Free events in Cumbria and the Lake District this month

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

Saturday 3 October 2026

• 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

• 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

• 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

Sunday 4 October 2026

• 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

Monday 5 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

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

Friday 9 October 2026

• 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

Saturday 10 October 2026

• Orton Farmers' Market

  Orton village, Orton · Free

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

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

Tuesday 13 October 2026

• 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

Saturday 17 October 2026

• 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

• 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

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

Tuesday 20 October 2026

• 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

Thursday 22 October 2026

• 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

Saturday 24 October 2026

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

Sunday 25 October 2026

• 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

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

• 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