Each year Penrith in Cumbria marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the “darker half” of the year in a celebration of light, fire and rural life. The festival, whose motto is “turn your clocks back 400 years”, is a staple of the autumnal calendar in the north of the north of England, with its tones of Sawhain, its fire and animal effigies and masks.
The Winter Droving epitomises all things Cumbrian; animals, fire, good food and community spirit.
Each year Penrith’s streets become something like a medieval market with traditional mulled wine and hot chestnuts, alongside the finest local produce. This includes a wide range of world foods, vegan and vegetarian cuisine, giftware, local artists’ works, quirky clothing and charity stalls.
The Winter Droving offers up an array of masked musicians, street performers, giant animal lanterns and locals dressed in elaborate costumes in a unique celebration steeped in tradition. The day begins with a fancy dress competition for dogs, while the rest of the town blossoms, showcasing live musicians, street performances, drumming bands and carnival street shows before the eagerly awaited parade. All of this and a diverse range of market stalls.
Created by Eden Arts, The Winter Droving has become one of Cumbria’s iconic cultural events seeing 20k+ attend annually.
Don’t forget your mask!
