Christmas & New Year is always a magical time of year. Why not make this year even more special and enjoy all the festive fun against the stunning backdrop of Cumbria’s rugged mountains, shimmering lakes and sweeping coastlines.
Soak up the brilliant atmosphere and a warm, friendly welcome at one of these seasonal events or check out our blog for more inspiration on what to see and do this festive season.
Searching for the perfect place to stay? Take a look at these Christmas and New Year breaks and find your idyllic cosy winter getaway. This is a great time of year to slow down, disconnect and enjoy some quality time with friends & family.
Treat yourself to a touch of luxury and choose accommodation with your own private hot tub, get outside for an adventure under Cumbria’s spellbinding dark skies full of millions of stars – or tuck into a scrumptious Christmas dinner prepared by expert local chefs. Whatever you choose to do it’s time to start making some wonderful Christmas memories.
Get into the Christmas spirit and visit one of the many Christmas Markets taking place across the region – there’ll be mulled wine, tasty treats and fabulous Christmas gifts aplenty! If you want to start shopping straight away, look through our Christmas Gift Guide to Cumbria bursting with great gift ideas for friends and family, direct from our fantastic Cumbrian businesses.
Below you will find everything you need to start making some wonderful Christmas plans. Scroll further down for all the events taking place across the region this Christmas.
What could be better than beautiful winter scenery, tasty Christmas dining and magical festive events. There really is something for everyone to enjoy across the Lake District, Cumbria this festive season.
Christmas Inspiration
You may leave the Lake District, but once you’ve been, it’ll never leave you.

Number of results: 40
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Another Place The Lake, Ullswater, Watermillock
Get your skates on as our ice rink returns to the shores of Ullswater. A 16ft Christmas tree, shimmering lights, snow-capped fells – and a 200-square-metre ice rink overlooking the lake – will transform the Another Place grounds this winter.
Open…
Bowness-on-Windermere
✨ Santa's Grotto Experience – Just £10 per Child!
(Adults go free!)
Step into the magic of Christmas at The Royalty, where Father Christmas awaits in his enchanting winter wonderland!
Upon arrival, one of our cheerful elves will greet you at the…
Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house, Bowness-on-Windermere
Enjoy a fun festive day out with the family at Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house on Saturday 20 December!
Throughout the day, you can enjoy cheerful storytelling with Taffy Thomas MBE, live folk music, creative hands-on activities and a sprinkle…
Ambleside
Local Crafts Christmas Fair – Two Days of Festive Magic!
Get into the holiday spirit at our Local Crafts Christmas Fair, a two-day celebration of creativity, community, and Christmas cheer! Discover a wonderful variety of handmade gifts,…
Rayrigg Rd, Bowness-on-Windermere
Join us this festive season for hands-on family fun at Windermere Jetty Museum. Whether you're solving clues, decorating a keepsake, or building something brilliant in our interactive play space, there's plenty to keep young explorers busy during…
122A Highgate, Kendal
Enter the incredible world of Stuff and Nonsense.
There's a wolf coming… but for now, The Three Little Pigs have tricked him onto a bus. If he catches them, he'll huff and he'll puff and we all know how that ends…
On the run and with the need to…
Church St, Ambleside
From the World's Most Spectacular Opera series, experience the love, laughter and loss of La Boheme at the magnificent Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.
Puccini's beloved classic - the original bohemian love story - has long captivated audiences…
Kendal
Join us for our Christmas Opening here at Levens Hall this December. We will be opening the House and Topiary area of the Gardens over the first three weekends in December.
5th, 6th, 7th December
12th, 13th, 14th December
19th, 20th, 21st…
Longtail Hill, Bowness-on-Windermere
Served Daily Between 1pm & 5pm
Book now for our afternoon tea with a festive twist.
Our festive deluxe afternoon tea is available from 1st December 2025 - 1st January 2026. Excluding Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New…
Auctionmart Ln, Penrith
The traditional tale of Cinderella, but with hilarious twists!
All the traditional elements of that most British of institutions, the Pantomime. Suitable for all ages, You will encounter:
a Fairy Godmother new to the job, a downtrodden Cinders…
Ambleside
Grove Barn proudly presents "Carols by Candlelight," featuring the internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble, Amabile,from Merchant Taylors' School under the visionary direction of Marie-Claire Gervasoni. Amabile is renowned for its musical…
Bowness-on-Windermere
Join us for our very first NYE celebration as we welcome 2026 in fine style.
Late Nite Fiasco
Fuse ska, reggae & rock with unstoppable energy. With a huge local following & performances at festivals such as Solfest, CockRock, and Oxjam, LNF are…
The Abbey, Carlisle
Every Christmas the Carlisle Cathedral choirs join forces for the annual Christmas Concert; this year our boy and girl choristers, Consort and Lay Clerks will be singing Carols by Candlelight - the perfect pre-Christmas musical treat, including…
Keswick
1st January | 11am-2pm
£67
Welcome drink
90-minute all-you-can-eat slot
Eastern & Western specialities
Relax and recover from all the New Year's Eve partying at our East Meets West buffet brunch, where you can enjoy wonderful live music performed…
Conishead Priory, Ulverston
NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION IN CONISHEAD PRIORY
WITH MANTRAS AND MEDITATION
Time for a New Perspective
December 31
Time for a New Perspective ~ Learning to be happy whatever happens!
Begin 2026 with a new perspective that will help you maintain a…
Bowness on Windermere
Christmas is fast approaching and Santa's Sleigh is nowhere to be found. Will Sprocket and Dibs be able to create a new sleigh in time or will
Christmas be cancelled? Can you help them save the day? Only time will tell but with audience…
Sedbergh
Your chance to make something beautiful for Christmas.
Would you like to learn how to make a beautiful beaded Christmas bauble? Join us in Sedbergh this December for a joyful, hands-on workshop. It's a festive, social event complete with hot drinks…
The Abbey, Carlisle
Carlisle Cathedral will once again host their Christmas Tree Festival throughout December, building on the success of the first event held in 2024.
Last year's festival involved 30 local charities, organisations, schools and groups, all of whom…
Ravenglass
Alan Cleaver and his wife Lesley Park conjure up the spirit of Cumbria's Christmas past with a look back at some of the customs and traditions of yesteryear including Eskdale's Christmas carol, delivering the Christmas post, snow pancakes and a…
Grasmere
What was Christmas like when the Wordsworths lived at Dove Cottage 200 years ago? Have a go at some Regency Christmas crafts, including making pomanders and wreaths. Read Dorothy Wordsworth's gingerbread recipe and decorate some gingerbread stars.…
Receive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria
Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL