Your guide to August Bank Holiday in Liverpool

Why is it a Bank Holiday weekend might only last three days, but it feels so much longer when you’ve got so much going on that you can enjoy in and around Liverpool.

It’s time to celebrate summer’s last hoorah with loads of events and activities to fill your diary, so get ready, set, go – you’re going to be busy this August Bank Holiday in Liverpool!

International Beatleweek

Seventy of the world’s best Beatles tribute acts will be in the city for Liverpool’s International Beatleweek Festival 2023, which takes place from today (Thursday, August 24) until Tuesday, August 29. There’ll be exhibitions, memorabilia, guest speakers, video shows, sightseeing tours, a convention, and live music every day on the Cavern’s three stages. Highlights include shows from America’s ‘The Fab Four’ and ‘The Analogues’ who’ll be on at the Philharmonic Hall, and Beatles historian and author Mark Lewisohn will present his one man show at The Yoko Ono Lennon Centre.

Find out more here.

Future Now Weekender at Future Yard

Future Now is its annual celebration of the best emerging new music, and it also marks the anniversary of the festival that launched hosts, Future Yard, in 2019. It’s on on Friday and Saturday with headliners The Bug Club and Bodega respectively set to play at the Argyle Street venue in Birkenhead, along with tons of other fab acts, including Baba Ali’s electro punk disco, alt-pop from Spielmann, soulful Americana folk-rock from Sylvie, and rock from Bo Ningen.

Find out more here.

Sleep Less DnB BBQ – 24 Kitchen Street

The folks at 24 Kitchen Street are teaming up with Sleepless Records to host a Drum & Bass barbecue this Saturday with a host of talent, and great food cooked up by Val’s Kitchen. DJs include Radio 1 and Kool FM’s Sweetpea, along with Bloc2Bloc’s Jack Banner, Daiz-E, Ghosty,
Deakin, and Hooligan. MCs are SAS, alongside Freddy B and Nicky Talent.

More info here.

Greasy Spoon – Liverpool’s Royal Court

This new comedy’s been getting some fantastic reviews and it’s on until August 26 so if you like a laugh on a night out, make sure you don’t miss it. Lindzi Germain and Hayley Sheen make a brilliant pair as Mandy and Shannon, café workers who find themselves in hot water after a murder (which they may well have committed!).

Find out more here.

Open Mic night at The Beatles Story

OK, you might not be quite Lennon or McCartney, or that doesn’t mean you can’t show off some decent vocals at The Beatles Story open mic session on Sunday. The Albert Dock attraction’s also got free craft activities for families during the day, plus a free pub quiz starting at 4.30pm with Beatles goodies for the winners.

Barbie Night – Camp and Furnace

Come on Barbie, Let’s Go Party, at the brilliant Baltic venue. Liverpool’s about to have a Barbie blowout this Saturday with a massive do to celebrate more than 60 years of the ultimate icon. There’ll be a pop princess playlist, Barbie cocktails, live Dolly Dancers, and photo ops. It goes without saying they want you to dress up so they can see all the best Barbies – and Kens (he’s invited too) -and everything’s going to be pink!

Find out more here.

Mighty Red Day at LFC 

Young fans will have a chance to meet Liverpool’s official club mascot Mighty Red on Friday. He’ll be making an appearance as part of the LFC Stadium Tour so as well as getting all the usual behind-the-scenes access at Anfield, little Reds can have photos with Mighty then join in games, crafts and footballing skills provided by LFC Foundation.

More info here.

Dinosaurs at Knowsley Safari

The dinosaurs are taking over Knowsley this summer so the Bank Holiday will give you a great chance to have a roaring time there. Brace yourself for face-to-face encounters with life-like prehistoric giants which move like the real thing, live dinosaur shows, a cute baby dinosaurs ‘petting zoo’, and Bruce, the incredible six-metre-long T-Rex. It’s all included with main admission so that’s as well as seeing its 750 animals including those cheeky ‘and we love ‘em’ baboons.

More info here.

Photie Man at the Walker Art Gallery

Known locally as the ‘Photie Man’, photographer Tom Wood has dedicated much of his career to the people and places of Liverpool, capturing a portrait of the city and revealing loads about its social and political history. It’s all brought together in a great new exhibition, 50 Years of Tom Wood, which tells the fascinating story of the Irish man who moved to New Brighton – and you might even see some faces you know!

More info here.

Gaucho 30 years launch menu

Award-winning restaurant Gaucho’s celebrating 30 years of serving the perfect steak with an anniversary Celebration Menu. You can enjoy a fabulous three-course lunch with a complimentary glass of Chandon for £30 at the luxurious restaurant in the Grade II listed former Bank of Liverpool at No 7 Water Street. The Celebration Menu is being served Monday to Saturday between 12 noon and 4pm.

More info here.

Royal Albert Dock

There’s plenty going on down at the Dock throughout the weekend, including the return of Liverpool’s blue and yellow submarine. From 12pm-7pm on Saturday, and 1pm-5pm on Sunday, the iconic submarine sound station is returning to the Martin Luther King Jr Plateau to create the ultimate outdoor dance floor where you can expect performances from talented musicians, DJs and dancers.

