Barrow, Cumbria, to host brand-new comic celebration

By John Freeman on 4 December 2025

A brand-new comic celebration from the team behind the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (LICAF) is landing in Spring 2026 in Barrow, Cumbria – and is seeking local, young support.

Organised by the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in partnership with Barrow BID, Barrow Does Comics is a new event aims to to bring a vibrant, creative, comics-filled festival right into Barrow Town Centre. Think storytelling, graphic art, workshops, exhibitions… the full LICAF magic!

Behind the scenes, LICAF is building a Youth Production Team, A small squad of under-25(ish) comic fans to help shape, plan, and create this brand-new event with them.

If you love comics and want hands-on experience (and something brilliant for your portfolio!) — they want to hear from you.

Barrow Does Comics is just part of the work of LICAF, whose next main annual event will take place in Kendal from Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th October 2026. Projects also include a variety of projects exploring how comics can improve literacy, health and wellbeing, including work at HMP Haverigg and elsewhere.

• If you’re interested in being part of the Youth Production Team, for more information, contact Sim Leach by email mail: simcomicartfestival@gmail.com

• LICAF is online at comicartfestival.com

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.