AWESOME AUGUST Our guide to great summer days out – from clog dancing to gravy wrestling, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy the finest agricultural shows and make the most of those lazy, hazy days of summer.
NESTIVAL
August 2-4
Head to Brindle Distillery, the home of Cuckoo gin, for a three-day event packed with live music, artisan food and delicious drinks.
2024 will see performances from the Rockabillies, Kevin Simm, and Satin Avenue take the headline slots.
While Friday and Saturday are open to over 18s only, Sunday welcomes families and children too.
PS – you don’t have to be a gin lover; there will be a range of other Cuckoo spirits and cocktails available, as well as premium lager, craft ales, top quality wines and soft drinks.
brindledistillery.co.uk
READ MORE: A look ahead to Nestival at the Brindle Distillery
GARSTANG SHOW
August 3
A celebration of food, farming and family fun – Garstang Show is always a popular event in Lancashire’s summer calendar. This year, Wigan Ukulele Band join attractions like Astral Circus, The Sheep Show, dog show, and vintage vehicle display; all in addition to the traditional animal, craft and horticultural classes. Delicious food and drink, and fairground rides make this a day out with something for everyone.
This year also includes a celebration of agriculture throughout the decades, showcasing generations of farm machinery.
Garstangshow.org
CARTMEL SHOW
August 7
A traditional agriculture show with a big heart and a fantastic array of livestock, light and heavy horses, rabbits and more.
Little ones will love the activities on offer, from archery to circus skills, bouncy castle, birds of prey and a few creepy crawlies too. Stalls will be selling local handmade gifts, clothing, homewares, outdoor and leisure goods, and visitors can admire the traditional skills of craftspeople in the horticulture and village industries marquees.
Cartmel Park has been the home of Cartmel Show since 1897.
cartmelagriculturalsociety.org.uk
ROCHDALE FEEL GOOD FESTIVAL
August 10
A day of performance and entertainment in Rochdale town centre with the main stage in front of the Town Hall. Headline entertainers include UK chart toppers Ocean Colour Scene, Lottery Winners, and Heather Small. As well as the main stage, there will also be a number of performances at varied indoor venues across the town. A well-stocked food and drink village is set keep everyone feeling good all day long.
Rochdale.gov.uk
BLACKPOOL AIR SHOW
August 10-11
Visitors of all ages can marvel as a host of incredible aircrafts take to the sky over Blackpool. The Red Arrows have been confirmed for both days, as have the RAF Typhoon display team. There will also be the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, helicopter displays and much, much more, so keep your eyes to the skies.
Visitblackpool.com
SOUTHPORT FLOWER SHOW
AUGUST 15-18
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Southport Flower Show and organisers promise it will be an event to remember.
Southport Flower Show was first held in Victoria Park in 1924 and has been staged for 93 years since (with the exception of WWII and COVID-19). This year’s centenary show runs from Thursday to Sunday and features all the attractions that have made the event such a popular fixture in the summer calendar over the years, including the shopping village and demonstration kitchen.
As well as viewing the show gardens, amateur growers’ competitions and the famous Grand Floral Marquee, visitors can pick up tips from some of the best-known gardening experts in the country.
Celebrity guests include David Domoney from Love Your Garden and resident gardener on ITV1’s This Morning and also Adam Frost from BBC Gardeners’ World. Carole Baxter and George Anderson, presenters of the long-running BBC Two show Beechgrove Garden will be sharing their tips on growing beautiful flowers and plants in a Northern climate, and young garden expert Lee Connelly (CBBC’s ‘Skinny Jean Gardener’) will also be joining the show.
Kids under 16 go free when accompanied by a paying adult and there is plenty for younger visitors to enjoy, including the return of TV favourite Justin Fletcher.
There will also be a special 100th anniversary dessert to sample designed by Southport baker Jemma Melvin, who created the Platinum Pudding; the official dish for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
Tickets: £25 (one day early bird entry)
Southportflowershow.co.uk
LYTHAM 1940s WEEKEND
August 17-18
Two days of free entertainment from 10am to 5pm each day. Hear Derek Herbert, Winston Churchill’s rousing wartime speeches, Colin Bourdiec as George Formby and the ever-popular Bluebirds UK. There are also dance lessons and a ‘re-invintaged’ fashion show.
The Kalamazoo Dance Band will be performing once again and throughout the weekend there will be military vehicles on display thanks to the Military Vehicles Trust (MVT). Expect music and dance on the Mussel Tanks (weather permitting) adjacent to the Promenade with a resident forties DJ, as well as dancing in Clifton Square.
Discoverfylde.co.uk
CHIPPING AGRICULTURAL SHOW
August 24
Chipping Showground is a short walk from the picturesque village. With the beautiful backdrop of Parlick Fell, this is an idyllic spot for a show which offers a closer look at country life.
There are lots of traditional animal classes including light horses and ponies, shire horses, sheep and cattle, along with a busy main ring schedule that includes an impressive dog show, pony club display and sheep racing with The Woolly Back Hurdle.
Don’t miss the tug of war, or the beautiful blooms in the horticulture tent.
chippingshow.co.uk
GREAT BRITISH RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL
August 24-26
Colne hosts this annual weekend-long celebration of live rhythm and blues music in the heart of East Lancashire. 2024 marks the 33rd year of this award-winning festival showcasing the very best of blues music in the UK right now, as well as the most exciting emerging talent both locally and around the UK. Known for being good value, ‘The Official Fringe’ gives you the opportunity to experience even more live music, with venues all over the town coming together to produce an event like no other.
