Cockermouth is set to host its annual Taste Cumbria Christmas festival.

The food and drink showcase, taking place on December 7 and 8, will feature a wide variety of local producers' stalls, live music, street theatre, and expert demos.

There will also be a Santa Claus grotto at Cockermouth Pilates Studio.

The festival will offer shopping opportunities from stalls and independent businesses in town.

Main Street and Market Place are set to become the hub of the festive activities.

Stalls will sell an assortment of homewares, gifts, food, and drinks.

Kirkgate Arts Centre is also set to host 'The Taste of the Lake District: Cockermouth, Beer & the Jennings Brewery' exhibition from 11am to 4pm on the Saturday and 11am to 1pm on the Sunday.

An art and craft fair will also take place at the United Reformed Church on Main Street the same weekend.

Market Place Print Studio will be also be hosting drop-in sessions to make Christmas baubles.

Taste Cumbria Christmas Comedy Night is also set to take place at Cockermouth Cricket Club on the Saturday.

Tickets for the comedy event are available on the Taste Cumbria website, while the rest of the festival is free to attend.

Taste Cumbria, now in its 15th year, is the county's largest food festival.

It was initiated in the aftermath of the 2009 floods that severely hit Cockermouth.

The festival's aim was to keep the town and the surrounding area on the map.

The latest festival in September brought £2.2 million into the local economy.

Ellie Jones, the event organiser, said: "What a fabulous finale to the year this festival will be.

"We’ve seen successful events in Wigton, Maryport, Carlisle and Cockermouth already and the Christmas festival will be the icing on the Taste Cumbria cake."

The Taste Cumbria Christmas festival is sponsored by Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, and Milburns Solicitors, with support from RockWith and Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade.

To learn more, visit www.visitallerdale.co.uk/things-to-do/taste-cumbria-christmas.