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Thank you for joining us online or in Kirkby Stephen over the weekend of Saturday 25-Sunday 26 July 2026 for the Festival's 10th anniversary, and helping us celebrate the landscape, heritage and people of the Westmorland Dales.
Our tents are all folded away for another year, but you can get a taste of what happened below. Thank you to everyone who came along, exhibited, entertained, led walks & activities, hosted, supported or contributed in any way & helped make the Festival such a joyous celebration of our 10th anniversary, our community and our beautiful corner of Cumbria. Once again we were able to keep our events free of charge, and we are enormously grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund and all our other generous sponsors and partners for making this possible.
If you entered our special anniversary prize draw and were lucky enough to win a farm break at Eden Ewe-Nique Lonnen, you will hear from us by Sunday 9 August.
And here's to the next 10 years!
Vivienne Littlefair, Chair, and the Westmorland Dales Festival team
Photographs above © ① Denise Saunders ② & ④ Cumbria Tourism
③ Kirkby Stephen Walkers are Welcome ⑤ WDF
Video © Cumbria Tourism
Events running on both days
Explore Kirkby Stephen & find where you need to be with the aid of this year's map of Festival sites
A display of hill farm photographs and household artefacts from the collection of Hilary Wilson
Art takes over the pens in Kirkby Stephen's Auction Mart!
Meet the teams from Oxford Cotswold Archaeology and AtkinsRéalis with finds from the ongoing A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project
Hit the treasure trail & help gather our Festival flock scattered around town
Meet the Friends of the Settle to Carlisle Line & help celebrate the line’s 150th anniversary!
Live music & more at Kirkby Stephen Club
Pick up a leaflet from the Upper Eden Visitor Centre and explore Kirkby Stephen and the nearby countryside at your own pace
Events on Saturday 25 July
10:00-11:00. Launching the Changing Hills display, an Encounter Eden panel discussion on the work of the late Helga Frankland & the balance between farming & nature
10:00-13:30. Get equipped to head out and explore the Westmorland Dales! Booking required
10.30-12:30. Explore the history, heritage and industry of a traditional Westmorland Dales village. Booking required
10:30-12:30. Join Kyle Blue for a guided walk looking at the history of Orton, with fascinating tales of the village and its past residents. Booking required
11:00-15:00. Have a go at eco-inspired crafts with Lakeland Arts & their award-winning MEND workshops!
11:00-15:00. Go wild in Jubilee Park with nature workshops for all the family and a guided tour of the park
11:00-15:00. Grab an instrument, get the basics, feel the buzz & play!
16:15-18:15. Hop on board a Cumbria Classic Coach for a grand tour of some of the highlights of the Westmorland Dales. Booking required
10:00-16:00. Meet the Festival team & groups working locally, refuel with refreshments & more!
Events on Sunday 26 July
14:00-16:00. Special guest Harrison Ward, aka the Fell Foodie, with an outdoor cookery demo, Q&A session and book signing
10:00-16:00. Artisan markets with local artists, makers and producers as well as community and conservation groups
10:00. Kirkby Stephen Silver Band kicks off Day Two of the Festival & introduces a morning of great live music. Follow the link to find out who's playing when
10:00-16:00. Circus skills, face painting, bubbleology & all-day entertainment with Matt & Rosie
10:00-16:00. Support our Scouts as they pioneer the Youth Market idea in Kirkby Stephen!
10:00-16:00. Get muddy or creative or both with Upper Eden Rugby Club & get set for their Scarecrow weekend in August!
11:00-15:00. Wild play, whittling workshops & foraging expeditions with Stomping Ground! Find the team on Church Green & by Frank's Bridge, on the banks of the river Eden
11:00-12:00. Rhythm, sass & heart: get moving with Anthea!
11:00-15:30. Grab an instrument, get the basics, feel the buzz & play!
12:00-14:00 Bring along your pooches and show them off at Eden Animal Rescue's fun dog show!
10:00-16:00 Meet the team & explore their base!
All-day refreshments in the Masonic Hall
Special events for the Festival at Kirkby Stephen's historic station and steam railway
A service to celebrate the Westmorland Dales Festival in the Parish Church
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