Organiser

• Hocus Pocus (PG) Halloween Screening

  16:15 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £7.50

  The Halloween family favourite on the big screen, and it pairs neatly with the crafts session beforehand for a combined £12 ticket. Organiser

• Meet the Moon: children's talk with Stuart Atkinson

  17:00 Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle

  Astronomy writer Stuart Atkinson takes young stargazers on a tour of the lunar surface, with real moon rock to look at. More sessions run from 23 to 25 October, including informal drop-in talks for all ages and an adults' evening. Organiser

• Shadows of Townend: Folklore, Fear and Farmhouse Magic

  18:00 Townend, Troutbeck, Windermere · £18 per ticket

  A candlelit Halloween tour of the 17th-century farmhouse with a costumed guide, on the Browne family's superstitions, remedies and protective marks. Two one-hour sessions, at 6pm and 7.30pm; the house has uneven floors, steps and a spiral staircase. Organiser

• Appleby Festival of Remembrance

  19:00 Appleby Market Hall, Appleby-in-Westmorland · £10 adults, under 16s free

  An evening of music, remembrance and community, with the money raised shared between the poppy appeal and the town band. Organiser

• Alex McAleer: Mind Reader

  19:30 The Victoria Wood Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere · £18, under 25s £12

  A mentalist show of apparent mind reading, psychology and dry comedy with plenty of audience interaction. Runs for 1 hour 45 minutes including an interval. Organiser

• Iolanthe: A Concert Performance

  19:30 St Mark's Church, Barrow-in-Furness · Free

  A concert performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe, with free entry and a collection for St Mary's Hospice in Ulverston. Singers can join optional daytime chorus rehearsals from 2pm for £5, with scores to borrow. Organiser

• The Legends in Vegas: After Hours

  19:30 The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £33 including booking fee

  A ballroom and commercial dance show at the Sands Centre. Organiser

• Simon Evans: Staring at the Sun

  20:00 Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven

  Stand-up comedy from Simon Evans on his Staring at the Sun tour. Organiser

• Snake Davis Band

  20:00 Threlkeld Village Hall, Threlkeld · £19 adults, £10 under-18s

  Saxophonist Snake Davis brings his four-piece band for original pieces and sax classics, from soul and pop to jazz and world music. Online tickets are collected from the box office on the night. Organiser

Sunday 25 October 2026

• Apple Tasting Weekends at Acorn Bank

  Acorn Bank (National Trust), Temple Sowerby · Free event, normal admission applies

  Every October weekend you can taste apples from Acorn Bank's orchard of 165 varieties, some with hints of pineapple, aniseed or strawberry. Meet in the courtyard by the café; sessions may end early if the crop runs out. Organiser

• Arachnophobia at Zip World Windermere

  Zip World Windermere, Windermere · From £23, plus a £5 booking fee per order

  The Treetop Nets get a Halloween makeover for a two-hour family adventure with spooky theming. Parking charges apply. Organiser

• Buttermere Shepherds' Meet and Show

  Field next to Croft House Café, Buttermere · Free

  A small traditional meet with Herdwick sheep from the local parishes, working sheepdog competitions and fell races. Organiser

• Half-Term Pumpkin Carving at Allan Bank

  Allan Bank, Grasmere · £5 per child plus admission

  Short carving sessions with pumpkins prepared for you, sharp plastic tools and a tea light to take home. Sessions run through the day, 30 minutes each; children must be accompanied. Organiser

• Halloween at Kirkby Stephen East Station

  Kirkby Stephen East Station, Kirkby Stephen

  A diesel service runs from 10.30am to 4pm and is open to the public, with a ticketed evening ghost train run with Kirkby Stephen Town Council. More details were still to follow when checked. Organiser

• The Stars from The Commitments

  The Beggar's Theatre, Millom

  Members of the cast of The Commitments perform live at the Beggar's Theatre. Organiser

