What's on in Furness and Cartmel

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

Friday 2 October 2026

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

• 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 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

• 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

Thursday 8 October 2026

• 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

Friday 9 October 2026

• 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

Saturday 10 October 2026

• 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

• 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

Sunday 11 October 2026

• 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

Tuesday 13 October 2026

• 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

Friday 16 October 2026

• 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

Sunday 18 October 2026

• 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

Tuesday 20 October 2026

• 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

• 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

• 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

Thursday 22 October 2026

• 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

Friday 23 October 2026

• 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

• 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

Saturday 24 October 2026

• 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

• 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

• 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

Tuesday 27 October 2026

• 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

• 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

Thursday 29 October 2026

• 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

• 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

Friday 30 October 2026

• 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

• 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

• 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

Saturday 31 October 2026

• 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

• 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

• 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

Sunday 1 November 2026

• Brighouse and Rastrick Band

  15:00 The Coro, Ulverston · £23, £19 concessions, including booking fee

  A concert of popular favourites and classics from the Brighouse and Rastrick brass band, who won the 2025 British Open title. There is a 20 minute interval. Organiser

Thursday 5 November 2026

• 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

• Russell Watson: An Intimate Evening

  19:30 The Coro, Ulverston · £35 standard, £51 VIP, £86 meet and greet

  Russell Watson performs an intimate concert of personal stories and classics. There is a 20 minute interval. Organiser

Friday 6 November 2026

• Holker Winter Market

  10:00 Holker Hall and Gardens, Cark-in-Cartmel · £12.50 adults, under 12s free

  A three day market of craft, gift and street food stalls in the grounds, with outdoor bars and live music. Admission includes entry to the Hall and gardens, and children under 12 are free with an adult ticket. Organiser

• Can You Catch a Serial Killer?

  19:30 Barrow Town Hall Banqueting Hall, Barrow-in-Furness · From £22

  An interactive true-crime evening where the audience works through a criminal investigation together. Organiser

• SHINE with Jess Gillam Ensemble

  19:30 The Coro, Ulverston · £21 to £41

  Ulverston saxophonist Jess Gillam returns to the Coro with her ensemble. Organiser

Saturday 7 November 2026

• Rising Stars 2026

  13:30 The Coro, Ulverston · £13.50, £11 under 16s, including booking fee

  A showcase of local young performers from Stephenson School of Dance. There are two performances, at 1.30pm and 6pm. Organiser

Tuesday 10 November 2026

• A Christmas Carol with Jonathan Goodwin

  19:30 The Coro, Ulverston · £16 including booking fee

  A one-man show in which Jonathan Goodwin plays Charles Dickens telling the classic Christmas ghost story. Doors open at 6.45pm and there is a 20 minute interval. Organiser