11 Southport events that you should be excited for in 2023

Southport is lining up its best ever programme of events in 2023! 

After three years of disruption during the lockdowns of the Covid pandemic, big events and festivals made a welcome return in 2022 including Southport Air Show, Southport Air Show and Southport Comedy Festival, plus some successful new ones such as Moonlight Drive In Cinema, the Lookalike Festival and Ice Skating Southport. 

Here are 11 superb Southport events you won’t want to miss this year: 

Southport Jazz Festival (3rd-5th February)

Some of the greatest jazz musicians in the UK will be heading to Southport this February when the 2023 Southport Jazz Festival takes place.

The three-day event boasts 10 superb gigs in the spectacular setting of the art deco The Grand on Lord Street in Southport as part of the landmark building’s centenary celebrations.

Southport Jazz Festival is being organised for the first time by acclaimed local musicians Jez Murphy and Emma Holcroft.

The new venue is among some welcome changes that audiences will enjoy seeing although some of the event’s much-loved traditions will remain. Jazz lovers will be delighted to see for example that the Alan Barnes Octet will close the Festival with a show on the final night.

There will be a variety of shows for people of all tastes from jazz enthusiasts to music lovers keen to enjoy something a little different in a glamorous setting.

Saturday night meanwhile sees jazz legend and superstar trombonist Dennis Rollins MBE perform with the Wendy Kirkland Quartet.

Visit: southportjazz.co.uk

Love Folk Festival (10th-11th February)

Head to The Atkinson on Lord Street in Southport for Love Folk Festival; a celebration of traditional, upcoming and alternative folk music.

Headliners Jim Moray and The Gigspanner Big Band (six piece) are joined by Bonfire Radicals, Greenman Rising, Jenny Colquitt, The Rheingans Sisters, Calum Gilligan and Katie Spencer.

In addition to the main stage, Fatea will once again be hosting the Busk Love Folk acoustic stage. Times vary

The Atkinson – Studio Clubstyle

£48 Festival Ticket. Plus booking fee £1 per ticket online/phone.

Visit: www.theatkinson.co.uk

Southport Food & Drink Festival (2nd–4th June)

If you love food, then you need to add this event to your diary!

This is a ‘foodies’ paradise with a little something for everyone to enjoy at Victoria Park in Southport, admission free. 

Stimulate your senses and try food from different cultures – you can enjoy crepes, gourmet burgers, hot wings, churros, spiral potatoes, paella and curry from the street food stalls.

Tantalise the taste buds by sampling the different produce around the event – handmade cheeses, sausages, sweet and savoury pies, chutneys and pickles are just a few of the delights that can be taken home.

Throughout the weekend the entertainment arena will host local bands and musicians, you can shade from the sunshine and tuck into the amazing food and drink. 

Visit: www.visitsouthport.com

Enchanted Fields Festival (7th-9th July)

The Enchanted Fields Festival is excited to announce a unique weekend of yoga, wellness and family entertainment at Victoria Park in Southport this summer. 

The Festival offers a huge array of wellness activities on offer including; yoga sessions, meditations, cocoa ceremonies, womb healing, yin, Pilates, somatics and workshops, in the tranquil setting of the park, which is a stone’s throw from the sea.

There will also be heaps of entertainment, with marquees hosting live music, spoken word and dance workshops, followed by light and fire performances in the evening. 

There will be a holistic village filled with stalls where you can; book a massage, try a tarot reading, peruse beautiful clothing and jewellery and discover new foods, in the food and drink area, or relax in the bar tent, before a soulful rest in the Glamping yurts or camping area.

Visit: www.enchantedfieldsfestival.com

Save The Rave Festival (22nd July)

Remember when rhythm was a dancer and groove was in the heart? When tie-dye and centre partings were acceptable? It was when the Ibiza scene exploded. 

Enjoy the decade’s biggest floor fillers including tracks from Fatboy Slim, Ultra Nate, Faithless, Baby D, Livin’ Joy, The Chemical Brothers and tons more!