• Trick or Treat Cartoon Circus

  11:00 Rheged, Penrith · £10 per person

  An hour of clowns, slapstick, magic, plate spinning and puppets for half term. There is a second show at 1.30pm. Organiser

• Top Secret: The Magic of Science

  14:00 The Victoria Wood Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere · Adults £15, children £12

  A family show of science experiments and magic tricks that turns the theatre into a laboratory. Runs for 1 hour 40 minutes including an interval, and can be booked with a visit to the World of Beatrix Potter. Organiser

• Eddi Reader

  19:30 The Coro, Ulverston · £31 including booking fee

  The Scottish singer-songwriter Eddi Reader marks over 40 years as a live performer. Doors open at 6.45pm and there is a 20 minute interval. Organiser

• The Amy Winehouse Band

  19:30 The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £32.45

  The band play the songs of Amy Winehouse live. Organiser

Monday 26 October 2026

• Halloween Crafting at Windermere Jetty Museum

  Windermere Jetty Museum, Windermere · Free

  A free drop-in half-term craft in the Learning Centre where children make a fish mask to take home. Also running on Saturday 24 October. Organiser

• Halloween Pet Encounters

  The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven · £9 per child, £5.50 per adult

  Children can meet and interact with animals in a half-term session, with sessions at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on both days. Organiser

• Guided Walk: Prehistoric Sizergh

  11:00 Sizergh, Sizergh, near Kendal · Free

  A volunteer-led two hour walk up Sizergh Fell past prehistoric burial sites and Roman traces, with views over Morecambe Bay. Booking is essential on 015395 69818; wear boots and waterproofs. Organiser

• On Your Bike Baffo

  11:00 The Victoria Wood Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere · Show only: £10 adults, £8 children

  A cycle-themed clown show with silly stunts and live music, aimed at young children. Two shows, at 11am and 2pm. Runs for 45 minutes. Organiser

• Guided Walk: Ancient Trees and Magnificent Murals

  13:30 Sizergh, Sizergh, near Kendal · Free

  A volunteer-led walk of about two hours through farmland and ancient limestone woodland to see a historic mural, with views across the Lyth Valley. Booking is essential on 015395 69818. Organiser

• Gaby Gulliver's Travels

  14:00 Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven · £12 / £10

  A 45-minute family puppet show, followed by a chance to meet the puppets. Organiser

• Gaby Gulliver's Travels

  14:00 Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven

  A family theatre show at Rosehill Theatre during the October half-term. Organiser

• Twilight Tales at Dove Cottage

  16:00 Dove Cottage and Wordsworth Museum, Grasmere · Children £10, adults £5

  A Halloween family session with hot chocolate, gingerbread and crafts, then Georgian dress-up and a chance to hear the Wordsworths' writing. At dusk the group moves into Dove Cottage for spooky Cumbrian stories. Book through Wordsworth Grasmere. Organiser

• Monster Mash Kids' Halloween Party

  17:00 The Swan Hotel, Newby Bridge · £12 per child, adults free

  A Halloween party for children with a UV mini disco, themed treats, games and challenges, and pizza and chips for the children. Costumes are encouraged and adults can buy cocktails. Organiser

• Nature's Nightlife Family Walk at Grizedale

  17:00 Grizedale Forest, Grizedale · £8 per person

  A guided evening walk listening for owls and learning about the forest's night-time wildlife, ending with hot chocolate and marshmallows round a campfire. Bring torches and warm clothes; no dogs. Also on 29 Oct. Organiser

• Talk at the School: Folklore and Spooky Tales

  17:30 Hawkshead Grammar School Museum, Hawkshead

  The director of Hawkshead's ghost tours, Tallow Tales, shares the village's horrifying tales, folklore and legends in a talk of about 40 minutes with time for questions. Refreshments provided; tickets at the door or on Eventbrite. The schoolroom is often cold. Organiser

• Full Moon Women's Circle: Hunter's Moon

  19:00 Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre, Braithwaite, Keswick · £27.50 per person