Bluesfestival.co.uk
GRASMERE SPORTS
August 25
Participants of the traditional Grasmere Lakeland Sports event compete in a variety of sports, including Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling, Fell Running and Hound Trails.
The event has been a regular annual occurrence since 1868, pausing only due to WWI, WWII and the pandemic.
This year’s event welcomes Wonder Wheelers, giving you the chance to have a go on all manner of weird and wonderful bikes; unicycles, Penny Farthings, bendy bikes, tall bikes, mini-bikes, circus bikes, and more! Fun for all ages – whether you participate or spectate.
Grasmeresports.com
WORLD GRAVY WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
August 26
For a day out like no other, head to the Rose ‘N’ Bowl in Stacksteads to watch a wild and wacky wrestling competition in a pool full of Lancashire Gravy. Points are awarded for fancy dress, comedic effect, and entertainment with contestants giving it their all to raise money for charity.
A family-friendly event, previous years have hosted cheerleading groups, a BB gun shooting range, bouncy castles, face painting, and cake and tombola stands.
Look out for the fire brigade washing down wrestlers between bouts.
worldgravywrestling.com
BURNLEY CANAL FESTIVAL
August 27
This festival celebrates the history of Burnley’s canal and local culture.
Visitors can watch the Lancashire Wallopers clog dancers, and visit The Kennet, an interactive floating museum. Try a free canoe taster session, or attend one of the many family-friendly sessions including screen printing with Super Slow Way, or join artists in The Caravanalogue – a new space that celebrates analogue equipment. Help Sharon Brown make paper butterflies and bugs from old maps, print your own Festival poster with artist Ian Halawi, have your face painted, or learn about henna art from Guinness World Record holder Samina Hussain
Music from the Burnley Alliance Silver Band, accordionist Ben Farmer, drumming group Northern Dholis, and folk musician Richard Moss.
Burnleycanalfestival.org
VINTAGE BY THE SEA, MORECAMBE
August 31 – September 1
Each September, Morecambe seafront is the stunning setting for a programme of art and culture inspired by the 20th century, from the 20s to the 90s.
With the art deco Midland Hotel providing a picture-perfect backdrop, visitors can expect fashion parades, street theatre, live music, dance lessons, classic cars, family workshops, DJs, a vintage marketplace, vintage hair and beauty tutorials, tempting street food, vintage fairground, mobile cinema and a big bike ride by the sea.
exploremorecambebay.org.uk
LANCASHIRE GAME & COUNTRY FESTIVAL
September 7-8
Now in its ninth year, the Lancashire Game & Country Festival is a wonderful two-day celebration of country sports, crafts and pursuits.
Top Lancashire chefs are lined up for cookery demonstrations featuring game, wild and local products. They include Nigel Haworth, Doug Crampton and Michael Vanheste, as well as Denise Heys ‘The Gardening Lady’, butchery demonstrations from Honeywells and, back by popular demand, Tim Procter matching his Kick Ass cheese selection with beers from Bowland Brewery.
The popular festival, Lancashire’s only dedicated game fair, takes place at Scorton Showground and, as well as the best in Lancashire arts and crafts, produce and countrywear, there is a dedicated Horse Show, competitive dog classes and the opportunity to have a go at fly fishing and clay pigeon shooting with local experts.
Tickets are available in advance at lancashiregamefestival.co.uk or on the gate on the day. Scorton Showground is 15 minutes from Junction 32 or 33 of the M6 and directly off the A6.
And we have two pairs of VIP tickets worth £120 each, to give away.
The winners will enjoy a fizz reception, followed by a gourmet lunch in the exclusive ringside VIP marquee next to the main arena, which this year will feature terrier and lurcher racing, carriage driving, falconry, gundog scurries, heavy horses and much more.
To enter visit promotions.newsquest.co.uk/lancashire
HODDER VALLEY SHOW
September 14
The Hodder Valley Show is an agricultural and horticultural celebration that can trace its history all the way back to 1864. In fact, many of those original farming families are still involved in this traditional country show.
Held on the second Saturday of September each year, it is unique in that it is hosted by farmers and landowners of Dunsop Bridge, Newton-in-Bowland and Slaidburn in turn, meaning no consecutive years are the same. All three locations offer breathtaking views of the Forest of Bowland and the show is organised entirely by local volunteers.
This year it will be held at Hallgate Hill, Newton in Bowland, showcasing a slice of rural community life with native and continental breeds of sheep and cattle, Young Farmers’ classes, young handlers, sheepdog trials, sheep shearing, vintage tractors, and an always-impressive fell race. The area’s finest food producers and craftspeople will be displaying their wares in the marquees and the horticultural tent showcases exhibits from local gardeners, bakers, floral artists and village schoolchildren.
This year, the show welcomes ‘Action Wheels Fun Zone’ which is a safe and exciting have-a-go bike adventure for children which includes balance beams, seesaws and rumble strips to navigate, with bikes and helmets provided.
Visitors will enjoy see Ridgeside Little Nippers’ fast and action-packed dog displays and get the chance to see how their own dog fares over the obstacles.
Music is provided by the much-loved Slaidburn Silver Band and, after the grand parade of winners in the main ring comes the annual egg throwing competition; a traditional finale to the show that’s only for the brave (or foolish).
Tickets: £15 or early bird options available online
September 14
hoddervalleyshow.co.uk
