The county’s favourite food & drink festival returns to Maryport
on Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 August 2026
Maryport will host another Taste Cumbria food festival this Summer and it promises to be another mouth-watering treat for locals and visitors alike.
The event will take place across two sites again, the Harbourside Event Space, created as part of Cumberland Council’s £12 million regeneration of the town, and the Marine Road Showfield.
The event will run from 10am until 5pm on Saturday 8 August, with live music on the main festival stage until 7pm that day, then on Sunday 9 August everything’s open from 10am until 4pm.
The Event Space will feature the Teenage Market, while its Palace Stage will be the place to hear musicians, choirs and sea shanties. It’s also the location for the ever-popular expert demonstrations, which this year will see TV chef Rosemary Shrager headline the line-up.
Over on the Marine Road site, visitors will find the big Producers’ Market packed with local fare, as well as the hot food court, main music stage, festival bar, kite show, fairground and family entertainment including free magic shows, crafts, face painting and more.
Many of Maryport’s visitor attractions and businesses get involved with Taste Cumbria too, with special tours, offers and menus for everyone to enjoy. Check our website closer to the time.
The Taste Cumbria food festivals are organised by Cumberland Council and bring millions of pounds into the local economy. After Maryport, the next festival is in Cockermouth on 26 and 27 September and 5 and 6 December, with plans for an event in Carlisle still being finalised.
The main festival is free to attend, including the expert demos, street theatre, live music stages, kite show and children’s entertainment. Charges apply for fairground rides.
Saturday 8 August: 10am – 5pm (music on the Main Stage until 7pm)
Sunday 9 August: 10am – 4pm
Harbourside Event Space
Expert demonstrations
Acoustic Stage
Teenage Market
Access to the Shiver Me Timbers play area and splashpark
Marine Road Showfield
Producers’ Market
Hot food court
Maryport Round Table Festival Bar
Main Stage
Fairground rides
Kite show
Children’s entertainment – crafts, face painting, magic shows & balloon modelling
The Festival Bar is run by Maryport Round Table and all their profits go to local good causes. That’s why we kindly ask that you buy your refreshments from them and don’t bring your own alcohol on to the festival site.
Buses will run between the harbourside and The Classic Car and Vintage Vehicle Show at Netherhall Rugby Club from 10am on the Saturday. If you’re coming by car, please use the town’s car parks and avoid parking on the street near residents’ homes surrounding the Event Space and Marine Road Showfield.
TV chef Rosemary Shrager, star of Cooking With the Stars and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, will be appearing on the Demo Stage at this year’s Taste Cumbria festival in Maryport.
Rosemary will be appearing at 11am on the Saturday. This is a free event.
Rosemary proved she could cook just about anything, anywhere, when she braved the jungle. Her numerous TV appearances include the eponymous Rosemary’s Chopping Block as well as The Big Family Cooking Showdown, the award-winning BBC show The Real Marigold Hotel and Ladette to Lady, as well as a host of other shows filmed all around the world. When she’s not cooking, she’s writing and has even penned a series of murder mystery novels.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“Rosemary is a familiar face to anyone who loves to cook and we cannot wait to welcome her to Maryport. I’m sure there will be something more appetising than the witchetty grubs and other unmentionables she was forced to endure in the Celebrity jungle!
Main Stage, Marine Road Showfield
Saturday 8 August
10am – Phil Lewthwaite
11am – Solway Shanty
12pm – Mowdies
1pm – Flimby Male Voice Choir
2pm – Lytham Shanty Crew
3pm – Eccentric Circles
4pm – The Tomorrow
5pm – VHS
Sunday 9 August
10am – Char
11am – Solway Shanty
12pm – Eccentric Circles
1pm – Lytham Shanty Crew
2pm – Amy Florence
3pm – Cindy Haten
4pm – A66
Palace Stage, Harbourside Event Space
Saturday 8 August
10am – Char
11am – Genie & Graham
12pm – Lytham Shanty Crew
1pm – Stephen Dunn
2pm – Phil Lewthwaite
3pm – Olly Harris
Sunday 9 August
10am – Amy Florence
11am – Lytham Shanty Crew
12am – Genie & Graham
1pm – Paul & Johnny
2pm – Olly Harris
3pm – Evans & Wood
Photo credit – Tom Kay
Taste of the Sea Info Point – meet the Maryport Regeneration Team, pick up your Postcard Trail entry forms, write a Message to Maryport and discover what’s on where
All Things Nice by Ashley – bespoke resin gifts, jewellery and homeware
Brine & Smoke – hot oak smoked Scottish salmon
Chelaris – fish and seafood, caught and sold fresh from the boat (they usually sell out on Saturday!)
The Chippie Van – the mobile team from Penrith’s Angel Lane fish and chip shop
Chloe’s Chateau – handmade gifts, cards and goodies
Cumbrian Coastal Kitchen – 100% natural preserves, sauces and fruit vinegars
Cumbria Police – meet the Rural Crime Team for crime-busting advice
Cumberland Council Waste Reduction Team – great tips to cut waste and save money
The Cumbrian Boerewors Company – traditional South African cuisine
The Curiosity Shop Maryport – quirky gifts and homewares
Daisy Design – engraved products and create bespoke
The Doggy Deli – natural healthy dog treats
Enchanted to Bead You – affordable handmade friendship bracelets
FellBar – West Cumbria’s fresh home-baked flapjack oat bars
Freya Mae Arts – pet portrait and wildlife artist
Fresh Olives – olives of all shapes and sizes!
