The county’s favourite food & drink festival returns to Maryport
on Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 August 2026
Maryport’s waterfront was the place to be at the weekend as thousands of people turned out for the town’s sixth Taste Cumbria festival.
The Harbourside Event Space played host to The Teenage Market, acoustic stage and the Demo Stage where 200 visitors watched TV chef Rosemary Shrager make a fabulous seafood pasta.
Other local experts included the team from Underscar Winery, Raven Nest café and cocktail bar in Whitehaven and Taste Cumbria favourite, chef John Crouch. The town’s own Stuart Eve, from Maryport Born and Bread, was joined by Raf Asboth from the Panda Polish Shop to talk about the secrets of sourdough and serve an international-inspired feast.
The Marine Road Showfield was the location for the Producers’ Market, street food, the fairground rides and family fun, and the Main Stage where rock, pop and sea shanties entertained the crowds. The Maryport Round Table charity beer and rum bar also packed in the crowds all weekend.
Elsewhere in town, there was the chance to visit the Maryport Classic Car and Vintage Vehicle Show and enjoy live music in many of the pubs which were packed into the night.\
The Taste Cumbria events are organised by Cumberland Council. The main sponsor is Maryport Town Council, with additional funding from The Captain Nelson Tavern, Maryport Storage, Grants Oak Smoked, Shane Taylor Welding and Milburns Solicitors.
Michael Barry, Cumberland Council’s Assistant Director of Thriving Places, said:
“What a fabulous weekend. Saturday was absolutely packed with many traders saying they were incredibly pleased with the amount of sales. To misquote one of them: ‘How many Scotch eggs does one place need?’ If it hadn’t rained on Sunday we think we were heading for record attendance.
“The weather didn’t spoil the fun though. Rosemary Shrager was a great hit, with food fans and also the stallholders she charmed as she shopped. She was hugely complimentary about the event and has even asked to come back!
Photo credits: Jonathan Becker & Stuart Walker
“The Taste Cumbria festivals brought around £6 million into the local economy last year, and nearly £2 million of that was generated by the Maryport event. We continue to invest in these events because they are great for our communities, and for Cumberland as a whole.”The next Taste Cumbria festival will be in Cockermouth on 26 and 27 September, followed by Taste Cumbria Christmas on 5 and 6 December.
Visit the Taste Cumbria Info Point to discover what’s on where
Aurora Silversmiths – made from recycled silver & natural Cumbrian materials
Ben Bush Photography – stunning landscape and astronomy photography
Bumbledore – small-batch meads and honey products that reflect the landscape & heritage of Cumbria
Chelaris – fish and seafood, caught and sold fresh from the boat (Saturday only, weather permitting)
The Chippie Van – the mobile team from Penrith’s Angel Lane fish and chip shop
Chloe’s Chateau – handmade gifts, cards and goodies
Cliché Drinks – Carlisle’s light and fruity fun drinks
Cumberland Council Food Waste Reduction Team – great tips to cut waste and save money
Cumbrian Coastal Kitchen – 100% natural preserves, sauces and fruit vinegars
The Cumbrian Boerewors Company – traditional South African cuisine
The Doggy Deli – natural healthy dog treats
Delicious Churros – exactly what it says on the sign!
Dirty Dogs – loaded hot dogs, nachos, triple cooked chips & Dirty topped chips
Dosa Chaska – authentic, natural Indian cuisine
Electricity North West – energy information, activities & giveaways
Fairy Sawdust – recycled wood fairy doors, wishing wells, bird boxes & gifts
Fresh Olives – olives of all shapes and sizes
Gray Facepainting & Arts – FREE facepainting
Hallsford Catering – fantastic farm produce, freshly cooked burgers and hot dogs
Hallsford Farm Produce – hung Shorthorn Beef, rare breed lamb, hoggett, mutton & pork
Hollybank Farm – hot food from a Penrith family farm
Handopia – quirky gifts and homewares
The Hedgehog Bakery – tasty cakes and treat boxes
Istanbul Grill – Turkish-inspired hot dishes
Itadeli – freshly made Italian treats
Jinger Drinks – organic ginger drinks
Jo’s Little People – Individually handmade clay figures of people & animals
Just Messin – children’s crafts and games
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
Laverock Hampers – ultimate destination for personalised gifts! We specialise in bespoke hampers
Legendary Sauce Company – handcrafted sauces, salts and more
Liam Moorhouse & Flip Entertainments – magic shows and children’s entertainment
Lucela’s – award winning chocolate rum
The Olive Edit – award-winning small batch olive oil
Pepe Luis Paellas – specialists in Spanish cuisine
Pie Demand – luxury topped pork pies, traditional meat pies and sausage rolls
The Little Poffertje Pancake Shack – Dutch street food treats
Really Indian – handcrafted fresh sauces
Sadie’s Bar – alcohol-free mocktails and more
Shaw Meats – game meats and gluten-free products including salami and charcuterie
Solway Coast National Landscape – information and ideas about how to look after and enjoy this protected landscape
Solway Firth Partnership – the independent charity protecting our amazing coastline
Stonehouse Smokery – artisan curers, smokers & roasters
Sunrise Patisserie – handmade authentic pastéis de nata
Sweet Retreat – pre packed sweets from Carlisle
Sweet Treats by Martin Frickel – naughty brownies, banging blondies and more
The Teenage Market – Cumbria’s young entrepreneurs
Valley End Jewellery – silver and gold, made in Ulverston
Wiga Wagaa – handmade, award-winning chilli products
The Wilde Bakery – artisan flapjacks in loads of flavours
Wilmots Fairground
The Yolker – handmade gourmet Scotch eggs
The Zero Pantry – all your pantry needs and cleaning products, free of plastic
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.
Saturday 8 August
11am – TV star Rosemary Shrager
12noon – Q&A with Jeremy Kent, Vine Keeper at Underscar Vineyard
1pm – A Taste of Africa
2pm – Indian pancakes with Dosa Chaska
3pm – Stuart Eve, Maryport Born & Bread, Unlocking the secrets of Sourdough
Sunday 9 August
11am – Cocktail masterlass with Ravens Nest, Whitehaven
12noon – Private chef John Crouch
2pm – Q&A with Jeremy Kent, Vine Keeper at Underscar Vineyard
Rosemary Shrager
John Crouch
Dosa Chaska
Visitors to Cumberland Council’s Taste Cumbria Maryport event on Sunday 9 August 2026 will get a chance to see an international cycling trophy – set to be presented to the host of the next Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027.
As part of the build-up to the Grand Départ coming to Cumberland next July, there is an opportunity to find out more about the Tour de France as part of a planned programme of Trophy Tour visits.
A Stage One finish in Carlisle and a Stage Two start in Keswick is confirmed for the 2027 Tour De France.
Photo credit: ASO and Jonathan Biche
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.
Main Stage, Marine Road Showfield
Saturday 8 August
10am – Phil Lewthwaite
11am – Solway Shanty
12pm – Mowdies
1pm – Flimby Male Voice Choir
2pm – Lytham St. Annes Shanty Crew
3pm – Stormcrowe
4pm – A66
5pm – VHS
Sunday 9 August
10am – Char
11am – Solway Shanty
12pm – Amy Florence
1pm – Lytham St. Annes Shanty Crew
2pm – Gravity’s Edge
3pm – Cindy Hoten
4pm – The Tomorrow
Palace Stage, Harbourside Event Space
Saturday 8 August
10am – Char
11am – Stephen Dunn
12pm – Lytham St. Annes Shanty Crew
1pm – Genie & Graham
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 – Owen Evans
Photo credit – Tom Kay
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.
