Saturday 24 October | From noon | Carlisle city centre | FREE
Carlisle — and anyone else who fancies joining us — is invited to watch, dress up and join in for a day of live music, circus, street performance, markets, games, funfair and a new twilight procession through the heart of the city.
Created by Eden Arts, the team behind Winter Droving, Carlisle Carnivale brings some of the spirit and traditions of the long-running Penrith event into a new celebration created for Carlisle. WHAT TO EXPECT Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, LUXE, Dulce Duca, Logy Logan, Nula Hula, Paper Doll Militia, Good Mojo, Stephen Dunn, Matrix Circus and Ant Thomaz, plus local performers and community groups.
At the heart of Carnivale is Absolutely Barking — 20 performers, musicians, circus artists, makers and assorted mischief-makers from the UK, Ireland and Sweden creating performances and encounters around a space known as The Biscuit Tin.
There’ll also be markets, a funfair, games and plenty of opportunities to join in, before the day builds towards a new twilight procession and the Carnivale finale.
And there’s plenty happening across Carlisle that day too — Museum of the Moon at Carlisle Cathedral, West Walls Oktoberfest, Antarctic Monkeys at the Old Fire Station and The Legends: Vegas – After Hours at the Sands Centre.
Come for Carnivale. Explore the city. Eat, drink, shop, stay over. Make a day — or a weekend — of Carlisle.
When
24
- 24
October 2026
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JOIN THE PROCESSION Individuals, families, friends, workplaces, clubs and community groups are all welcome. Carry a torch or help bring one of our yet-to-be-revealed parade creations through Carlisle.
ENTER THE CARNIVALE CUP Get your team together. Tug-of-war and other distinctly unserious challenges await.
Click HERE to sign your team up for the coverted Carnivale Cup!
FANCY DRESS FOR DOGS If your dog has been waiting for their moment, this is it.
Click HERE to enter your furry friend into our annual Fancy Dress for Dogs competition
DRESS UP No registration required. Wear a mask. Bring some colour. Put something ridiculous on your head.
Show yourselves off — and show the Great Border City at its best.
There so many ways for businesses to get involved, you can decorate your shop or office window, sell masks, offer special discounts or sales or enter your staff into our coverted 'Carnivale Cup'!
Want to be featured on the Carlisle Carnivale map? We are expecting over 20,000 people through the city centre over the course of the day, for the largest day festival in Carlisle history. If you want your shop, café, company or business featured on the festival map, then send us an EMAIL.
Want to have a stall? Click HERE to apply for our Markets.
Want to join the parade? Click HERE to join our procession.
Want to take on the Carnivale Cup? Click HERE to sign your team up!
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