  A women's gathering in the forest with guided meditation, a drum journey and a fire ritual beneath the full moon, with forest refreshments. Open to women aged 16 and over. Organiser

• Daniel Kitson: Thrum

  20:00 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £15, £12 under-26s

  Perrier Award winner Daniel Kitson with an evening of comedy, music and poetic observation about everyday objects and moments. In the Main House. Organiser

Tuesday 27 October 2026

• Astro Norma

  11:00 The Victoria Wood Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere · Show only: £10 adults, £8 children

  A musical quest with a piano and a lot of cosmic silliness to find Grandpa's lost star. Two shows, at 11am and 2pm. Runs for 45 minutes with no interval. Organiser

• Halloween Ceramic Painting

  11:00 Levens Hall, Levens · £20 pumpkin lantern, £23 star jar lantern

  Paint a spooky ceramic pumpkin lantern or star jar, with glazes and kiln firing included. Tickets are sold through Paint Pot Barn. Organiser

• Ghost Stories with Tallow Tales

  15:00 Tabitha Twitchit's Bookshop (National Trust), Hawkshead · Adults £6, children £4

  Spooky stories and folklore told by candlelight in the upstairs room of the bookshop, with some audience participation and scares suitable for families. Book by phone on 0344 249 1895; the room is upstairs and not accessible, and the tales may start outside in fair weather. Organiser

• Twilight Tales at Dove Cottage

  16:00 Dove Cottage and Wordsworth Museum, Grasmere · Children £10, adults £5

  A Halloween family session with hot chocolate, gingerbread and crafts, then Georgian dress-up and a chance to hear the Wordsworths' writing. At dusk the group moves into Dove Cottage for spooky Cumbrian stories. Book through Wordsworth Grasmere. Organiser

• Pumpkin Painting for Adults

  19:00 The Coro, Ulverston · £6 including booking fee

  An adults-only evening of pumpkin painting with an art tutor on hand. Pumpkins and materials are supplied and the bar is open. Organiser

• A Warning to the Curious

  19:30 St Mary's Church, Kirkby Lonsdale · £15, under 18s £10

  R M Lloyd Parry performs two M R James ghost stories by candlelight in the church, with a pop-up bar. Organiser

• Borderlines: Charlie Higson and Vaseem Khan in Conversation

  19:30 Old Fire Station, Carlisle · £12, £10 under 25s

  Two crime writers discuss their new James Bond novels: Charlie Higson on King Zero and Vaseem Khan on The Man with the Golden Compass. Organiser

• Dave Rowntree: No One You Know

  19:30 Barrow Town Hall Banqueting Hall, Barrow-in-Furness · £12, £10 concessions

  Blur drummer Dave Rowntree tells the stories behind the band's early years in a solo show. Organiser

• In the Land of Eagles

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £16, £12 under-26s

  A granddaughter and her grandfather travel to Albania, where he shares the truth of his life before England while facing a serious diagnosis. In the Studio. Organiser

Wednesday 28 October 2026

• Moon Lates

  Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle · £7.50 entry, £15 with Moon View Tour

  See the Museum of the Moon after hours with atmospheric sound and a pop-up bar. The optional Moon View Tour climbs the narrow stone stairs to the clerestory; evening start times are on the cathedral website. Organiser

• Spooky Halloween Crafts

  11:00 The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven · £5 per child

  A creative Halloween craft workshop for children in the BeaKid series, with sessions at 11am and 2pm. Organiser

• Lunchtime Talk: The Missing Lynx Project

  13:00 Keswick Museum (Crosthwaite Room), Keswick · Free

  A talk on the partnership investigating whether lynx could be reintroduced to Britain, focusing on Northumberland and the borders of Cumbria and southern Scotland. Free, but please book through the museum website. Organiser

• Comedy Club 4 Kids

  14:00 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £15

  Professional stand-ups perform family-friendly comedy with no adult content, for children and the adults with them. In the Main House. Organiser

