Plans have been unveiled to make this year’s Westmorland Dales Festival 'bigger and better than ever before'.

Created in 2016 to mark the expansion of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the event celebrates the area’s unique landscape, heritage and people. It grew into a new two-day format last year and is returning to Kirkby Stephen on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday 28.

A wide range of markets, activities and events will take place throughout the weekend.

Highlights for children and young people will include the chance to construct a creature with Lakeland Arts, games and crafts at the Kirkby Stephen Youth Centre, the Jubilee Park Open Day featuring family activities and nature workshops (all Saturday), along with circus skills workshops (Sunday) and a day of ‘wild play’ by the River Eden courtesy of festival favourites Stomping Ground (Sunday).

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There is also the opportunity to spend a morning exploring Crosby Garrett - a traditional Westmorland village, hardly changed in centuries.

Guided walks with Kirkby Stephen Walkers are Welcome and Friends of the Lake District will help people discover the surrounding countryside and explore the architecture of Kirkby Stephen.

Supporting and promoting the work of local artists, makers and producers is central to the Westmorland Dales Festival, and the Sunday will include arts and crafts markets, a conservation and community groups fair and a growers’ and producers’ market.

Exhibitors will be drawn from across the county, from Glassonby’s Pine Tree Nurseries and mixed media artist Sara Sylvester from Brough Sowerby to smoked foods and wooden crafts created by Haverigg Enterprises, based in Millom.

Steven Gorst from Kendal-based My Gourmet Mushrooms said: “We were very pleased to be part of last year’s Westmorland Dales Festival. As a relatively new small business, based in Kendal, we have been keen to become part of the thriving farmers’ markets across Cumbria.

"We were also attracted by the strong community spirit and great mix of activities in Kirkby Stephen and look forward to being part of the event once more this year.”

There will be a festival shuttle bus service, as well as the chance to discover Kirkby Stephen East historic station and steam railway and Winton Park Gardens.

Artists/makers, producers and community/conservation groups who would like to be part of the Festival should contact: info@westmorlanddalesfestival.org.