JOIN US AT THE FESTIVAL

What do I need Tickets for the 2026 Marmalade Festival at Dalemain?

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FESTIVAL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

FESTIVAL SITE - FREE ENTRY, 10am - 4pm: The Marquee and Lawn will be filled to bursting with stalls, activities, marmalade tasting and more. Starting with the presentation of awards at 10am. Check out our programme of events for all the information.

HOUSE & GARDEN ENTRY- Tickets needed, timed throughout the day (estimate about 1 hour to see the marmalade displays throughout the house, about an hour to wander around the garden): Special festival rate timed entry tickets can be bought now to see the Homemade marmalade displays inside the house. There is no timed entry into the garden, you can enter the Garden at any time during the day with your ticket. You can buy Mansion & Garden Entry tickets on the day but we advise you to buy online in advance to secure your preferred time slot. Tickets are here.

TALKS & MARMALADE QUESTION TIMES (MQT) - Tickets needed, timed throughout the day (each talk & MQT is 40 minutes long): Please note there will be a small amount of remaining available tickets on the day but space is very limited so it is worth booking any of the talks below before your visit to avoid disappointment. You do not need a House & Garden ticket to access the talks. Tickets are here

  • Talk 1: Ivan Day, Crates of Oranges and Lemons

  • Marmalade Question Time 1: no question is too complicated or too sticky for our panel of experts.

  • Talk 2: Karen Jankel, Michael Bonds daughter talks all things Paddington Bear.

  • Marmalade Question Time 2: no question is too complicated or too sticky for our panel of experts.

The Marmalade Festival Weekend

Saturday 25th April‍: The Festival is free to enter from 10.00am -4.00pm. It starts with the announcement of the world’s best marmalade in the public presentation of awards at 10am and there is lots of things to do throughout the day including; festival stalls, official meet and greet with Paddington Bear, free tasting of hundreds of Artisan marmalades (including a selection of interesting and rare citrus marmalades from around the world), children’s activities with the Girl Guides and Hospice at Home, bell ringing with Borders Mini Bells, performances by Bjamba drum band, printing with Market Place Print and a live marmalade judging of ‘The Marmalashes’, two teams of Australian and English Marmalades judged head to head by our VIP judges.

As well as this the award winning garden is springing into flower and there are displays of thousands of the Homemade entries around the mansion (tickets needed to access the house & garden), talks by our patrons Karen Jankel (daughter of Paddington writer, Michael Bond) and Ivan Day (world renowned food historian) and two Marmalade Question Time Panel Discussions (tickets needed for talks and Marmalade Question Time panels).

Want to know where to stay & how to travel to Dalemain? Click here

Penrith Goes Orange On Saturday 25th April businesses and the town centre will go orange, there will be a free Marmalade Bus (full timetable below) going between Penrith and Dalemain. Please consider donating any spare change in exchange for your ride. Hospice collection buckets will be in the bus on the day. Penrith Goes Orange is a satellite event is run by Penrith BID and Penrith Chamber of Trade. Businesses taking part include: Penrith Library, The Toffee Shop, Hedgehog Bookshop, Simply Pawfect, Bake4Eden, JJ Grahams, Twinkletoes, Home & More, Just Sew, The Wilder Clay Gallery, Jigsaw Charity Shop, Beckside Books, 4Eden, Stroling4Shoes, Greenwheat & Fika Florist, The Lion Gallery, The Unicorn, Garden Tea Room, Cowper's Chemist, Cat's Protection Charity Shop, Sassy Nix, Natures Health, Penrith Herald, Moon on the Hill, Arragon's Cycles, Lily Rah, Seagraves & Dixon Lighting Shop.

Sunday 26th April
A Marmalade Church Service taking place at St. Andrews, Dacre, then come for a cup of tea at Dalemain and view the beautiful classic cars for The Classic Car ‘Drive It Day’ which will be happening immediately in front of the house. Entry to this is free of charge.