The Reader unveils packed summer programme at Calderstones Park

Open-air theatre, garden parties, a ukulele festival and the return of Storybarn Fest are all part of a packed summer line-up heading to Calderstones Park.

The Reader has unveiled its full Summer 2026 programme at the Grade II listed Mansion House, bringing together live performances, literary events and free community days in one of Liverpool’s most popular green spaces.

Across the season, visitors can expect everything from outdoor theatre and open-air cinema to book events, workshops and family-friendly festivals.

The literary programme includes a spotlight on Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell, alongside Latin American writing, beach-read recommendations and a six-week Deep Read of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations.

There are also masterclasses, wellbeing workshops and bookshop events running throughout the summer, many including food and drink from The Reader’s in-house team.

Outdoor performances return to the Garden Theatre, with Illyria staging The Three Musketeers in August, while cycling theatre troupe The Handlebards bring a high-energy take on Macbeth later that month. The park’s open-air cinema, which sold out last summer, is also set to return.

Free community events are a big part of the programme, including three Garden Parties with live music, food, crafts and pop-up activities across May, July and August.

The much-loved Ukulele Festival is back in June, showcasing some of the North West’s best groups, while monthly Sip & Stitch sessions offer a relaxed space for creatives to unwind.

For families, Storybarn Fest returns at the end of the summer holidays with face painting, food, entertainment and activities in the Storybarn courtyard. A full schedule of regular children’s events, from rhyme sessions to holiday clubs, will also run throughout the season.

Katie Clark, Director of Literature at The Reader, said the programme brings together “some of today’s most exciting writers” while celebrating the power of storytelling to connect people and reflect modern life.

The Reader, the UK’s largest Shared Reading charity, delivers sessions across the country as well as at its Calderstones base, reaching more than 25,000 adults and children each year.

Full event listings and ticket details are available now.

Here are 11 reasons you have to visit Calderstones Park.

Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide. 

From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.