Taste Wigton
2025

Food, drink and fancy footwork at Taste Cumbria Wigton!

From a delicious selection of local producers and some brilliant live music, to a silent disco and loads of family fun – Taste Cumbria’s Wigton festival brought smiles all around on Saturday.

It was the first event of the year and kickstarted the Taste Cumbria calendar in style. The festival was free to attend and took place right in the heart of the town.

As well as the Producers’ Market, hot food court, music stage, climbing wall and children’s rides, the neighbouring Market Hall hosted plenty of family entertainment. With a magician, balloon modelling, free face painting, and arts and crafts with NADT Youth, the Wigton festival proved to be another hit with visitors.

Meanwhile, a competition to design a new celebratory flag for Wigton was won by local resident Elli Logan-Airey. Her colourful creation featured a throstle, the bird associated with Wigton, and the pump and lamp from the Market Square, amid the blue of the Solway, green grass and a ploughed field to showcase the rural location, and a rainbow to demonstrate the town’s positivity and inclusivity. She was presented with a trophy by Ian Brown, Deputy Lieutenant for Cumbria, and Sandra Hodson, the town’s Mayor.

The Taste Cumbria food festivals are organised by Cumberland Council.

Councillor Anne Quilter, the Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:

“Thank you to everyone who came and supported another great Taste Cumbria festival, and to the council’s event team and volunteers who work so hard to make this happen.

“We stage these events to boost the local economy, both in the towns and city we visit and for the hugely enterprising small businesses who trade at them, and this is really reaping rewards. I can’t wait for the rest of the year’s events and really hope you will come and support them.”

The next Taste Cumbria event is the Taste of the Sea festival in Maryport on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August, before the flagship Taste Cumbria festival in Cockermouth on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September then the second Taste Cumbria Carlisle event on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November. Taste Cumbria Christmas on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December, also in Cockermouth, will end the year.

Water Street Car Park

  • Producers’ market
  • Music stage
  • Children’s rides

Market Hall

  • Silent disco
  • Magic and children’s entertainment
  • Arts and crafts

John Peel Theatre

The Dumb Waiter, by Harold Pinter
Tickets from www.wigtontheatre.org

Music Stage

  • 1pm – Blythe
  • 2pm – Antics Band
  • 4pm – The Mustangz
  • PS – no music from 3pm-4pm because we don’t want to disturb a wedding at the church next to our Water St site!

In the Producers’ Market

Cumberland Mustard – the famed deli brand

Dosa Chaska – authentic Indian street food

Dusty Dogs – award winning hot dogs, meat & veggie

Fresh Olives – many varieties to choose from

Fuzzy Duck – bar and cocktails

Gan Yam Brew Co – the brilliant independent brewery

Haverigg Smokery – perfectly smoked meats and fish

Hollybank Farm – specialist family farm-bred meats

Honeybee Artisan – handmade honey soap and skincare

Jeni’s Brownies – fabulous sweet treats

Jinger Drinks – made with real ginger extract

Lakeland Artisan – liqueurs, cordials, relishes and more

Laverock Hampers – customised food and drink creations

Meraki Sprinkles – cakes & cupcakes

Pie Demand – tasty pies that sell out fast

Kick Ass Cheeses – big variety of flavours

Really Indian – fabulous fresh curry sauces

Sunrise Patisserie – gorgeous Portuguese treats

The Three Wheel Gin Company – small batch handcrafted spirits

Torpenhow Farmhouse Dairy & Gelato – cheeses & ice creams

Warwick Bridge Bakery – fabulous flour, bread and cakes

Wiga Wagaa – uniquely flavoured chilli products

PLUS:

  • Borderlands Project – exciting new initiatives to benefit your region
  • CommuniTea – making a difference, one cuppa at a time
  • Cumberland Council Waste Reduction Team – helping you save money, and protect the environment

Other 2025 dates for your diary

Taste Cumbria Cockermouth – 27 & 28 September 2025

Taste Cumbria Carlisle – 1 & 2 November 2025

Taste Cumbria Christmas in Cockermouth – 6 & 7 December 2025

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.

Parking

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.

Accommodation

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.

Book tickets

Most of the attractions at the Taste Cumbria festivals are free to enjoy. A small number of events are ticketed. Keep up to date on Facebook or Twitter.