The series of running and cycling obstacle races for adults and children will take place in and around Keswick’s Market Square from 4:00pm on Friday 10 September. Designed to bring the festival into the heart of Keswick, the Town Trials are free to enter and precede the first night of live music in Crow Park, headlined by Bad Manners.

Junior races at the inaugural KMF Town Trials in 2019 - photo © Dougie Cunningham

The Keswick Mountain Festival Town Trials will see participants tackle short-lapped loops of Market Square and its alleyways, in waves of adults or children. Each race will start part-way down the Market Square, with the bike races having a ‘Le Mans’ style running start. Runners and cyclists will have to negotiate sharp corners, zig-zags, steps, ramps and other obstacles such as covered hay bales, all accompanied by the rhythms of the Batala Samba band. The races will begin with single lap children’s races, followed by a four lap adults’ run, and concluding with a six lap adults’ bike race.

Cyclists in action at the inaugural KMF Town Trials - photo © Dougie Cunningham

The races are free to enter and open to all. Participants should register from 2:00pm on the day, at a desk located inside the George Fisher store on Borrowdale Road. The emphasis at the Keswick Mountain Festival Town Trials is on having fun, with fancy dress encouraged.

Nicola Meadley, KMF Festival director, comments: “The Town Trials were a big success when we launched them in 2019, so we were determined to bring them back this year. The races are a brilliant way to bring Keswick Mountain Festival right into the heart of the town and they’re also really great fun for participants and spectators alike! They’re free for anyone to enter and a lovely warm up for a packed weekend of activities and entertainment at the festival.”

For full details about the KMF Town Trials, visit www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk/towntrials. For more details about events and tickets at this year’s festival, visit www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk or Facebook, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or follow @keswickfestival on Twitter and Instagram.