Westmorland County Show
9th and 10th September 2026
Westmorland County Show
Events and Festivals
What makes Kendal a festival town, with a packed calendar of events? Maybe it’s our passion for celebrating what we love and welcoming the world to enjoy it with us. From the very best of local food and drink to internationally renowned arts and comedy, outdoor adventure to traditional craft and rural traditions… events and festivals are a great way to experience the very best of Kendal’s unique culture.
Key Events
Kendal Torchlight Carnival
Postponed for 2026, will return in 2027.
A colourful annual procession with illuminated lanterns, costumes and a vibrant parade through the town.
Comic Art Festival
2nd - 4th October 2026
Dive into a weekend of creativity.
Kendal gears up for Mountain & Sky Christmas Lights Switch-on
19th - 22nd November 2026
Taking place each November, the ultimate social gathering for outdoor enthusiasts – with a world-class programme of films and talks from international adventurers.
Christmas Lights Switch-On
27th November 2026
Christmas Light Switch On is a chance to watch our town come to life with festive cheer.
Kendal Christmas Celebration
5th December 2026
Kendal Business Improvement District (BID) is bringing festive cheer to the town with a Christmas Celebration. The fun will take place in Kendal Market Place and Finkle Street on 30th November. The festive event will host around 20 Christmas stalls, providing an assortment of gifts, crafts, food, and drink.
Whisky Festival
4th - 5th December 2026
Cumbria's finest Whisky festival takes place every December here in Kendal.
Indoor Craft Market
15th March 2026
A curated indoor market presented by Kendal BID showcasing local makers, artists and craftspeople.
Kendal Folk, Jazz & Blues Festival
18th April 2026
A lively celebration of folk, jazz and blues music, featuring live performances across the town. Presented by Kendal BID
Country Fest
30th and 31st May 2026
Country Fest offers something for everyone.
Kendal Pride
12th - 14th June 2026
A joyful celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community with events, entertainment, stalls, family activities and more.
Kendal Family Festival
25th July 2026
A family-friendly festival held in July with live music and entertainment to delicious food and drinks, arts and crafts and more! Created by Kendal BID.
Kendal Walking Festival
28th - 31st August 2026
Amazing guided walks suitable for solos or groups
Kendal Music Festival
4th and 5th September 2026
Kendal Music Festival 100 acts across town. Brought to you by Kendal BID.
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35 events found.
Events
Calendar of Events
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4 events,
Join us for a powerful multi-media exhibition exploring stories of fragility and survival, told through the voices of people in Barrow and Kendal. Step into an unseen world through immersive […] 
The Paper Quilt Project is a living exhibition in which a community art piece is created while on display in the gallery. This project has been designed in response to […] 
This exhibition brings together two emerging portrait painters. Lela Harris gives depth and humanity to figures who have been overlooked or marginalised by history, while Joshua Donkor collaboratively embeds the […] Please join us on one of our amazing guided walks, some with activities or for a specific demographic, to explore the rich diversity of landscape, ecology, history and culture of […] |
5 events,
Pit your wits again your fellow quizzers and our resident quizmaster Simon in the Snuff Bar's monthly quiz. General Knowledge, Entertainment, a round chosen by the previous month's winning team […]
£2.50
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This Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production, directed by Chen Shi-Zheng, is known for its lavish sets, including a 25-meter dragon and a 20-meter pagoda, and its use of contemporary […] |
4 events,
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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4 events,
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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5 events,Experience a weekend of live music as Kendal comes alive with bands, buskers and performances spanning genres — celebrating the town’s energetic musical spirit. Created by Kendal BID.
