Penrith is refusing to let Storm Boelo bring an end to its Gathering celebrations today, with organisers moving outdoor entertainment indoors as strong winds and heavy rain threaten to disrupt events across Cumbria.
While Eden Arts has been forced to cancel its Carlisle Carnival hours before the event was due to take place, Penrith's replacement for the Winter Droving is pressing ahead, with local businesses, volunteers and community groups pulling together to ensure the town still has something to celebrate.
The Gathering, organised by Penrith Business Improvement District (BID) following the controversial decision to move the traditional Winter Droving to Carlisle, has faced a last-minute battle with the weather as Storm Boelo moves across the region.
But rather than cancel the event today due to storm Boelo organisers have confirmed that all planned outdoor activities have been moved indoors, making use of venues across the town centre to keep the music, entertainment and family activities going.
The one exception is the Mansion House stage, which is situated in a sheltered area and remains part of the programme, subject to weather conditions.
Organisers say wind speeds are being regularly monitored and a safety plan is in place should conditions deteriorate to the point where the stage area needs to close.
In an update on Saturday morning, organisers said:
"We are aware of the bad weather situation.
"Taking this into account we have moved all of our outside activities indoors. The Mansion House stage is in a sheltered area. We are regularly monitoring the wind speed for the area and have a thorough safety plan in place for if we need to cancel the area."
St Andrew's Parish Rooms will now take over as one of the main entertainment venues, replacing the planned activities at the bandstand.
The venue will host live music, puppet show performances and face painting, along with the start of the Pumpkin Trail, while a tabletop sale will take place downstairs.
Nearby, St Andrew's Church will be hosting its craft fair, with Penrith Library's downstairs room also being used as part of the revised programme.
The Mansion House stage remains another focal point for the event, although organisers have made clear that safety will come first and the area could be closed if wind conditions make it necessary.
Potfest in the Pens is also taking place, with visitors able to make use of a free bus service running every hour from Penrith Bus Station to travel to the event.
And the celebrations are not expected to end when the daytime activities finish, with Penrith Players hosting The Gathering after-party from 8pm.
The determination to keep the event going comes after weeks of controversy surrounding the loss of Penrith's Winter Droving, which had become one of the town's biggest annual attractions over the last 14 editions.
Eden Arts announced earlier this month that the event would not take place in Penrith this year, citing a £20,000 funding shortfall, before revealing plans for a new Carlisle Carnival on the same date.
The decision sparked criticism locally and prompted Penrith businesses and community organisations to come together to create The Gathering, a new event intended to ensure the town did not lose its traditional autumn weekend of entertainment.
Penrith Town Council also backed the new event with a £4,000 grant, helping support the programme of music, performances and family activities organised at short notice.
However, the weather has now added an unexpected twist to the weekend, with Carlisle Carnival cancelled on Friday as forecasts warned of potentially damaging winds across the region.
The Met Office has named Storm Boelo as the system bringing strong winds and heavy rain to northern parts of the UK this weekend, with gusts of 60 to 70mph possible and even stronger winds in exposed locations.
The storm is expected to bring increasingly unsettled conditions throughout Saturday, with strong winds continuing into Sunday.
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