• Mary Poppins Relaxed Film Screening

  14:00 The Victoria Wood Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere · £5 film only, £12 with light lunch; carers free (£7 with lunch)

  A dementia-friendly showing of the 1964 film, with the option of a soup and sandwich lunch first. Runs 2 hours 19 minutes. Organiser

• Nature's Nightlife Family Walk at Whinlatter

  17:00 Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre, Braithwaite · £8 per person

  A guided evening walk through Whinlatter Forest listening for owls and learning about forest wildlife, finishing with hot chocolate and marshmallows round a campfire. Tickets needed for adults and children. Organiser

• An Evening with Lee Child

  19:30 Daffodil Hotel and Spa, Grasmere

  The Jack Reacher author talks about writing, his collaborations and his relationship with the Romantic poets, in conversation with Michael McGregor of the Wordsworth Trust, to mark his new novel Chain Reaction. Books on sale, with signing afterwards. Organiser

• Halloween in Concert

  19:30 The Sands Centre, Carlisle · From £30.80

  A Halloween-themed concert at the Sands Centre in the middle of half term. Organiser

• Hayseed Dixie with Sweet Electric

  19:30 Old Fire Station, Carlisle · £26 (as listed)

  Rockgrass band Hayseed Dixie reimagine classic rock songs with banjo and fiddle, supported by Sweet Electric. Doors 7.30pm. Organiser

• Screen Classics: Pat and Margaret

  19:30 The Victoria Wood Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere · £10 including cheese and wine from 7pm

  A screening of the 1994 comedy drama about two estranged sisters, with cheese and wine served before the film. Organiser

Thursday 29 October 2026

• Ghostly House Tours at Levens Hall

  Levens Hall, Levens

  Candlelit ghostly tours of the house with a Halloween scavenger hunt in the garden and a costume competition. Tickets cover the evening event only. Organiser

• Moon Lates

  Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle · £7.50 entry, £15 with Moon View Tour

  See the Museum of the Moon after hours with atmospheric sound and a pop-up bar. The optional Moon View Tour climbs the narrow stone stairs to the clerestory; evening start times are on the cathedral website. Organiser

• Pauline Eyre: Anyone For Tennis?

  The Beggar's Theatre, Millom

  Pauline Eyre performs Anyone For Tennis? at the Beggar's Theatre. Organiser

• Scarecaster at Muncaster

  Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass · £29.50

  An after-dark Halloween scare event with a maze, a zombie woodland walk, roaming monsters and live entertainment. The Stable Yard Sanctuary has live music, a DJ, a bar and a silent disco, with a fire show. Organiser

• Spooky STEM Workshop

  The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven · Free

  A free hands-on Halloween STEM workshop for children built around creativity and problem solving, with sessions at 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm. Places are booked through TryBooking. Organiser

• Cathedral Cave from Tilberthwaite

  10:00 Tilberthwaite Quarry car park, Coniston · Free

  A 4.4 mile National Park guided walk to Little Langdale, Slater Bridge, Cathedral Cave and Hodge Close quarry, on good paths with some short climbs. Organiser

• Halloween Mask Workshop

  10:00 Levens Hall, Levens · £17 per child, adults free

  Artist Bob Sutcliffe helps children paint Halloween or autumn masks in watercolour, with all equipment provided. Organiser

• Pumpkin Carving Workshop

  10:00 Rheged, Penrith

  A pumpkin carving workshop at Rheged, running from 10am to 3.15pm. Organiser

• Halloween Crafts: Clay Gargoyles

  10:30 Keswick Museum, Keswick · £6 per crafter

  Families make a clay gargoyle or another creepy creation, painting it to take home, with all materials provided. Children must be accompanied; adults only need a ticket if they are crafting. Organiser

• Claytime

  11:00 The Victoria Wood Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere · Show only: £12 adults, £10 children

  An interactive half-term show in which the audience helps build a world from clay, with a hands-on workshop. Two shows, at 11am and 2pm. Runs for an hour. Organiser

