Festival of the Lake is returning to Windermere Jetty Museum on Saturday 28 June 2025. The full-day festival celebrates the heritage of Windermere, its traditional boating culture, and the many ways people connect with England’s largest lake.
From 10am to 8pm, visitors can enjoy a thoughtfully curated programme of heritage-inspired talks, live music, creative workshops, informational stalls, family-friendly activities, and a range of on-the-water experiences, all set across the museum’s spectacular lakeshore site. The museum’s Lakeshore Café will remain open until 8pm, offering street food until 7pm and craft beers from Fell Brewery.
Talks throughout the day will explore the fascinating stories behind the museum’s iconic collection, including the pioneering steam launch Esperance and the Victorian masterpiece Branksome.
At this year’s festival, guests can enjoy paddleboarding sessions facilitated by Paddle and Wave or experience the rare opportunity to sail on Swallow, the original boat featured in the 2016 film adaptation of Swallows and Amazons.
Enjoy live music throughout the day, with performances from Nobody’s Friends Shanty Group, Bossyking, Jon Dawes, and Mike Turnbull overlooking the lakeshore. Visitors can also browse a range of stalls hosted by organisations such as the Steamboat Association of Great Britain, the Arthur Ransome Trust, the South Cumbria Rivers Trust, and many more groups dedicated to boating, conservation, and local history.
Festival of the Lake also includes a wide selection of family-friendly activities designed to engage and entertain visitors of all ages. Join captivating storytelling sessions with Emily Hennessey in the meadow, learn knot-tying skills, and uncover Windermere’s past through the seasonal trail.
Visitors are also invited to get creative in a drop-in watercolour painting workshop, where families and individuals can respond to the question: “What does the lake mean to you?” The resulting artworks will be displayed as part of a growing community-led visual celebration of Windermere.
Full access to Festival of the Lake is included with standard museum admission. Annual Pass holders and Lakeland Arts members go free. For the full itinerary and to book tickets, visit lakelandarts.org.uk