From cocktail festivals to craft beer expos and from astronauts to arts markets – here’s our ultimate guide to June.
We’re entering the season of parties and festivals. When long sunny days turn into heady nights. When one in the beer garden ends at one in the morning. So ready yourself for getting out there, for experiencing something new because Liverpool is hotting up.
Meet an astronaut
Insta is awash with the amazing shots of the huge 23ft illuminated earth at the Anglican Cathedral. When you’re there it’s a hypnotic sight and gives a tiny glimpse into what it must be like to look down on our little planet from space. For a real insight into the astronaut experience head down on 2nd June when Helen Sharman, the first Britain in space, will be giving the lowdown on what it’s really like to orbit the earth. Grab your tickets here.
Baltic Market 2nd Birthday
Two years already? Time flies when you’re eating halloumi. And how better to celebrate than with a four-day party. There will be free bubbly, a massive cake, indoor and outdoor market and some cracking live performances from bands who have helped make the last two years very special indeed. Mates, significant others, nans and Chihuahua’s all welcome. Details here.
Get yourself to a cocktail festival
The UK’s leading cocktail festival is back to bring together the city’s most exclusive bars in pop-up form, for two nights only on 28th – 29th June, at The Great Baltic Warehouse. Fifteen of the city’s finest bars will be turning out in force as they compete to be crowned best bar. Expect new and exclusive cocktails, immersive tasting journeys and a street food market with Liverpool’s finest food vendors. With hopefully a bit of sun mixed in too! Grab your tickets here.
Champions League Final/Potential Parade
They’ve done it again. After a historic comeback against Barcelona at Anfield, The Reds are off to Madrid to face Spurs for the Champions League Final on 1st June. Understandably most places selling tickets have sold out but there’s a few with tickets left and a few venues doing free screenings. Check out The Sandon, Grand Central Hall, McCooley’s and more. If Liverpool do manage to win it for the sixth time the parade will start at 4pm the following day.
Mele presents club bad: summer yard party
Midweek summer parties don’t get better than this. Kitchen Street will play host to ten hours of party-fuelled grooves on 5th June from the likes of Argy, Dance System (the new guise from L-Vis 1990), Joe Corti, Nikki Chong and Melé. Expect serious, unadulterated summer vibes including pizza and cocktails followed by high octane house, techno and disco until the early morning. Probably best to book the next day off. Ticket link here.
photo by Hannah Metcalfe Photography
The River Festival
Love Liverpool, love the River Mersey. It’s synonymous with the city’s success, vital to our tourism and is a provider of world-beating panoramas on a daily (hourly?) basis. So fittingly, it has an annual festival in its honour. This year expect loads of live music from around the globe, some tall ships, great food and drink, street theatre, art installations, and a river swim… we might pass on that bit. More here.
Spymonkey’s Cooped at Liverpool Playhouse
If you’ve never seen Spymonkey’s irreverent, inventive, slapstick comedy you’re in for a treat. It’s a bit Fawlty Towers, a touch Marx Brothers and a little bit naughty. Cooped is their take on pulp gothic romance and has the expected spooky mansion, plucky heroine and handsome aristocrat, just with added farce, spot-on visual comedy and outrageous characters. More info here.
Bag Your Southport Flower Show Tickets
Southport attracts tens of thousands of visitors every August to view inspirational show gardens, spectacular floral displays and learn how to grow your own with advice from the Allotment Association. Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli will open the 2019 show and launch a packed programme of entertainment. Kids go free to the show and children’s TV star Justin Fletcher is bringing his interactive stage act to amuse the show’s younger visitors on Sunday 18th August. Visitors can also enjoy dog displays in the outdoor arena, Ben Potter’s eagle and vulture experience, The Galloping Acrobatics and much more. Tickets here.
ParentFolk & Family at the farm
ParentFolk are bringing the party to Claremont Farm at the start of June and the kids are going to love it. There are arts and crafts, disco welly walks, face art, a rave tent and DJ sessions to keep little ones entertained. Plus the impressive line-up of street food stalls, cakes and gin bar will keep the bigger ones happy too. Tickets here.
