Winter Droving & Ullswater Droving

The annual town celebration that is the Winter Droving has to be different this year due to the impact of Covid-19. However that doesn't mean that we just give up and do nothing.

Perhaps more than ever we should be celebrating our place and community and businesses, showing that we are still vibrant and active.

So we are doing various things around the town to coincide with the Winter Droving time - things that enhance the town but don't get everyone to come at once. Please see our 2020 event page for information about this years festival.

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Fire, Music, Masks and Mayhem in Pooley Bridge & Penrith Town Centre.

The two day festival encourages visitors to dress up and 'join the herd' by donning a mask, dressing up as a farmer and enjoying the entertainment.

The Ullswater Droving marks the beginning of the two days of droving celebrations with a special torchlight procession beginning on the fantastic Ullswater Steamers Jetty and making its way through Pooley Bridge led by a street band, before a performance and bonfire. Pooley Bridge businesses share their winter warmers with a mixture of hot food, drinks and ice creams available.

The following day Penrith is transformed with its busiest market of the year, bustling streets, roaming street performances around every corner (in 2019 including KAMCHÀTKA, all the way from Spain) and top quality local, regional and national musical acts across 6 stages. This all leads up to the highlight of the day - a magical fire and lantern procession throughout the town, where thousands of people line the streets to watch the spectacle, finishing with our headline act on the main stage.

Created by Eden Arts, The Winter Droving has become one of Cumbria’s iconic cultural events seeing 20k+ attend annually. The event has grown exponentially with audiences making the journey from all corners of the UK.

Shortlisted: Cumbria Life Culture Awards 2019

Highly Commended: Cumbria Tourism Awards Event of the Year 2017

Winner: Star of The Community Award, Penrith Stars of Business Awards 2017

Shortlisted: Cumbria Tourism Event of the Year 2016, 2015