Hallsford Catering – fantastic farm produce, freshly cooked burgers and hot dogs
Haverigg Smokery – meats and fish from HMP Haverigg’s smokery
Handmade by You – Maryport craft shop selling fabric, wool, buttons, ribbons and more
The Hedgehog Bakery – tasty cakes and treat boxes
Honeybee Artisan – handmade soap and skincare products with a honeybee twist
Kick Ass Cheese – a big range of waxed Cheddar cheeses
Kin Vodka – delicious toffee vodka, toffee apple vodka and gifts
Lake District Posters – 1930s style railway posters with a contemporary twist
Lakeland Artisan – hand-crafted food and drink using all natural ingredients
Lal Yan Coffee Van – Espresso based beverages made with local organic milk and locally roasted beans
Laverock Hampers – ultimate destination for personalised gifts! We specialise in bespoke hampers
Legendary Sauce Company – handcrafted sauces, salts and more
Love at First Bite by Amber – buttercream occasion cakes, cupcakes and traybakes
Lucela’s – award winning chocolate rum
Manor Barn Organics – aromatherapy products, gifts and homeware
Maryport Born & Bread – artisan bakery producing sourdough, focaccia and more
Melting Moon – illustrated stationery, stickers and gifts
Warwick Bridge Cornmill – handground flours, breads and baked treats
The Zero Pantry – all your pantry needs and cleaning products, free of plastic
Meraki Sprinkles – Cockermouth’s bespoke cupcakes and treats
Mr Vikki’s – multi award winning Indian hot chilli pickle, chutney and sauce producer
The Oyster & Ceviche Bar – fabulous fresh seafood
Pie Demand – luxury topped pork pies, traditional meat pies and sausage rolls
The Little Poffertje Pancake Shack – Dutch street food treats
Portobello Wood Fired – Maryport’s authentic rustic wood-fired pizza
Really Indian – handcrafted fresh sauces
Rosehill Theatre – Whitehaven’s brilliant arts venue
Sea Fish – meet the team helping the UK fish industry to thrive
Shaw Meats – game meats and gluten-free products including salami and charcuterie
Sipping Fox Lake District Drinks – premium small-batch spirits and fine wines
Soak & Fizz – handmade and vegan bath products
Solway Firth Partnership – the independent charity protecting our amazing coastline
Stonehouse Smokery – artisan curers, smokers & roasters
Sunrise Patisserie – handmade authentic pastéis de nata
Sweet Treats by Martin Frickel – naughty brownies, banging blondies and more
Three Hills Gelato – crafted with organic milk and cream from happy, pasture-fed cows
The Yolker – handmade gourmet Scotch eggs
NEW for 2025, The Teenage Market will be on the Harbourside event space throughout Taste of the Sea weekend
Saturday 9 August
Artistic Anya
Coastal Bracelets
Creative Creations by Anya
Cumbria Coastal Crafts
Esme’s 3D Creations
Fellcraft
GB 3D Prints
Homemade by Angel
Jaxson’s Sweet Treats
Keeva’s Crafts
Made by JJA
Natalie’s Sewing Bee
The Victorian Candle Co
Whimsical Fairies
Yummi by Lucy
Sunday 10 August
Aerin Designs
Artistic Anya
Blue Zebra Art
Coastal Bracelets
Cumbria Coastal Crafts
Cumberland Youth Services
Esme’s 3D Creations
Homemade by Angel
Imperfect Creations
Josie’s Bracelets
Keeva’s Crafts
Madmarras
Made by JJA
Maryport Cobbles
MJ Designs
Events & Live Music
11am – Jack Stein
1pm – Irini Tzortzoglou
3pm – John Crouch
11am – Stuart from Maryport Born & Bread
1pm – Scottish Seafood Ambassador CJ Jackson
2:30pm – John Crouch
10:30am – Ewanrigg Choir
12pm – Ragged Edge Productions
2pm – Flimby Male Voice Choir
4pm – Ragged Edge Productions
10:30am – Ragged Edge Productions
12pm – The Shanty Band
2pm – Ragged Edge Productions
3pm – Whitehaven Shanty Band
10am – Char
11am – Rina
12pm – Liam Moorhouse
1pm – A66
2pm – Steel Foxes
3pm – The Antics
4pm – Misfitz
5pm –The Buyers Club
6pm – Totally Blondie
10:00 – Char
11am – 11:45 – Luke Matear
12pm – The Syndicate
1pm – Solomon
2pm – Over Yonder
3pm – Johnny Morton
Free park-and-ride on heritage buses
Charity stalls, bar and refreshments.
Saturday 9 August, 10am to 4pm
Netherhall Rugby Club
with Lost in Stone
At The Settlement
Maryport’s Taste Cumbria event will be followed by the flagship Taste Cumbria festival in Cockermouth on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, Taste Cumbria Carlisle (dates to be confirmed), with the Taste Cumbria Christmas Festival on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December.
Getting here
The nearest mainline train station is Carlisle – change here for the train to Maryport on the Cumbrian Coast Line. If you are travelling by car, follow the A595 from Carlisle, or leave the M6 at junction 42, take the A595 or A596 west and you should be here in just less than an hour. Here’s the bus timetable. And here’s a link to trains.
Travelling to our Maryport festival on 10/11 August? Here’s a handy link to the car parks. If you’re parking on the street, please check local signs for restrictions. You’ll need a timing disc for many of them – these are available from many local businesses.
Make a weekend of it by booking some accommodation. West Cumbria has an excellent range of accommodation from hotels, campsites and B&Bs to self catering. And don’t forget to visit the wealth of independent businesses in Maryport.