The event returns to Victoria Park in Southport. 

Visit: www.savetheravefestival.co.uk

Lookalike Festival (23rd July)

This huge outdoor tribute festival returns to Southport in 2023 after a successful event in 2022. 

Expect some of the best tribute bands on the circuit, with acts to be announced. 

Last year saw crowds dancing away to tribute bands celebrating the likes of The Beatles, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, Abba and more. 

Visit: www.lookalikefestival.com

Southport Flower Show (17th-20th August)

The UK’s biggest (and best) independent Flower Show made a welcome return to Victoria Park in Southport last year after a three year absence due to the Covid pandemic. 

Plans for this year’s show are already well underway and the combination of garden and floral displays, cookery demonstrations, shopping village, arena entertainment, live music and much more makes Southport Flower Show a great day outdoors for the whole family every summer.

Southport Flower Show is a registered charity and attracts over 55,000 visitors across four days. 

The first Southport Flower Show was held in Victoria Park in 1924 with the centenary event due next year! 

In addition to the vision and scent of exquisite and colourful floral displays, the organisers offer varied alternative entertainment, food and drink, shopping and live music. 

The Food Festival showcases national and regional producers whilst the Cookery Theatre encompasses some of the best local chefs, supported by a variety of celebrity chefs.

Visit: www.southportflowershow.co.uk

Southport Air Show (9th-10th September)

Amazing Air Shows are as much a part of the traditional summer seaside experience as fish and chips, and the show is back this autumn – and with FREE tickets for under-16s it’s now better value than ever.

What could be more exhilarating than a day on the prom, pier or beach with family and friends watching the power, speed and grace of the skilful pilots and their machines from all eras in the skies above.

The action isn’t simply in the air – there is lots to see and do on the ground too. The military village will be in full swing over the weekend with members of the armed forces showing off equipment and answering questions from anyone interested in a career in uniform. 

Visit: www.visitsouthport.com

Southport Classic and Speed (16th-17th September)

Some of the most historic cars in the UK will mingle with the most modern at this fast-growing motoring event. 

Saturday will see a closed road motorsport speed meeting on Marine Drive, which will be closed between 8am and 5pm. 

On Sunday, head to Victoria Park in Southport where you can see a whole host of classic cars, along with other attractions including Marque and Club Car displays of all types and eras, as well as food, drink and a shopping village for all the family. 

Around 20,000 people enjoyed last year’s spectacle. 

The day culminates with a parade of cars through Southport town centre, a chance for people to see and hear classic and vintage vehicles dating back over the past century in action. 

This free public event is a celebration of over a century of motoring and motorsport heritage. 

Visit: www.southportclassicandspeed.com

British Musical Fireworks Championship (22nd-24th September)

The three-day pyrotechnic spectacular takes place at Victoria Park in Southport every September.

Thousands of fireworks fans will be left in awe of breath-taking colourful pyro displays, light shows and music throughout the competition, which will see seven pyrotechnic companies battle it out to be crowned champion of the resort.

It is the perfect way to round off an incredible summer of events and investment in Southport.

Having been running for well over 20 years, the Championship is always a hugely popular three-day event and brings in crowds from across the North of England for a unique and stunning experience.

Visit: www.visitsouthport.com.

Southport Comedy Festival (30th September – 16th October)

Southport Comedy Festival is now in its 12th year, bringing some of the world’s finest live stand-up comedians to Victoria Park in Southport.

The 2022 event saw big names including Al Murrary, Milton Jones, Jason Byrne, Jo Caulfield, Reginald D Hunter, Jeff Green, Ed Byrne and more in addition to the Southport New Comedian Of The Year Competition and fundraising comedy nights for local charities Queenscourt Hospice and Southport Flower Show. . 

People are being asked to keep an eye on the Southport Comedy Festival website, their social media pages and local and regional press for big announcements and acts signed up to take part. 

Visit: southportcomedyfestival.com