Liverpool Craft Beer Expo
Liverpool loves craft beer. And the Liverpool Craft Beer Expo, now in its seventh year, is the place to try some of the best brews from across UK, Europe and beyond. This is a festival that prides itself on showcasing the offerings of innovative breweries so expect interesting flavour combinations and some off the wall tipples. Grab your tickets here.
INSIDE PAGES Festival – 100 issues of Bido Lito
Over the past nine years Bido Lito have been championing the city’s creative community and are celebrating 100 issues of the magazine. But they aren’t looking back. They are gazing forward and have teamed up with a collective of friends and musical allies to present the INSIDE PAGES Festival. Acts including recent cover artists Xamvolo, Yank Scally and Eyesore & The Jinx will take to the stage at Constellations in what will be a showcase for the community Bido Lito set out to support nearly a decade ago.
Summer Arts Market
If you’re looking for somewhere to escape the football on Saturday 1st, immerse yourself in the North West’s biggest arts, craft and design market at the Anglican Cathedral. Featuring offerings from more than 200 of the region’s best artists, designers and makers, there will thousands of unique items on offer. Get your hands on ceramics, jewellery, screen-prints, photography, textiles and loads more. Plus there will be a basement Vintage Fair to delve into and a local food fair too. More info.
Africa Oye
The UK’s largest celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture is back. Africa Oye is a mainstay of the city’s summer calendar and rain or shine, it’s guaranteed to bring some sunny vibes. Horace Andy and The Garifuna Collective are headlining, so grab your mates and head to Sefton Park for two free days of live performances and DJ sets on 22nd and 23rd June. There’s loads to keep little festival goers happy too with free workshops and kids’ entertainment.
Liverpool Soul Weekender
The sounds will be smooth and the vibes will be killer at the Liverpool Soul Weekender on 21st-23rd June. The inaugural festival was a big hit and with a line-up of top-class international DJs and some awesome sound systems it looks set to be another great weekend. There will be three daytime parties and two all-nighters, and it’s all happening at Constellations and Yard and District so there will be an equally great line up of food and drink to keep you dancing all weekend. Tickets here.
Arrival City At Fact
Arrival City presents a portrait of Liverpool, and especially L8, as a city of immigration. Liverpool’s historic status as an important port city makes it one of the most unique ‘arrival cities’ in the UK, with many layers of history still making up the identities of people who have lived here for generations. This past has influenced the architectural character of the city – we walk through streets named after celebrated anti-abolitionists, and past grand buildings paid for by slave-traders. However, thriving areas such as L8 demonstrate the power and solidarity that exists within communities made up of many cultures. More here.
Baltic Weekender
Baltic Weekender is back back back for 2019! This year promises to be another sunshine smash, with added spice of a Champions League Final thrown in and the first ever Opening Party to be headlined by none other than Nina Kraviz! Tickets >> https://www.skiddle.com/festivals/Baltic-Weekender/
photo by Hannah Metcalfe Photography
Bordeaux Wine Festival
Winner of NOEA Award’s Best New Event 2018, Bordeaux Wine Festival Liverpool is back for 2019! Transport yourself to a waterfront paradise, with world-class wine and delicious food on Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront. Go on a journey of Bordeaux discovery and treat your taste buds with crisp rose, round reds, fantastic food and more. Grab tickets here.
Get ready for a whale of a time
A visually stunning water, sound and light show which will take place in Canning Dock each evening, from Wednesday 29th May until Sunday 2nd June. Audiences will see the image of a humpback whale emerge 15 metres out of the water and plunge back in, in an expression of its prowess and dominance. The six-minute show, which will be repeated from around 9.45-11pm, will also feature a soundscape of beautiful whale noise. More here.
Liverpool Vegan Festival
Seasoned vegan? Plant curious? The Liverpool Vegan Festival is rolling into town on June 29. Call in to browse more than 80 stalls offering everything from food to skincare and there will be plenty of free goodies to try. Get some inspiration from expert cookery demos and you can try your hand at some yoga too. Details can be found here.
