Liverpool has not arranged a quiet weekend.
The city centre is preparing for one of its busiest Saturdays of the summer as thousands gather for the Liverpool Pride march. The night before, the Sugababes, Beth Ditto, Bimini and Horse Meat Disco take over the waterfront for the official opening party.
Elsewhere, the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival reaches its final weekend, Moulin Rouge! The Musical continues at the Empire, and the Minton tile floor at St George's Hall is uncovered for a rare summer opening. There's also free dockside dancing, live comedy, and a five-hour family celebration inside Sefton Park Palm House.
The weekend at a glance
| Day | Main picks |
|---|---|
| Friday 24 July | Pride Opening Party, Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary, Paul Smith |
| Saturday 25 July | Pride March, Sonic Yootha dock party, Moulin Rouge, Arab Arts Festival |
| Sunday 26 July | LAAF Family Day, Minton Tiles reveal, Crissy Rock and free comedy |
Friday 24 July
Liverpool's Pride Opening Party
Pride weekend begins with a full arena show at the M&S Bank Arena on the waterfront. The Sugababes lead the bill, joined by Beth Ditto, Bimini, Tia Kofi, Horse Meat Disco and House Gospel Choir, plus Liverpool performers Tyler DaClaire, Pam Sandwich and Debbie Darling. It's one of the biggest ticketed Pride events the city has hosted, so the standing floor is likely to be busy; seated tickets are the calmer option.
The Sahir House Pride weekend guide has the wider programme if you want to plan the whole weekend at once.
Tamsin Elliott and Tarek Elazhary
For live music without the arena queues, British multi-instrumentalist Tamsin Elliott and Egyptian oud player Tarek Elazhary play the UK premiere of tracks from their second album, Letters to a Burning World. The performance runs from 20:00 to around 22:00.
The pair blend English folk with Egyptian Maqam music, joined for this show by Rowan Elliott and the Ensemble of St Luke's, founded by members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. It's part of the closing weekend of the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, and one of the more musically interesting bookings in the city this weekend.
Paul Smith: Happy
Liverpool comedian Paul Smith brings his new Happy tour to Blackstock Market. Show starts 19:30, finishing around 21:45, with limited availability at the time of writing.
Smith built his reputation on fast crowd work, so the new show mixes audience interaction with stories about finding happiness amid everyday chaos. Sit near the front only if you're prepared to be part of the material.
Saturday 25 July
Liverpool's Pride March
Saturday's main event is the Liverpool Pride march. People start gathering at Clayton Square and Houghton Street from 10:00, with speeches from the St John's Beacon balcony at 11:00 and the march setting off at 11:30. The route runs 1.7km through Clayton Square, Church Street, Williamson Square and Whitechapel, into Liverpool ONE via Peter's Lane and Paradise Street, finishing on Lord Street around 12:30.
This year's march is walking-only, with no vehicles or floats. Anyone can attend, watch or join without registering, and an alternative accessible route is available for anyone who'd find the crowds or narrower sections of the main route difficult. Expect Church Street, Whitechapel and Liverpool ONE to be considerably busier than a normal Saturday.
Sonic Yootha Pride Day Party
Once the march finishes, the Royal Albert Dock hosts a free outdoor Pride party in the Anchor Courtyard, with DJs from Liverpool club collective Sonic Yootha playing pop, disco and dance. No ticket needed, but space is limited and it's likely to fill up quickly after the march.
Liverpool Pride Community Programme
Pride continues at the Liverpool Experience Campus on the waterfront. The community programme is hosted by Debbie Darling, with LGBTQ+ performers, traders and community groups, including House of Suarez, Sonia and Jester Boy. This runs separately from the march, so check the ticket requirements before heading down.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
For a Saturday night with rather more sequins, Moulin Rouge! The Musical continues at the Liverpool Empire. The stage show turns Baz Luhrmann's film into a full musical with matinee and evening performances most Saturdays, though availability can move quickly. The Empire sits directly opposite Lime Street station.
Simona Abdallah at Rough Trade
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival's Saturday programme runs at Rough Trade. In the afternoon, percussionist Simona Abdallah talks about establishing herself as a darbuka player and the pressures she faced, including attempts by family members to force her into marriage, in In Conversation with Simona Abdallah.
In the evening, Abdallah is joined by Palestinian producer and DJ Hiba Salameh and Jordanian sound artist Yasmeen Soudani (performing as MUSYS) for Rhythms and Mixes, mixing darbuka rhythms with experimental electronica.
Triple Headline Show
Hot Water Comedy Club at Blackstock Market runs its usual Saturday format of a compere plus several headline acts. Show starts 19:00, finishing around 21:00. The line-up can change week to week.