The event takes place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 December. There will be mince pies and mulled wine, colourful gifts and crafts, all served with a hefty helping of sparkle and glitz amid some of the prettiest Christmas lights in the county.

The two-day festival will include everything fans of the festive food festival have come to expect. There will be a packed producers’ market, a hot food court with meals and snacks, and live music on the festival stage. There will also be plenty of family activities with a fairground and children’s arty workshops. All around the town, the shops will be offering a fabulous array of gifts, food and drink, with everything visitors need for the Christmas season.

Councillor Mike Johnson, leader of Allerdale Borough Council which organises the Taste Cumbria events, said: “This is going to be the perfect way to get in to the Christmas spirit. The sounds, smells and flavours of the festive season will fill Cockermouth this weekend, in the Producers’ Market and in all the town’s brilliant independent businesses.

“It’s been a fabulous year for the Taste Cumbria festivals which have given the local economy a massive boost. This is going to be the icing on the cake and I hope everyone has a lovely festive time.”

This year’s Taste Cumbria Christmas is supported by Allerdale Borough Council, Cockermouth Chamber of Trade, Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, and Cartmell Shepherd solicitors. For the full festival line-up, visit www.visitallerdale.co.uk/taste-cumbria-home

Now firmly established as the biggest and, arguably, the best foodie events in Cumbria, Taste Cumbria began in Cockermouth following the floods of 2009. Since then, events have taken place all over the county – the most recent being held in Maryport and Wigton for the first time this year.