Carlisle News & Updates

Rail enthusiasts in Cumbria will have opportunities to see steam locomotives in action before Christmas. Three special trains are scheduled to pass through Carlisle.

Pop star Una Healy will headline the Carlisle Christmas Lights Switch-On on November 15th. The event will be hosted by Britain's Got Talent 2025 winner Harry Moulding.

Carlisle Market Hall will be open Monday to Saturday, offering a variety of fresh produce, handmade crafts, gifts, and clothing. This venue is part of the broader Cumberland Christmas markets set to bring festive shopping opportunities across the region.

Sunday events will feature live entertainment, a festive bar, fair rides, and traders selling gifts and local produce. Carlisle Market Hall is included in these festive markets and fairs aiming to bring Christmas cheer.

Bestselling author MW Craven, who was born in Carlisle, will launch the Taste Cumbria Christmas festival in Cockermouth. The event celebrates local food and drink with a festive theme.

Free Christmas toy swaps are being organized across Cumbria, following a national campaign that started in Kendal. Events are scheduled to take place in Carlisle Market Hall on Friday, November 20, and at the Quaker Meeting House in Penrith.

The Carlisle Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival is back from December 5 to January 4. It will feature over 40 community-designed trees, along with markets and family activities.

The Royal Northern Sinfonia will present a festive string concert in Carlisle as part of The Glasshouse's Christmas programme. This event is scheduled to run from November 26, 2026, to January 1, 2027.