• Juicing the Harvest

  11:30 Acorn Bank (National Trust), Temple Sowerby · Free event, normal admission applies

  Watch apples from the orchard pressed and taste the fresh juice, in front of the Dovecote near the cafe. Three short sessions run on the day, at 11.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm. Organiser

• Halloween Silent Disco for Families

  14:00 The Coro, Ulverston · £7.50 adults, £5 under 16s, including booking fee

  An October half-term silent disco with three playlists, atmospheric lighting and Halloween treats. There are two sessions, at 2pm and 3.30pm, and under 16s must be with an adult. Organiser

• Ghost Stories with Tallow Tales

  15:00 Tabitha Twitchit's Bookshop (National Trust), Hawkshead · Adults £6, children £4

  Spooky stories and folklore told by candlelight in the upstairs room of the bookshop, with some audience participation and scares suitable for families. Book by phone on 0344 249 1895; the room is upstairs and not accessible, and the tales may start outside in fair weather. Organiser

• Michael Rosen: NICE!

  15:00 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £15

  The former Children's Laureate performs his poems and stories in a lively half-term family show. Aimed at children aged six to ten. Organiser

• Monster Mash Kids' Halloween Party

  17:00 The Swan Hotel, Newby Bridge · £12 per child, adults free

  A Halloween party for children with a UV mini disco, themed treats, games and challenges, and pizza and chips for the children. Costumes are encouraged and adults can buy cocktails. Organiser

• Nature's Nightlife Family Walk

  17:00 Grizedale Forest, Grizedale · £8 per person

  A guided evening walk listening for owls and looking at the night sky, finishing with hot chocolate and marshmallows by the campfire. Bring a torch; no dogs. Organiser

• Dark Skies Walk at Whinlatter

  18:00 Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre, Braithwaite · £15.63 (12+); one adult with up to two under-12s £20.84

  A 3 to 4 mile night walk through the forest with Jo from JAG Outdoors, with stargazing and constellation spotting if the sky is clear. Bring a torch; the ground may be wet and muddy, with early exit points after about 2 miles. Organiser

• Royal Ballet: Manon

  18:45 Rheged, Penrith

  A screening of the Royal Ballet's Manon on the giant cinema screen, about 3 hours 10 minutes. Organiser

• Beacon Book Club: Lifting the Veil

  19:00 The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven

  The Beacon's book club meets for an evening of discussion exploring different interpretations of the Veil. Organiser

• Halloween Silent Disco

  19:00 The Coro, Ulverston · £10 including booking fee

  An evening silent disco with three themed playlists and a Halloween bar. There are two sessions, at 7pm and 8.30pm, for ages 16 and over. Organiser

• TRIP

  19:00 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £21.50, £19.70 concessions

  A six-piece from Glasgow's traditional music scene draw on Scottish, Irish, Northumbrian and Manx tunes. Doors open at 7pm, seated. Organiser

• Rob Rouse: Funny Bones

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £17, £12 under-26s

  A new stand-up show from Rob Rouse, named Comics' Comic at the UK Comedy Awards. In the Studio. Organiser

Friday 30 October 2026

• Kids Halloween Party at Greystoke Castle

  Greystoke Castle, Greystoke · £10 per child

  A Halloween party for children at Greystoke Castle. Timings were not listed when checked. Organiser

• Spooky Halloween Crafts

  The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven · £5 per child

  A creative Halloween craft workshop for children in the BeaKid series, with sessions at 11am and 2pm on both days. Organiser

• Taming our Busy Mind

  Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre, Ulverston · £80 event only

  A weekend retreat on meditation techniques for quieting an overactive mind, led by Kadam John McBretney. Accommodation and meals are booked separately. Organiser

• The Bernstein Beat

  Sedbergh School, Sedbergh

  A weekend from Lake District Summer Music at Sedbergh School, described as a celebration of community, creativity and the power of music to bring people together. Tickets are sold through the festival's ticket site. Organiser

