Everything you need to know about the Formby Festival

The Formby festival is back with music, entertainment, fireworks and fun for all the family to celebrate its 10^th birthday.

The event will take place at Duke Street Park from Friday 19 – Sunday 21 July and has a packed schedule.

The festival has been running since 2013, recreating the Formby shows of the past and it has grown to be a popular part of the summer calendar in the area. 

It has a lovely atmosphere and is close to the train station, so easy to reach if you don’t live locally.

It all kicks off on Friday evening with music from Harry Fazakerley, Jesci, Sam Roberts, Solace of Sound and The Memory Club. There will be lots of other entertainment on offer and an array of food and drinks stalls.

On Saturday the Formby Festival opens with Yooks ukulele band. The headline act Livvy K will get everyone dancing before a spectacular music light and fireworks display for all the family at 10.30pm brings day two to a close. The theme of the fireworks this year is High School Musical so expect some familiar tunes as the sky lights up.

Then Sunday will be alive with music featuring Katumba Drumming and the Viva Brasil samba show before a host of other musical entertainment.

Over the course of the weekend, you can enjoy the fair with new rides for 2024, alongside classics like the Ferris wheel and waltzers. Just remember, rides are at an extra cost. The kids can also enjoy circus skills school, which is included in the price and is open Saturday and Sunday. There will be football and rugby skills and dance displays in the arena.

There will also be the return of the professional chef cooking demonstrations that will run across the Saturday and Sunday and there will be cooking classes for kids too.

All weekend you can visit the craft and farmers market, enjoy a birds of prey display, family entertainment, food stalls featuring burgers, pizza, noodles, chicken and much more. There will also be real ales, fine wine, coffee, and everything in between.

The stages will host a wide variety of performers across the weekend, from soloists to choirs. On Sunday you will be able to enjoy music from Bliss, Simon Howard, John Jenkins and One Thousand Pictures.

Among the brilliant bars offering drinks this year are Formby’s Lux 37, The Buzz Bar and The Gin Joint.

There will also be loads for the kids to enjoy, including a BMX display and the dog competition, which is included as part of the Sunday ticket. There will be prizes for waggiest tail, best trick, biggest dog, smallest dog, best bark and best costume.

There will be classic competitions for fruit, flower, and vegetable growers of all ages. Enter here. 

Each year the festival has a featured charity which benefits from the event. This year it’s Cancer Research UK.

So if you fancy a festival for all the family, with some great food and music on the bill, then get yourself to Formby this weekend.

Formby Festival opening times:

Friday – 5pm-10pm.  

Saturday – 11am-11pm.

Sunday – 11am-6pm.

Ticket prices:

Friday evening: Free.

Saturday all day: £15 adult; £14 concession; £8 child (aged four-15); £42 family.

Sunday all day: £8 adult, £7 concession, £4 child; £20 family.

Two-day weekend (Saturday-Sunday): £21 adult; £20 concession; £10 child (aged four-15), £60 family.

Children aged four-15 must be accompanied by an adult. Concessions are those aged 65+ and those with a student ID card.

Some attractions are payable with tokens.

Find more information on the Formby Festival website.

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