Continuing its Festival of Summer, there’ll be Punch and Judy shows from Friday to Monday, along with loads of family fun at the Maritime Museum, Tate Liverpool, and The Beatles Story.

Find out more here.

Identity at Liverpool Cathedral

There’s still chance to see the cathedral’s largest installation to date with Identity, a thought-provoking artwork by Peter Walker, exploring the concept of who we are, and how we’re all connected. Seven columns, suspended over the Well, are each lit with individual strips of light representing the double helix of DNA and demonstrating the unique make up of each person.

Together, the seven columns – wrapped in more than 3000 individual portraits of people from our amazing city – represent our distinct differences, gathered in union. 

Find out more here.

Jamaica Street Carnival Paty

There’s always something happening in the Baltic, and this weekend – after Barbie Night – it’s the return of the Jamaica Street Carnival Party. Back for its third year on Sunday from 1pm, there’ll be an outdoor market and indoor stages with a line-up of reggae and dancehall artists. You can find it at Camp and Furnace between 1pm and 10.30pm.

909 Terrace Party at Invisible Wind Factory 

Cream legends Steve Parry and Samuel Lamont will be spinning the decks with a brilliant mix of everything from house, dance, prog and techno to trance classics at the IWF on Sunday. Get ready to party and have a Bank Holiday boogie from 2pm at the Regent Road venue.

More info here.

BBQ at Courtyard Bar & Kitchen

Buns, beer, BBQ – and some of the best views in the city! Invitations don’t come better than that from the Roe Street Courtyard & Kitchen which is having a BBQ in the beer garden this Saturday. Chef Dave will be cooking up a storm between 12pm and 4pm and hopefully it’ll be ‘buns out, sun’s out’.

There’ll be loads of drinks to choose from including soft drinks, beers and wines and, because it is summer after all, they’ve got some new cocktails and delicious sangria.

More info here.

Night at the Movies – Love Lane Brewery

Get the popcorn at the ready and prepare for a fab Night at the Movies with Liverpool’s drag extraordinaires Filla Crack, Baba Yagga, and Pretentious Dross.

It’s going to be a camp old time as they celebrate some of the celluloid star moments from E.T to The Godfather, Blade Runner to Mommie Dearest, and Pulp Fiction to Star Wars, with a mix of live music, comedy, lip-sync, and games this Sunday evening. Films have never been so much fun.

Check out more info here.

The Diana Ross Story – St Helens Theatre Royal

It’s all In The Name of Love when the St Helens theatre invites you to pay homage to one of Motown’s most magical stars, Diana Ross, this Saturday. Following her rise to fame from her days with The Supremes to her solo career, you can bet it’ll have all the hits to get you up on your feet, from Baby Love, Stop in The Name of Love, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’m Coming Out, and oh so many more.

More info here.

Summer Makers Market – Baltic Market

Ooh, who doesn’t love a Makers Market? And this promises to be one of the best! The Baltic Market’s hosting a brill Bank Holiday summer sale with everything you’ll love for a little seasonal pick me up. There’ll be beautiful breads from Plattsville Bakehouse, local drinks from Turncoat and Zest, great summer soundtracks from Dead Air, scents of summer from Kip Candles, prints, cakes, jewellery, and lots more. It’s a chance to treat yourself and support some amazing local businesses, and it’s on from 11am to 3pm on Bank Holiday Monday.

Find out more here.

Kick off Sunday with a roast 

Whether it’s the fluffy Yorkshire puddings, the crisp roasties or lashing of thick, rich gravy, the Sunday Roast is one of our favourite meals, so why not beef up your Bank Holiday with this traditional feast. There are plenty of restaurants and bars throughout the city where you can guarantee a dinner to die for, from The Watering Can in Greenbank Park, to Duke and Duke Modern Grill in Waterloo, to more central eateries like Albert’s Schloss, Castle Street Townhouse, and Nova Scotia to name just a few. 

Find out more here.

Bacchus Wine and Juke Burger Tasting Event at GPO

What’s better than a burger on a Friday night, to finish off the week? How about a burger and lots of different wines? At GPO in the Metquarter, Bacchus Wine experts will talk you through up to eight world wines, each one paired with a Juke tasting dish.

Trevor Nelson Soul Nation LIVERPOOL at Grand Central Hall

Trevor Nelson returns to Liverpool with his old school RNB party SOUL NATION – and his biggest party EVER in the North West. He’ll be playing classic 80s, 90s and noughties rnb, soul, and hip hop, and the DJ legend will be joined on stage at The Dome, Central Hall, by some very special guests – Damage and Omar – performing live on Sunday, August 27, from 8pm.

Find out more here.

End of Summer Music Festival – The Bus Yard, Chavasse Park

You can expect nothing but good vibes when The Bus Yard throws its End of Summer Music Festival from Friday to Sunday in the Liverpool ONE hotspot. So get your festival gear on, order yourself a drink or two, and get ready to enjoy live music from acoustic duo Soul Campbell Music, Eliza Hall and Jamie Higgs, Tom Corfield, Chloe Collins, and others.

Find out more here.

For more things to do this August Bank Holiday in Liverpool click HERE.