What's On in Windermere

Thu 5 Nov

Bonfire Night at Low Wood Bay

Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, on the Windermere shore

Low Wood Bay's over-the-lake fireworks and floating bonfire are set for about 7.30pm to 7.45pm, viewed from ticketed spots such as the Gallery Lounge (£12.50), and heavy rain or wind can postpone them.

Sat 7 Nov

Windermere RUFC Annual Fireworks & Bonfire

Windermere RUFC, Dawes Meadow, Longlands Road, Bowness-on-Windermere

The rugby club's bonfire and fireworks to music opens at 5:30pm with three live bands and street food, costs £10 for adults and £5 for children, and has no dogs or parking (use Quarry Rigg or Rayrigg Road).

Sun 8 Nov

Windermere and Bowness Remembrance Parade

War Memorial, Lake Road, Windermere

The town's parade and service at the Lake Road war memorial starts at 2pm with wreath-laying and the reading of the Roll of Honour, and the public can watch from the roadway opposite.

Fri 13 – Sun 15 Nov

Blackwell Winter Craft Fair (first weekend)

Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house, Bowness-on-Windermere

The first of Blackwell's two craft-fair weekends puts its own set of makers in the rooms of the Arts & Crafts house from 10am to 4pm, with adult tickets at £8 and Lakeland Arts members free.

Fri 20 – Sun 22 Nov

Blackwell Winter Craft Fair (second weekend)

Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house, Bowness-on-Windermere

Blackwell's second craft-fair weekend has a completely different line-up of makers, with the Recorders playing on the Friday and Harps North West on the weekend mornings, at £8 for adults.

Fri 20 Nov

Low Wood Bay Christmas Lights Switch-On Free

Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, on the Windermere shore

Low Wood Bay's first lights switch-on is a free lakeside evening from 5pm to 9pm, with the tree lit at 7.30pm, local exhibitors, hot chocolate and mulled wine, and parking for non-residents in the marina car park.

Fri 20 – Sun 22 Nov

The Gingerbread House Festival Free

Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, on the Windermere shore

Competition gingerbread houses go on free show at Low Wood Bay for Shelter, with judging and demonstrations on the Saturday (2pm to 8pm) and the winners on display on the Sunday (10am to 5pm).

Sat 21 Nov

Ambleside Christmas Lights Switch-On

Ambleside, at the head of the lake

Ambleside's community switch-on keeps its Santa Cruises and lantern parade but has dropped the firework display this year because of rising costs.

Sat 21 – Sun 22 Nov

Rydal Hall Christmas Craft Fair Free

Rydal Hall, near Ambleside

Local makers sell handmade gifts at Rydal Hall's annual Christmas craft fair, open from 10am to 4pm with free entry.

Sat 5 – Sun 20 Dec

Tinsel Trains

Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway

On three December weekends only, Father Christmas visits decorated first-class compartments on trips of about an hour, at £125 for up to four, with online booking from 10am on 4 November and no refunds.

Wed 9 Dec

Christmas Carols by the Lake with Kendal Concert Band Free

Link Space, Windermere Jetty Museum, Bowness-on-Windermere

Kendal Concert Band plays free Christmas carols indoors in the Jetty Museum's Link Space near the Lakeshore Café from 10.30am to noon, with no ticket needed.

Sat 12 Dec

Festive Family Day at Windermere Jetty Museum Free

Windermere Jetty Museum, Bowness-on-Windermere

The Jetty Museum runs free drop-in festive activities from 10am to 4pm, including driftwood decorations and a 2pm storytelling session, alongside a separately paid Father Christmas Experience with an arrival by heritage boat.

Sat 19 Dec

Festive Family Day at Blackwell

Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house, Bowness-on-Windermere

Blackwell's family day, included in house admission, has pompom and paperchain making, harp music in the morning, storytelling by the Main Hall tree at 10.30am and 2pm, and Father Christmas in the afternoon.

Sat 13 – Sun 14 Mar

Blackwell Ceramics Fair

Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house, Bowness-on-Windermere

Blackwell's first ceramics fair gathers more than 20 ceramicists in the house over the weekend, with tickets not yet on sale.

Fri 11 – Sun 13 Jun

Great North Swim

Brockhole on Windermere

The open-water swimming weekend at Brockhole offers distances from the Swim250 to 10k, and each entrant gets two wristbands for friends or family to use the spectator area.

Sat 3 Jul

Tour de France Stage 2: Keswick to Liverpool

Stage route alongside Windermere, from Keswick

Stage 2 of the 2027 Tour de France starts in Keswick and heads south alongside Thirlmere, Grasmere, Rydal Water and Windermere on its 223km run to Liverpool.