Bid farewell to summer in style.
From pints to pumpkins, sun cream to selection boxes and dining al fresco to fireworks, it isn’t long before we enter beautiful Autumn. Goodbye’s are never easy but with this list you might just feel like you did it justice. From family friendly pirate festivals to Oktoberfest and the odd outdoor cinema in between, be prepared to take September by storm.
PIRATE FESTIVAL
‘Shiver me timbers’, the free family friendly Pirate Festival on the docks will be returning this year on September 10th and 11th. There’ll be sword fighting, musketry and cannon fire, shanties and storytelling, free face painting and activity workshops, plus a spectacular ship-to-ship pirate battle across Albert Dock. Discover how people lived in the days when pirates terrorised the high seas and come aboard the pirate brigantine Zebu and learn the amazing true stories behind some of the real life pirates from legend. More here.
Independent Liverpool OKTOBERFEST
Steins, brines and bloody good times. From 22nd-25th Merseyside meets Munich on a street in Baltic Triangle. We’ll be converting the Great Baltic Warehouse into a haven of hot dogs, beers by the stein and German camaraderie. Dust off your lederhosen, pull up a seat and raise your beers with us to good times. We’ve got Salt Dog Slim’s bringing steins and brines, Meet Frank on the hot dogs, Liverpool Craft Beer, Paulhaner, Dortmunder, Black Lodge Brewery and more on the beer as well as Laura’s Little Bakery cooking up German treats. Tickets are just a couple quid, grab them here.
Photo by Amy Faith
PRE-ORDER THE NEW IL CARD
Shameless self plug alert. Did you know the new Independent Liverpool membership card has launched? This year we’ve decided to go down the Scousemoji route and you’re all loving the design. If you fancy a year of discounted discovery at over 100 of Liverpool’s best independents, grab it here for a special pre-order price of just £12 for one (usually £15) or £17 for two (usually £20). Hurry, it won’t last long!
OUTDOOR CINEMA
The stars of Hollywood under the stars of Liverpool. An outdoor cinema with gin? It’s a dream come true. To bid farewell to summer we will be holding a series of outdoor cinema’s in the spectacular Botanical Garden, Liverpool’s premier gin garden where sun worshippers and juniper lovers all come together. We’re showing The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, tickets are close to selling out so be quick.
PIZZA AND PROSECCO FEST
The two best things in the world (arguably) collide at Constellations on the 18th September. We’re all big fans of bubbles and what better way to enjoy them than with a fresh slice of hot pizza straight from the oven. Expect over 20 different types of prosecco, live music throughout the day and slices of hot happiness. Get your tickets here.
PSYCHFEST
Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia is a pan-continental celebration of audio-futurists, operating at the bleeding edge of today’s psychedelic renaissance. For two days each September, Liverpool’s former industrial heartland beats once more, to motorik throb and shimmering drone, a kaleidoscopic celebration of our global psychedelic village. The festival was lauded across its first three installments (2012, 2013 and 2014) for its unique take on a thoroughly modern psychedelic condition, with The Guardian declaring “Liverpool, the great psychedelic capital of Europe”. More info here.
LIVERPOOL FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
Every foodie has this weekend marked down in their calendar. The best of Liverpool’s effervescent food and drink scene congregate in Sefton Park for a weekend of food, drink and more food and drink. On the 17th and 18th September the park will be turned into “foodie heaven” for the ninth year running and you just can’t miss it. Hopefully this year they’ll have a mattress area you can nap off all that food. More info here, use INDLIV20 and get 20% off all tickets.
ST GEORGE’S HALL BEER FEST
Liverpool Organic Brewery are kissing summer goodbye with their beer festival hosted in the beautiful St. Georges Hall. It is on 29th September to 1st October so you can have a day in the foetal position Sunday. There will be 200+ real ales and ciders present from all over the UK so the tap should never run dry. Liverpool Gin will also be making an appearance. There are evening and day sessions available and tickets are selling like, well, beer festival tickets. More info here.
Hip Hop Karaoke
Think you can rap? Now is your chance to prove it. If you’ve ever fancied yourself as a Missy, Eminem, Beastie Boy/Girl or you think you could give Snoop a run for his dough, here’s your chance to act out some rap fantasies. Entry is free, it’s on 24th September from 9pm onwards. More here.
Grilled Cheese Competition
Do you like cheese? Are you any good at melting it on bread? Filter + Fox are holding BARE GRILLS: their inaugural annual grilled cheese contest and you are invited to enter! Send your best grilled cheese recipe by email (to charlotte@filterandfox.co.uk) and the top 8 will be invited to present their grilled cheese at Filter + Fox to a panel of judges on Tuesday 27th September. Rules on how to apply can be found here. If you get in, save us a bite.
EYE FOR COLOUR
Returning to World Museum for its 10th anniversary, having been seen by a more than a million people across Europe, Eye For Colour is a visual feast of an exhibition that will alert the senses and stimulate the mind. This inspiring family-friendly exhibition is packed with hands-on exhibits and interactive displays, exploring the endless ways in which colour shapes our world. More here.
Photo by www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
Farmers Market
The first Saturday of every month from 9am-4pm is Eccelston Street farmers market in Prescot. Producers from across Liverpool showcase the finest homemade food and craft a market can offer. All produce and products are locally sourced, grown or produced and for crafts, the products have been made locally.
Beerdfest
Beards – they grow on you. Prepare for furry faced Baltic takeover as aptly named Beerdfest will be taking place in Baltic Triangle’s latest independent Constellations on 3rd September which is also World Beard Day; hooray! A fun day out for everyone where beards from all over the world will compete in different categories. There’ll be live music, lots of food and drink and a bloody good time. More here.
Arts & Craft Market
On Sunday September 18th there will be a pop up tea room at Lark Lane’s Old Police Station as 24 local people will be selling their fabulous handmade art (original and prints as wells as practical items like pens, bags and jewellery but art no less). Go and grab something handmade and heartfelt and whilst you’re there, a slice of cake.
Photo by www.larklaneguide.co.uk
Family Rave
The award-winning ‘family rave’ Big Fish Little Fish is hosting its first new season event in Liverpool at Constellations on Sunday 11th September 2pm – 4.30pm. We’re going ‘Intergalactic Planetary’ with a space theme, optional (but encouraged) fancy dress for budding astronauts, aliens and space boys and girls. The family raves include a multi-sensory dance floor with top DJs playing club classics. Club visuals, bubble machines, glitter cannons and a giant parachute dance help to create the atmosphere of a real rave. More info here.
Pillbox Vintage Fair
There’s a vintage/retro fair heading to the Shipping Forecast on the 3rd of September at The Shipping Forecast. Expect quirky clothing, accessories and collectables. Don’t forget cardholders get 10% off at selected stalls.
Square Pegs 1st Birthday Bash
To celebrate turning one, Square Pegs are inviting you and the family to party with them at their favourite spot, Constellations. From collaging to dj-ing, body-grooving to storytelling, whatever their creative preference, once again the Pegs will provide a day to remember. Check out the incredible line up to dazzle and inspire the imaginations of little kids and big kids here.
LIVE JAZZ
Live in the bistro, on the first Wednesday of every month, between 7.30pm & 11pm. Liverpool Jazz Club play a regular slot in the Everyman bistro on the first Wednesday of every month. The house band consists of Stan Williams, John Padfield, Andrew MacKenzie, David Fishel, Grant Russell and Ed Hannaby. Arrive early to ensure a good spec at Liverpool’s finest free music night. Each session features a number of sets by the house band, followed by a free-for-all jam session!
Special thanks to Amy Faith for the featured image. Check her incredible portfolio here.