01229 585 778 | admin@ulverstoncouncil.org.uk
Ulverston Town Council Office, County Square, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 7LZ
Ulverston Town Council’s UK Town of Culture 2028 bid
Ulverston Festivals, Heritage & Attractions Leaflet 2026
Ulverston Eco Fair is back! Sat 18 April – FREE Event
Ulverston Town Band receives Freedom of The Town
Mr Colin Pickthall Obituary
Freedom of the Town presentation – Mr Anthony Hewitt
Ulverston Christmas lights switch on 4pm 29th Nov 2025
Ulverston Dickensian Festival 29th and 30th November 2025
Remembrance Sunday road closures 9th November 2025
Ulverston Town Council has provisionally secured funding through Westmorland and Furness Council to reduce the speed limit in the area to 20mph, to promote safer roads, reduce vehicle noise and enhance the environment for more walking and cycling.
You can comment online here
There will also be an opportunity to share views with the Westmorland and Furness 20mph team on:
- Monday 27 April, 3pm
- At the Coronation Hall, Ulverston
Ulverston Town Council has officially submitted an Expression of Interest to become the UK’s first Town of Culture in 2028 – a chance to celebrate the town’s heritage, creativity and community spirit on a national stage.
If successful, Ulverston would receive £3 million to deliver an exciting twelve month programme of arts, music, performance, heritage and wellbeing activities co‑created with local residents, artists and businesses.
What is the UK Town of Culture?
The UK Government has launched the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 competition, offering a £3 million prize to winning small, medium, or large towns. Designed to boost local pride and heritage, the winning town will deliver a year-long cultural program in 2028.
The winning town will receive £3 million, with two runners-up receiving £250,000 each. Shortlisted areas will get £60,000 for to enahnce their bids for the next stage.
Purpose: To showcase unique, local stories and build a legacy similar to the UK City of Culture contest.
Focus Areas: Bids will be judged on local identity, community engagement, and cultural ambition.
Thank you to our partners and those who helped to shape the submission.
The competion is fierce but our application is in, now we wait for the judges!
Ulverston hosts a number of celebrated festivals and events throughout the year.
The 2026 Festivals & Events leaflet is now available to view HERE and in the ‘Visiting Ulverston’ section of our website, under ‘Leaflets’.
You can find more information about festivals, events and what’s happening in Ulverston via the Choose Ulverston and Ulverston News websites.
Ulverston Eco Fair is back!
Saturday 18th April, 10.30am – 3.30pm @ The Coro.
The event is FREE to attend.
We have so much going on this year….
-Don’t miss Catkin and Scraps ‘Make a Rug Mug’* hand-sewing WORKSHOP *Limited spaces available – book directly through the Catkin and Scraps website here
– FREE ‘Make a Bug Hotel’ crafts with Amy from The Coro
– FREE pollinator plants
– FREE seeds
– FREE litter pickers
– Author Kate Rawles and her Bamboo Bike [which she’s cycled across continents with!]
– Charity Raffle
– Cloud Nine Kitchen – tasty, vegan food
– Community Solutions bike project and Orchard wood-working
– Cumbria Wildlife Trust
– Eco-fabrics
– Evermore Vintage
– Fairtrade Ulverston
– Ford Park
– Furness Refugees – pre-loved clothes sale
– FREE Happy Healthy Together – Parent and Child Yoga session* AT CROFTLANDS *Booking essential, click here
– Lustre Soaps
– Master Composters – advice and ‘Plant a radish seed to take home’
– Hat displays – Tracy Wells Millinery
– Mind In Furness – Plant sale and information
– Northern College of Costume
– RSPB
– St Mary’s Hospice – Pre-loved clothes
– Swarthmoor Hall – Eco projects and their bees
– Ulverston In Bloom
– Ulverston Food Project + Uniform Sale Rail
– Ulverston Repair Café
– Ulverston Scrap Store
– Ulverston Town Council Allotments
– Ulverston WalkFest
– FREE pollinator plants
– FREE seeds
– FREE litter pickers
– Author Kate Rawles and her Bamboo Bike [which she’s cycled across continents with!]