• Newlands Valley Wander National Park Guided Walk

  10:00 Fellside Bistro, Croft Terrace, Braithwaite · Free

  A 6.5 mile volunteer-led walk on quiet lanes and field paths from Braithwaite into the Newlands Valley and back along Newlands Beck. Some sections can be muddy. Organiser

• Bird Box Decorating

  10:30 World of Beatrix Potter, Bowness-on-Windermere · £6.50 per bird box

  A half-term activity in The Burrow where children decorate an acorn or oak-leaf shaped bird box with their own designs and take it home. No start time is listed on the page. Organiser

• Halloween at Holker

  10:30 Holker Hall and Gardens, Cark-in-Cartmel · £12 per child (with adult gardens entry); storytelling £5 per person

  Pumpkin carving, a ghostly garden trail and monster crafts for children, with storytelling from Taffy Thomas at 11am and 2pm. Children need an adult with Gardens entry, and face painting is payable on the day. Organiser

• Spooky Bug Hunt at Cold Springs

  17:30 Cold Springs Community Nature Reserve, Penrith · Free

  A torchlit night safari around the reserve looking for spiders, bats and badgers. Warm up with a hot chocolate afterwards; book by emailing events@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk. Organiser

• Comedy Club

  19:00 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £16.50, £14.50 under 26s and unwaged

  The Brewery Arts comedy night with Alex Camp, Louise Leigh and Edward Midgley, hosted by Al Stevenson. Doors open at 7pm. Organiser

• Forty Fells: In Conversation with Tom McNally and David Felton

  19:00 Rheged, Penrith

  Tom McNally and David Felton in conversation about Forty Fells, running for about 1 hour 50 minutes. Organiser

• RLPO presents Bolt's War

  19:00 Barrow Town Hall Banqueting Hall, Barrow-in-Furness · £25, concessions £23, under 25s £10

  The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra brings its touring performance of Bolt's War to Barrow Town Hall, with £10 tickets for under 25s. Organiser

• Anyone For Tennis?

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £16, £12 under-26s

  A comedian and former Wimbledon line judge shares stories from the royal box to the locker room. In the Studio. Organiser

• Steve Steinman's Anything For Love

  19:30 The Sands Centre, Carlisle

  A rock and pop concert show from Steve Steinman, listed by the Sands Centre under rock and pop. Organiser

Saturday 31 October 2026

• Halloween Paranormal Investigation at Greystoke Castle

  Greystoke Castle, Greystoke

  A Halloween paranormal investigation at Greystoke Castle. Timings and prices were not listed when checked. Organiser

• Halloween Pumpkin Carving at Allan Bank

  Allan Bank, Grasmere · £5 per child plus admission

  Short carving sessions with pumpkins prepared for you, sharp plastic tools and a tea light to take home. Sessions run through the day, 30 minutes each; children must be accompanied. Organiser

• Halloween Spooktacular

  South Tynedale Railway, Alston station, Alston · £16 adults, £8 children, under 3s free

  A Halloween day out on the South Tynedale Railway. Timings were not listed when checked. Organiser

• Borrowdale Rainforest and Hollows Farm Guided Walk

  09:00 Hollows Farm campsite, Grange, Borrowdale · Free

  A guided walk with the National Trust nature reserve team and the farm tenants on the work protecting the Borrowdale rainforests. Undulating woodland paths, not suitable for prams or wheelchairs; book on 07974 034400. Organiser

• Borrowdale Rainforest and Hollows Farm Guided Walk

  09:00 Hollows Farm campsite, Borrowdale · Free

  Walk with National Trust rangers and the farm's tenants to hear about work to protect Borrowdale's temperate rainforest. Book by calling 07974 034400 and arrive 15 minutes early. Organiser

