Ulverston Events & Festivals Guide
The first sunrise of 2020, taken by Craig Tallon. Winner of the ULVERSTON our GREAT LILE TOWN Facebook group January photo competition.
Download your Ulverston
2020 A4 PDF Calendar
Visit Ulverston
We are fortunate to have some great entertainment venues and tourist attractions in Ulverston town centre, including the Coronation Hall, Laurel & Hardy Museum, Ford Park, and the Roxy Cinema, as well as historic and fascinating out-of-town locations, such as Swarthmoor Hall and Conishead Priory. There are friendly traditional hotels, restaurants, and pubs, where live music is frequently performed. Numerous well-established festivals take place in Ulverston. Don’t miss the popular Walking Festival, Lantern Festival, Dickensian Festival, International Music Festival, Retro Rendezvous, CAMRA Beer Festival, and Another Fine Fest (celebrating Stan Laurel’s birthday).
Ulverston sits at the head of the Furness Peninsula, between the expansive sands of Morecambe Bay, and the breathtaking mountainous landscapes of the Lake District National Park. In the thriving town centre you’ll find a healthy range of well-stocked small independent shops. You can walk from the town into quiet countryside within a few minutes. Coniston and Windermere are just a short drive away. Visit Ulverston for fun and pleasure, and to experience the close connection between the town’s people, it’s heritage, and the beautiful natural environment.
Ulverston Events Calendar Highlights
Ulverston is famous for its festivals and events. Here are some 2020 highlights and important dates to look forward to.
Another Fine Fest
A free festival of music, comedy, street theatre & art, in celebration of Ulverston town & the birth of its most famous son, Stan Laurel. FREE! Live Music – DJs – Live Graffiti & Window Art – Street Theatre – Circus – Comedy – Magic & More For all ages – across 11 stages and throughout the streets of Ulverston
Flag Fortnight
Hand-made decorative flags fly from shops and businesses in the town centre to welcome Spring.
Keswick to Barrow Registration
Team registration opens at 12:00 mid-day on the 20th January for the 2020 Keswick to Barrow (K2B) and Coniston to Barrow (C2B) Walks. This year’s event takes place on Saturday 2nd May. The K2B starts at the top of Thirlmere and is 39.4 miles long. The C2B starts at Coniston Sports Club and is 21 miles long. Walkers in both
Louder is not always Clearer
Gleaston Village welcomes you to their show, which has been provided via Arts out West. This show is accessible to D/deaf, hard of hearing audiences with the use of spoken English, some British Sign Language and creative captions. “An autobiographical journey of a deaf person trapped in a hearing world” Meet Jonny: teacher, father and football fan. He’s an artist,
Printfest Ulverston
The UK’s only artists led print making festival, offering the chance to view and purchase art works and meet the artists. See event website for details and times.
Retro Rendezvous & Velo Retro
Based in the brilliant old market town of Ulverston, Retro Rendezvous is a full weekend of fabulous retro fun. Music, food, dance, cinema, clothes, markets, cars, motorcycles, drink and the famous Velo Retro old school cycling events through the Lake District World Heritage Site. It’s about as much fun as you can have with your retro clothes on! So put
South Lakes Vegan Festival
A day to celebrate the vegan lifestyle. Lots of stalls, talks and activities for all the family. Free entry.
Ulverston Carnival
The town comes alive with music and family fun. Traditional carnival procession through the town centre streets, finishing at Ford Park. Lots of street entertainment throughout the day.
Ulverston Lantern Festival
Four processions of fabulous lanterns make their way into the town centre and then on to Ford Park for fireworks.
Ulverston Music Festival
The Festival presents principally classical and jazz music through a programme of concerts, as well as education and outreach work, bringing artists of the very highest calibre to the South Lakes.
Ulverston Walkfest
Guided walks around Ulverston town, and the surrounding villages and countryside. Find out about the area’s fascinating past. Meet up with lovely like-minded people from all over the UK. A wide range of walks, from gentle to strenuous.
Volunteering in Ulverston
The activities in the Events Calendar provide opportunities for new experiences, and in some cases provide support and companionship for members of the community who might otherwise have few social interactions. Through the continuing efforts of enthusiastic and caring people, Ulverston is more than just a Festivals Town, it’s also a great place to live. Would you like to give something back to the community? Take a look at our Volunteering page for opportunities.
St Mary's Hospice Events
St Mary’s Hospice run events and fundraising activities all year round, including sponsored walks, themed parties, second-hand furniture sales, and Christmas tree recycling. They also support participants in major events such as the Great North Run, Keswick to Barrow Walk, Born Survivor, and the London Marathon.
All St Mary’s Hospice services are free for patients and their families or carers. Services include caring for people at home as well as in the hospice, helping patients achieve improved quality of life, providing bereavement support for families and carers, and training local health care professionals. There is a significant cost involved in providing this wide range of care. It costs around £3.2 million a year to run St Mary’s. Only 18% of running costs are paid for by the NHS, so donations and fundraising need to cover the rest – that’s over £7,000 per day.