History (continued)
They would tend to gather on the streets and pathways, in public houses, in parks and open spaces, on public areas near the River Kent, such as Gooseholme, sharing experiences, passing on knowledge, talking, catching up with the gossip, telling tales.
Making their own unique brand of entertainment - people entertaining people - Yes! A gathering - the Kendal Gathering, when autumn leaves start to fall.
A gathering for the town, for the surrounding areas, for everyone - people entertaining people, "by the people for the people".
Then suddenly, from an idea first sprouted during a warm sunny afternoon in Malaga, to an autumn evening during 1970 on the banks of the River Kent, most appropriately, from Gooseholme, with thirty entries, blossomed the first Kendal Torchlight Procession, now Carnival.
It has continued to bloom and sprout to become English Lakeland's Autumn Spectacular. Fed and cared for to produce a further one hundred entries, from far and wide, two miles long winding through the historic town centre streets and crossing the River Kent, it became proudly - Cumbria for Excellence Awards - Event of the Year.
No longer does the carnival assemble on Gooseholme but this area is still a place of entertainment and fun as it continues to host the magnificent Torchlight Fun Fair.
The Fairground has been and remains an important part of the Torchlight weekend, endorsing that same spirit of, "by the people for the people". On the Torchlight afternoon every year the owners open the fair for the pleasure of disabled people, without charge.