By Andrew Brown
We’re so lucky living in Southport – especially on a sunny weekend like this one.
As well as being a fun place for visitors, for local residents it’s the perfect location to holiday from home!
Last weekend my family and I did just that. Seeing the blue skies outside, my wife and I took our two daughters out for a walk along Southport Pier.
We enjoyed lunch at the end, enjoying the superb views looking out to sea (bonus – the sea was in!)
Afterwards, we caught the pier train back to the Promenade, where we took a ride on the historic, 19th Century Carousel.
Herbert Silcock’s Gallopers is such an iconic seaside attraction – a piece of living history that has thrilled riders for generations. My daughters didn’t want to get off at the end!
Next to the Carousel, Funland, as ever, was extremely busy, as people queued for fish and chips.
It was great to see so many bikers parked up on the Prom, riding here for a day out by the seaside.
You could hear the sounds of families making the most of all the fun to be had on the King’s Gardens playground, people were out on boats on the Marine Lake and the singers at the Marine Lake Cafe were entertaining the crowds.
This weekend it gets even better!
Southport Pleasureland opens for the 2022 season today (Saturday, 26th March). Bookings can be made through the Southport Pleasurerland website.
And this Sunday, to celebrate Mother’s Day, Mums can go free!
This weekend also sees Southport play host to a spectacular light show capturing the history of Sefton.
The Nightingale’s Song Reawakened is a triumphant series of video projection artworks taking place across Southport and Bootle, created with Illuminos, Guildhall Live Events, Lightworks, and artist Amelia Kosminsky.
The event will be FREE and will be hosted at:
The Atkinson, Southport
Sunday March 27th (shows at 8.30pm and 9pm)
Southport Market
Saturday 26th 10am – 10pm
Sunday 27th 10am – 8pm
Wednesday 30th 5:30pm – 9pm
Thursday 31st 5:30pm – 9pm
Friday April 1st 10am – 10pm
Saturday April 2nd 5:30pm – 10pm
Sunday April 3rd 10am – 8pm
The Nightingale’s Song is a tale of magic and wonder, of myths and wondrous creatures, spectacular nature, of ships and sailing, of peoples past and present and captures the history of Sefton.
The projections are anchored by following the journey of the Natterjack Toad – the endangered amphibian who lives in the Sefton dunes. Known as the Birkdale Nightingale because of its extraordinary night time song, it becomes the character we follow, symbolising the growth and transition through ever changing stages of egg, tadpole, and toad.
For this year’s spectacle, projection artists Illuminos have joined forces with Guildhall Live Events, Lightworks, and artist Amelia Kosminsky to create three distinct pieces, all thematically linked through the Song of the Nightingale.
There is more to enjoy too locally.
People can catch the latest movies at Southport Bijou Cinema in Southport town centre, which was shortlisted in the Hidden gem category in the recent Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards.
The Atkinson on Lord Street is open today.
Southport Beach, Ainsdale Beach and Ainsdale Pinewoods are always well worth a visit.
And there is more to come, too, with the Southport Model Railway Village due to reopen on 30th April.
Where is your favourite place to ‘holiday at home’ in Sunny Southport?
Please let us know! And please post your great pictures into our Stand Up For Southport Facebook group.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