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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7 events,
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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Speed Dating in Kendal is a fun, structured singles event hosted by The Snuff Bar where you'll meet local singles through timed mini-dates lasting 5-6 minutes each. Matches are shared […]
£15.00
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Tom Hingley is an accomplished singer songwriter and guitarist. Best known as the ex-lead singer with Manchester’s finest Inspiral Carpets, he sang on all the band’s hits and was present […]
£26
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4 events, |
6 events,Located on the fringes of the Lake District, Westmorland County Show is a fantastic day out – voted as one of the UK’s favourite Shows and enjoyed by over 37,000 […]
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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Welcome to Poetry Club! A space for poets and creatives to share their Spoken Word work and explore featured poets from across the country. Born from our popular Verbalise events, […] |
5 events,
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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6 events,
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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Join us for a musical time travel experience, where you can enjoy the beautiful guitar melodies and creatively diverse, challenging songs of Carlos Santana. This incredible band consists of highly […]
£27.50
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Get ready for a night of laughter, surprises and plenty of fun with Colin Adamson - Host, Mind Reader & Hypnotist 🤩✨ If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to […]
£8
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5 events,
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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Legendary 70s folk-rock pioneers Lindisfarne return to form with a classic five-piece line up of long-time members fronted by original founder-member Rod Clements on vocals, mandolin, fiddle and slide guitar. […]
£36
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4 events,
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A SPECIAL DAY OUT! Don't miss this incredible mega event at the Temple for World Peace! Join us in meditating together to create a wave of peace that touches everything. […]
£10
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4 events,
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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5 events,
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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In an era of great change and great beauty emerged the character of James McNeill Whistler. Considered by some to be one of the great innovators of 19th century art, […] |
6 events,
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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Ebac Northern League Division 1 football match between Kendal Town and Whitley Bay at the Westmorland Flooring Stadium. Adults : £8 Concessions : £5 Under 16’s : £1 Under 12’s […]
£8
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Standard Theatre Seated | Age Guidance 16+ Alasdair Beckett-King is the crumbliest comedian in the game: a multi-award-winning stand-up comic and (occasionally) an internet sensation. Come vagabonds, come mountebanks, come […] |
8 events,
To celebrate 125 years of Blackwell, Lakeland Arts will be showcasing a major exhibition of works by its architect, the Arts & Crafts designer Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott (1865-1945). This […]
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the materiality of the medium, its physical and ethereal boundaries, and the enduring subculture of […]
Free
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Few voices linger in the soul like Cara Dillon’s. A towering figure in Irish music, she has earned global acclaim and countless awards, including the Meteor Award for Best Irish […]
£32.50
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From producer Michael Cumming (Oxide Ghosts, King Rocker) In the 1980s and 1990s, Anthony Irvine was a comedian and cabaret performer. His act was a little unusual. As the Iceman, […] |
5 events,
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An autumn fete hosted by the Mayor of Kendal, Councillor Helen Ladhams, to celebrate the heritage and culture of Kendal, with food and drink (including a craft ale marquee, sweet […]
Free
BGKT founded 1991. All welcome. Free. https://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Buddhist-Group-of-Kendal-Theravada/348652228579651 Monthly 3rd Sunday Open Meeting (except December) https://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/bgkt-open-meeting/ BGKT holds an open meeting on the 3rd Sunday of the month (except November […] |
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4 events,
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Malt Room Standing | By Arrangement with Tony Denton Promotions Altered Images originated in Glasgow and were part of the 1980s Scottish new wave/post-punk scene. Still led by singer Clare […] |
4 events,
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Twenty Years of the Met in Cinemas is a celebration of the Met’s two decades of onstage glory as experienced in cinemas, featuring highlights from the company’s collection of more […] |
4 events,
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After his sell-out 2023 tour, the UK’s dishevelled king of stand-up, award-winning Seann Walsh returns with a brand-new hour of side-splitting comedy. Don’t miss his trademark high-energy exasperation and razor-sharp […] |
5 events,
Award-winner Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) plays the title role in this razor-sharp reimagining of Molière’s classic dark comedy. Telling the truth isn’t always that simple. Alice, a brilliant novelist, despises […]
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Mary Coughlan is often described as the greatest female vocalist that Ireland has ever produced, standing alongside some of the world’s most iconic jazz singers. She is unique in blending […] |
6 events,
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Enjoy an afternoon of poetry and live music at Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house, near Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District. Presented by Grey Hen Press, Kendal’s only dedicated […]
£12
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Verbalise is one of Brewery Arts’ most beloved community events, where emerging voices meet world-renowned artists on a shared stage. Sign up and take part, or sit back and enjoy! […] |
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4 events,Hosted on the last Monday of every month, the group aims to bring together adventure and nature writers, potential writers, and publishers in a supportive and collaborative group. This session […] |
4 events,
Award-winner Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) plays the title role in this razor-sharp reimagining of Molière’s classic dark comedy. Telling the truth isn’t always that simple. Alice, a brilliant novelist, despises […] |
4 events,Dive into a weekend of creativity as Kendal transforms into a hub for comics, illustration, and storytelling, with guest artists, workshops, talks, and family-friendly fun. |
5 events,
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Ebac Northern League Division 1 football match between Kendal Town and Northallerton Town at the Westmorland Flooring Stadium. Adults : £8 Concessions : £5 Under 16's : £1 Under 12's […]
£8
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