– Charity Raffle
– Cloud Nine Kitchen – tasty, vegan food
– Community Solutions bike project and Orchard wood-working
– Cumbria Wildlife Trust
– Eco-fabrics
– Evermore Vintage
– Fairtrade Ulverston
– Ford Park
– Furness Refugees – pre-loved clothes sale
– FREE Happy Healthy Together – Parent and Child Yoga session* AT CROFTLANDS *Booking essential, click here
– Lustre Soaps
– Master Composters – advice and ‘Plant a radish seed to take home’
– Hat displays – Tracy Wells Millinery
– Mind In Furness – Plant sale and information
– Northern College of Costume
– RSPB
– St Mary’s Hospice – Pre-loved clothes
– Swarthmoor Hall – Eco projects and their bees
– Ulverston In Bloom
– Ulverston Food Project + Uniform Sale Rail
– Ulverston Repair Café
– Ulverston Scrap Store
– Ulverston Town Council Allotments
– Ulverston WalkFest
….And much more!
Keep up to date with discussion on our Facebook Event page here
On Monday 16th February, the Mayor of Ulverston presented the Freedom of the Town to Ulverston Town Band.
The accolade was awarded to mark the 175th anniversary of the band’s formation and their long-standing contribution supporting Civic events, festivals and many other activities in the town and beyond.
Some sad news to report, Colin Pickthall, the former MP for West Lancashire and former Ulverston Town councillor and Leader of the Council, died at Furness General Hospital on Saturday, December 27.
A service to celebrate his life will take place on Monday, January 19 at The Ellers Chapel in Ulverston at 11:30am.
His family said: “Colin was a much loved husband of Judy and loving father of Alisoun and Jenny, father-in-law to Sue and Darren, and proud grandad to Noah and Beth. He was an active figure in the community and a good friend to many here and in West Lancashire.”
Born in Dalton, he first took the parliamentary seat for West Lancashire in April 1992 until his retirement at the General Election in 2005 before moving to Ulverston.
He became known for his staunch work in the community of Ulverston during his time on the Town Council.
Fellow Councillor and current Mayor of Ulverston Shirley-Anne Wilson said: “Colin was a much respected and well liked Ulverston ex-town councillor, leader and community stalwart – he supported many councillors who were starting their political journey. He gave very wise counsel and was such an interesting person to spend time with – his knowledge of local history was phenomenal. He will be much missed as a colleague, a good friend and of course by Judy and family of which he was so proud.”
Mr Pickthall was also one of the founding members of Ford Park and a driving force behind its development as Chair for many years.
Michelle Scrogham, the MP for Barrow and Furness and Ulverston Town Councillor said “Colin was a true champion for Ulverston and dedicated his life to public service, serving as Member of Parliament for West Lancashire for 13 years before returning to Ulverston and becoming a hard-working Town Councillor – a role that many don’t realise is unpaid voluntary work, and very often thankless.
Colin joined me to campaign in his old stomping ground in West Lancs during the recent by-election and was tickled pink to still be remembered fondly on the doorsteps.
He was incredibly generous with his time when I stood as the candidate for the Labour Party, and was refreshingly honest with the advice he gave a newbie MP; something that I will be forever grateful for. He will be very much missed.”
On the day of Mr Pickthall’s funeral, the Union Flag will be lowered to half mast on the Town Council office as a mark of respect.
At the November meeting of Ulverston Town Council, the Mayor of Ulverston presented the Freedom of the Town to Mr Anthony Hewitt.
The decision to grant this accolade was unanimous by Town Councillors. As Founder of the Ulverston Music Festival, Mr Hewitt received Freedom of the Town for producing outstanding concerts in the town for over 20 years and for bringing visitors to the town in large numbers.
Congratulations Mr Hewitt!
Ulverston Christmas light switch on Saturday 29th November 2025 at 4pm
The Mayor of Ulverston, Cllr Shirley-Anne Wilson will be switching Ulverston’s Christmas lights on at the Dickensian Festival on Saturday 29th November at 4pm, Market Cross. Everyone is most welcome to come along to the event!
The extremely popular Dickensian Festival returns to Ulverston on 29th and 30th November.
Click here to find out all you need to know about the event, including road closures and parking –
SUNDAY 9TH NOVEMBER ROAD CLOSURES
Due to the Remembrance Sunday parade, the following roads will be closed from 3.25pm – 4.15pm:
- Church Walk
- King Street
- Queen Street
- Market Place
This also includes the Fountain Street junction with King Street, the Soutergate juntion with King Street and the Daltongate junction with Queen Street.
If travelling through Ulverston please use alternative routes.