• Brampton Farmers' Market

  09:00 Moot Hall, Market Place, Brampton · Free

  Local produce around the Moot Hall in the middle of Brampton. Organiser

• Animals! Family Performance

  11:00 Windermere Jetty Museum, Windermere

  An interactive show with Buzzard, Rabbit and Porpoise, original songs and plenty of chances for children to join in. Organiser

• Lakeland Trails Helvellyn

  11:00 Glenridding, Glenridding · 10k £34, 15k £34, 5k £23.50 (under 16s £10)

  Trail runs of 5k, 10k and 15k from Glenridding on the shore of Ullswater. The 10k starts at 11am, the 5k at 11.15am and the two 15k races at 1pm and 2pm. There are no entries on the day. Organiser

• Nick Cope's Family Show

  11:00 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £20

  The CBeebies Popcast favourite brings his catchy family songs and animations to the Standard Theatre, with shows at 11am and 2pm. Organiser

• The Wild Woods: Spooky Edition

  16:00 Staveley Woodlands (Craggy Woods meeting point), Staveley · Free

  Campfire nature crafts, refreshments and age-appropriate spooky stories in the woods at dusk. Bring a torch and sturdy footwear; dogs on leads are welcome. Organiser

• Ghost Story! Halloween Late

  17:00 Dove Cottage and Wordsworth Museum, Grasmere

  A late Halloween opening themed on Gothic horror, with candlelit tours about the origins of vampire stories, poetry in the library, creative writing, crafts and a pop-up bar. Most suitable for over-16s, though families with younger teens and children are welcome; costumes encouraged. Organiser

• Ulverston Candlelit Walk

  17:45 The Gill, Ulverston · £1.75

  A twinkly Halloween walk through the dark woods of The Gill lit by candles. Pre-booked tickets only, usually released in early October. Organiser

• Shadows of Townend: Folklore, Fear and Farmhouse Magic

  18:00 Townend, Troutbeck, Windermere · £18 per ticket

  A candlelit Halloween tour of the 17th-century farmhouse with a costumed guide, on the Browne family's superstitions, remedies and protective marks. Two one-hour sessions, at 6pm and 7.30pm; the house has uneven floors, steps and a spiral staircase. Organiser

• Carlisle Fireshow

  18:30 Bitts Park, Carlisle · Free

  The 37th Fireshow has a centrepiece bonfire and more than 2,000 fireworks set to music, with food stalls and a fairground (during half term, not on the night) in Castle Car Park from 5pm to 8.30pm. No alcohol, pets or personal fireworks on site; Blue Badge parking at Castle Car Park with last entry 5.45pm. Organiser

• An Evening with Bram Stoker

  19:00 Ford Park, Ulverston

  A Halloween evening of cabaret hosted by the Vampire Drag King, Bram Stroker, with local entertainers, a My Chemical Romance tribute act and a DJ set. A buffet is included and proceeds go to Ulverston Pride Festival 2027. Organiser

• Before The Lights Go Out

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £16, £12 under-26s

  A storytelling evening of supernatural folklore told by candlelight, with a candle put out after each tale. In the Studio. Organiser

• El Pony Pisador

  19:30 Brewery Arts, Kendal · £21.50, £19.70 concessions

  A Barcelona ensemble play world folk from Catalan songs to Celtic tunes, with plenty of audience participation. Doors open at 7.30pm. Organiser

• Everything Under the Sun: The Music of Pink Floyd

  19:30 Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle · £10

  A seven-piece tribute to Pink Floyd with video, a light show and the cathedral organ, staged beneath the Museum of the Moon. Organiser

• Re-Take That

  19:30 Theatre by the Lake, Keswick · £35, £25 under-26s (limited)

  A Take That tribute show playing the hits. In the Main House. Organiser

• Twist and Shout

  19:30 Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven

  A live music night at Rosehill Theatre on Halloween evening. Organiser

• Voce in the Priory

  19:30 Cartmel Priory, Cartmel · £15

  Voce, a vocal group from Barrow-in-Furness, play popular music with a classical twist in the Priory. Tickets are sold through TicketSource. Organiser