£20,000 Shortfall In Funding Forced Droving Relocation As Plans For New Penrith Gathering Event Revealed By BID

A £20,000 shortfall in funding forced the Winter Droving out of Penrith this year, Eden Arts has revealed as it responds to growing criticism over the decision to relocate the event to Carlisle.

Eden Arts says it spent a year seeking sponsorship and other funding for the Winter Droving but was still £20,000 short of what was needed to stage the event.

“We’re gutted we couldn’t bring the Droving to Penrith this year, but the funding just wasn’t there.”

The organisation added: “After having sought sponsorship, funding, etc. for a year, we were still £20k short. We just couldn’t make it happen in 2026, but we’re hoping we can secure what we need to bring it back next year.”

The £20,000 figure is the clearest explanation yet from Eden Arts of why the Winter Droving could not return to Penrith this year.

Instead, Eden Arts is taking a new event, the Carlisle Carnivale, to Carlisle city centre on Saturday 24 October.

Eden Arts says the Carlisle event is different from the Winter Droving and will feature live music, performers, markets, street entertainment and a new procession featuring LUXE Landscape Theatre.

“This is a different event to the Winter Droving, but it’s got a similar spirit: bringing people together, celebrating Cumbrian communities and filling the streets with a bit of magic.”

The organisation says it hopes to raise enough money to stage both events in the future.

“The hope is that next year we can raise the funds to run both events.”

Meanwhile, the loss of the Droving has prompted Penrith BID to work with local businesses and organisations on a new event for the same date.

The Gathering will take place across Penrith on Saturday 24 October, including at the recently sold Mansion House car park.

Penrith BID describes it as a single-day community celebration featuring live music, street performers, local craft and food.

Live music stages are planned at the Bandstand and Mansion House, with KOG Sound System, which has featured on Jools Holland, alongside Paddy Rogan, EVAN, North Fire Sound System, BlueJam and Upfront Arts.

A craft fair is planned for St Andrew’s Church Yard, while Penrith Playhouse will host an official after party.

The event is being brought together by Penrith BID in partnership with Discover Penrith, Atkinsons Building Contractors, Evan Arts, Penrith Town Council, Westmorland and Furness Council, Penrith Chamber of Trade & Commerce, Upfront Gallery, Penrith Playhouse and people from across Penrith.

The Gathering is not being described as a replacement for the Winter Droving, but will give Penrith its own community event on the date the Droving would traditionally have taken place.

For Eden Arts, the focus is now on securing the additional funding needed to bring the Winter Droving back to Penrith next year.

The organisation has said it wants the event to return in 2027 and hopes to raise enough money to run both the Penrith Droving and Carlisle Carnivale.