AT this point, it's a Christmas tradition to visit purpose-built, temporary markets up and down the country.

Last year, the ground was very thin. The pandemic caused many markets not to even consider opening for Christmas.

Sometimes it was because their market would contravene regulations, other times it was because they didn't really know what the regulations were.

This year promises to be much better.

While some organisers have avoided the hassle of organising a fair or market until the pandemic is further in the past, others have decided to go ahead with theirs and bestow some Christmas spirit on South Cumbria.

Here's an idea of where you might like to go this festive period.

For the first time, Barrow A.F.C are running a Christmas market.

Barrow AFC is set to host a Christmas Market event at The Dunes Hotel Stadium on Sunday, December 5 from 11am till 3pm.

This is the first Christmas market event ran by the club who hope to run it as an annual event if it is a success.

They are asking for stall holders to get in touch and pay a £15 fee to book their slot.

Hawkshead Christmas Fair is going ahead this year on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December 2021 after being cancelled last year.

It will run from 10.00am till 4.00pm on both days and have a Lantern parade on Saturday at 4.00pm. They say that there are outdoor stalls still available, which can be booked by emailing hello@hawksheadchristmasfair.co.uk.

A Christmas Craft Fair will run on November 21 in Kendal.

From 10.00am until 4.00pm, The Carus Green Golf Course on Burneside Road will play host to a Christmas craft fair, which will cost £1 to get into.

Also in Kendal, the Brewery Arts Centre will play host to a craft market from November 26 until November 28.

Jan Huntley-Peace, event organiser, said: "Craft Market Kendal always brings something special - especially this year back in our lovely venue with exciting new exhibitors who are selected for their high levels of expertise in a particular medium.

"Whilst we welcome back regulars such as ceramicist’s Emma Louise Wilson, Gwen Bainbridge and James Hake it’s fantastic to welcome textile artist Morag Macpherson and Kirsten Gilder.

"For the first time ceramicist Mark Smith will be showcasing his extraordinary sculptural ships. Boats and wrecks that all have a seafaring story to tell."

Alternatively, travel to Burton memorial hall on Saturday, November 13, for a craft fair including a second-hand bookstall, light refreshments and more.

Not every regional fair has made it, however.

The Windermere Christmas Celebration, billed for December 11 and 12, has been postponed until 2022.

Event Director Kate Barton of Windermere TIC thanked all the support the event had received.

She said: “Over the years, we have had such great support from key players like Mountain Goat, Lamplighter Dining Rooms, Windermere Town Council, McClures and Windermere Lake Cruises as well as many more. We will be back, we are having lots of talks about future events for 2022 and look forward to rolling these out over the next 12 months."

Local Councillor Ben Berry said that whilst the postponement was a shame it was the right thing to do.

He said: “The people and businesses of Windermere will very much miss the event two years in a row but we have secured the event for the future when we can roll out bigger and better.

"The decision wasn’t easy, but to make sure we can continue to put the event on we had to act now.”

The organising committee for Ambleside Christmas lights has also postponed the event, which usually invites community stalls to trade.

They said: "With regret, the directors of Ambleside Community Christmas Lights Ltd have concluded that they have no option but to cancel significant parts of this year's activities once more.

"The Covid pandemic is not yet over and despite many people having had their vaccines, the risks resulting from a large switch-on event are still too high."

However, Ulverston will have festivities this year. The Dickensian Festival 2021 will go ahead on November 27 and 28.

The event attracts thousands of people but it's not too packed for visitors and local people to wander around and have a fabulous time and savour the wonderful atmosphere of a traditional market town in the Dickensian era.

Finally, a Christmas gift and craft fair will be held in Wordsworth’s home at Rydal Mount in December.

The two-day event will feature some of the county’s best artists and makers of glass, ceramics and jewellery along with cards and prints.

Copies of poetry and other books signed by members of the Wordsworth family will also be on sale.

The fair – on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday December 11 and 12 – will have live music, mulled wine and mince pies in the tea-room, and it’s hoped that craft workshops will be staged in the garden gazebos.