Stand Up For Southport Blog by Andrew Brown
What an incredible May Bank Holiday Weekend this has been in Southport!
The Big Top Festival, part of the Southport 2026 series of events, has proved to be a massive success, attracting many thousands of families from across the North West to roll up, roll up, for a vibrant showcase of the very best of our town.
It has been so busy, with crowds of people throughout Southport town centre wowed by breathtaking acrobatics, daring aerial displays and crazy clowning around.
Read More: Southport Flower Show offers Southport PR8 and PR9 residents blooming great savings
THIS is the Southport we all went to see.
More importantly, this is the Southport we all aspire to see on a more regular basis.
There were families everywhere, enjoying attractions, eating in cafes and restaurants, browsing in shops, staying in guest houses and hotels.
The Big Top Festival on Saturday and Sunday saw 18 performers entertain crowds across five stages across the town centre, from the Town Hall Gardens to Nevill Street to London Square to Southport Market to Market Street.
There were entertainers roaming the streets too bringing some unexpected surprises to visitors.
It encouraged people to explore Southport, to wander and discover, to return and see Southport with a fresh pair of eyes, leaving with a positive impression.
It took a very collaborative effort to make this all happen, between the likes of Sefton Council, the Liverpool City region Destination Partnership, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Southport BID, local businesses and more, with Merseyrail’s £2 offer attracting passengers to travel into Southport a massive boost.
There were more events happening too – The Atkinson hosted Zog family shows; Southport Artisan Market filled King Street; there was live music, open days and a May Day Festival in Wayfarers Arcade; a record fayre drew music lovers to Cambridge Arcade.
Elsewhere, beautiful weather saw families enjoying rides on the Carousel, games of crazy golf, tours around the Model Rail Village, boating trips on the Marine Lake, rides on the fairground, meals or drinks on outdoor tables outside cafes and restaurants, visits to the newly-opened Footy Nation and more.
There was a brilliant atmosphere in town; a real sense of happiness, people smiling, lots of laughter, a real sense of fun.
It set out a real sense of identity for Southport; this is a place where happy memories are made.
This is a town where families will be eager to come back very soon; and more often; and in greater numbers.
There are lots of reasons to come back. There is a packed line-up of major events this year for people of all ages, including Southport Food & Drink Festival, Southport Armed Forces Festival, The 154th Open Golf Championship, Southport Summer Solstice, Southport Air Show, Books Alive, Southport Comedy Festival, Southport Oktoberfest and more.
Over the coming months there will be even more reasons for visitors to make Southport their go-to destination with work starting to restore Southport Pier, plans for the Marine Lake Events Centre progressing, and some fabulous local independent attractions opening soon including Warehouse Arts Centre, Clay & Crust and others.
Have you enjoyed the Big Top Festival in Southport? Please make sure you tell all your friends – and be sure to roll up, roll up back to Sunny Southport very soon.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown or email: [email protected]
