14 events happening in and around Liverpool that you can look forward to this year

Events are returning to the city and there’s loads going on now Liverpool is coming back to life.

So whether you want to raise a glass with your mates, have a flutter on the gee-gees or just have a good old belly-laugh (well, we deserve it), it’s time to get your diaries out.

And here are 14 events in and around Merseyside to get you started…

LightNight

Liverpool’s annual ‘culture-crawl’ LightNight returns to the city on Friday, May 21, when arts venues will throw open their doors from 5pm until late to shine a spotlight on the region’s world-class artistic offer.

There’ll be more than 75 free arts events across 30 venues taking part in the one-night only arts festival with a combination of in-person events in Liverpool city centre, and an online events programme, with the theme of Play.

Find out all the info here.

Knowsley Social

M People’s Heather Small is one of the major acts launching the Knowsley Social on May 20 in the grounds of the Knowsley Estate.

There’ll be a purpose-built big top tent for the nine-week festival with 200 socially distanced pods so we can enjoy music gigs with big-name stars like Heather and DJ Sam Divine, and events including Bongo’s Bingo, Liverpool Disco Festival and Milkshake Live!

Book your tickets here.

Positive Vibration

It’s been postponed until September 10 & 11 but you can buy tickets now for the Festival of Reggae at The Baltic Triangle.

There’s a great line of musicians including Zion Train, The Twinkle Brothers and Mad professor featuring Sister Aisha, along with tons of activities and workshops for the family including dub poetry classes with Levi Tafari and Curtis Watt, and arts & crafts with Square Pegs. Plus there’ll be food, drink, records, clothes, arts & crafts, jewellery, health and well-being stalls.

Buy tickets here.

Sound City

Credit: John Johnson

It’s been a long time coming say organisers of one of Liverpool’s favourite festivals but it’ll be back to the Baltic Triangle sooner than you know it, from October 1-3.

Beabadoobee headlines on Friday, with GRACEY, Baby Queen and The Snuts; special guest Jamie Webster joins Red Rum Club for a hometown party on the Saturday, and Låpsley takes to Sunday with Miraa May, joining previously-announced headliner Rejjie Snow and The Lathums. 

Buy tickets here.

The Florrie Fest Fundraiser

The Florrie Fest Fundraiser returns on August 28 with loads of live musicians and bands including Red Rum Club, Aimie Steven, Ali Horn and Beyond Average.

Although its classes had to closed in lockdown The Florrie provided thousands of food parcels to vulnerable people and families in Liverpool, and hot meals and pack lunches to school children. They supported us, so it’s time to support them – and have a great time doing it!

Find out more info here.

LCL Bike Ride

One of the first mass participation events to take place in the UK since restrictions were put in place last year, LCL Bike Ride is back on Sunday July 4th. The ride will be attempting to raise £100,000 to help local charity The Bobby Colleran Trsuts open its own wellbeing centre for children and young people in Liverpool, as part of their Take Care for Bobby campaign.

Electronic Sound Summit

After such a difficult year for the music and entertainment industry this has never been more needed, and the Electronic Sound Summit 2021 conference is taking place on Friday, September 3 to Saturday, September 4.

The event in the Baltic Triangle will feature industry and cultural sessions, seminars on music production, workshops and panel discussions on important topics to help upcoming artists learn and grow. Guests include Yousef, David Morales and Crazy P.

Book tickets here.

Gin to My Tonic at Liverpool Exhibition Centre

The award-winning Gin to My Tonic Show: Meet-the-Makers returns to the Liverpool Exhibition Centre from June 25-26, with unlimited tastings and more than 250 varieties of gin. The largest gin festival in the UK, it boasts well-stocked gin and cocktail bars, cocktail-making masterclasses, taste challenges, presentations from distilleries, tonic and garnish tutorials, and theatrical bartender performances. 

But the main attraction is the large variety of distilleries, artisan gin makers and tonic manufacturers who’ll create what can only be described as gin heaven!

Book tickets here.

Liverpool Theatre Festival

After a hugely successful inaugural year, Liverpool Theatre Festival is running across two weeks in September 2021, from the historic St Luke’s Bombed Out Church and gardens in Liverpool city centre.

The line-up has yet to be announced – last year featured Liverpool actor Andrew Lancel in Swan Song, A Fairy Tale Journey Across The Mersey, Laughterhouse Comedy, The Very Best Of Tommy Cooper, and more – but it promises established acts, artists and productions, running from Wednesday, September 1 to Sunday, September 12.

New this year is Little LTF which will run for one week during July 12-18 to give writers and performers the platform and opportunity to present new work in front of a live audience.

Find out everything that’s happening here.

Film and Food Fest 2021

If you like film, and you like food, then you’ll love this brand-new festival coming to Liverpool between August 12-15. 

It’ll feature outdoor cinema with classic movies and recent releases, stand-up comedy from some of the UK’s best-loved comedians, local street food from the city and specially-curated short films from film makers.

Book tickets here.

Southport Comedy Festival

After the last 12 months we all need a laugh – and that’s now been guaranteed. Reginald D Hunter, Jo Caulfield, Ed Byrne, Mark Thomas and Tez Ilyas have been revealed as stars of this year’s Southport Comedy Festival, taking place at Victoria Park in Southport between October 1-17.

They join festival favourite Jason Byrne, with more names to be announced over the coming weeks.

Find out more info here.

Cream Classical on the Waterfront

Photo: Anthony Mooney ©

Cream Classical is returning for not one, but two, festival events on September 18 and 19.

‘Cream Classical on the Waterfront’ will be bringing the amazing 50-piece Kaleidoscope Orchestra, performers and vocalists together in a brand-new live show featuring a spine-tingling set list curated by electronic duo K-Klass. It will include some of dance music’s biggest tracks and the biggest names to have graced the decks at Cream’s legendary club, including DJ sets from Basement Jaxx, Faithless, Seb Fontaine, Tall Paul and more.

Book tickets here.

Chester Races

And…they…are …off! Tickets are on sale for a host of meetings as Chester Racecourse sounds the starting gun on a packed programme of meetings – and a brand-new Champagne Garden.

The Summer Seasons starts with the Clogau Ladies Evening on Friday, June 25 and the Summer Festival on Saturday, June 26.

Tickets are available now for these and the remaining seven fixtures of the summer and autumn seasons.

Find tickets here.

DEVA Fest Chester

Queen of the kitchen disco Sophie Ellis Bextor is one of the headline acts at this year’s Deva Fest in Chester and with M People’s Heather Small joining her at the top city event, it means a brilliant line up and an amazing setting.

Deva Fest is taking place at Chester Lakes, Dodleston, from August 13-15. Other acts appearing include Scouting For Girls, Dodgy, dance extravaganza Symphonic Ibiza, Sonique, and there’ll be lots food, drink and parades, and tons of family fun.

Book tickets here.