The 2021 festival is now over – thank you to volunteers, artists and audiences who made it a memorable occasion. The 18th Annual Prescot Festival of Music & the Arts will take place from Friday 17 to Sunday 26 June 2022.
We are proud to announce the full schedule for the 17th Annual Prescot Festival of Music & the Arts. From Friday 18 to Sunday 27 June we’re bringing you 10 days of arts and music via our website and social media, with a handful of events you can attend in person, too – all in Covid-safe ways. Please note that all our events this year are free.
Friday 18 June
Introduction from the Artistic Director
A specially recorded greeting from our director, Dr Robert Howard, who founded the Prescot Festival in 2005. watch live online. WATCH NOW
Introduction from the Patron
A personal message from Professor Dr Ian Tracey, Organist Titulaire of Liverpool Cathedral, Chorusmaster to the Royal Philharmonic Society and Organist to the City Of Liverpool. READ NOW
Vintage Prescot on Film
Step back in time to see our historic Lancashire town captured on celluloid for posterity. WATCH NOW
Saturday 19 June
Prescot Heritage Trail
Courtesy of Roy Taylor and the Prescot Walking Group, a walking adventure that takes you and your friends or family (stay Covid-safe, please!) on a tour of Prescot town centre, taking in historic sites and fascinating facts. Maps will be available to download here ahead of time. Solutions to the clues will be revealed on Monday 28 June. VIEW DETAILS & DOWNLOAD MAP (& SEE ANSWERS!) NOW
Sunday 20 June
Sung Eucharist
10am Join the congregation of St Mary the Blessed Virgin for their Sunday morning service of worship, featuring music from Prescot Parish Church Choir and organist Tim Hall. Organ voluntary: Final, from Louis Vierne, First Organ Symphony. Book ahead via Eventbrite to attend in person, or participate online. Please note that Prescot Parish Church is responsible for this event. www.prescotparish.org.uk WATCH NOW
Monday 21 June
School Art Display
Pupils of Bluebell Park School in Kirkby showcase their creative and artistic talents. WATCH NOW
Tuesday 22 June
Cultural Talk
Creative director Laura Collier talks about the new Shakespeare North Playhouse, plus Q&A with interim CEO Ian Tabbron. WATCH NOW
Wednesday 23 June
Community Art Display
A virtual art exhibition – and you’re invited to take part. Click here to find out how to submit photos of your paintings, sketches, sculptures and more. VIEW GALLERY NOW
Thursday 24 June
The Self Isolation Orchestra: Rachmaninoff & Strauss
Missing orchestral music? We recommend tuning in for the Self Isolation Orchestra‘s performance of the Adagio from Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 and Richard Strauss’s spectacular Also sprach Zarathustra. (Plus, if you’re missing the Prescot Festival Come & Sing, find out how you can take part in the Self Isolation Choir.) Please note that as these are recommendations for non-festival-organised events, there may be a charge. Please follow the links for all information as it is updated. WATCH NOW
Friday 25 June
Liverpool Cathedral Festival of Music
Young instrumentalists from across Merseyside participate in the cathedral’s Festival of Music, performing in two (non-competitive) sections: Grades 1-4 and Grades 5-8. Introduced by the Reverend Canon Philip Anderson, the former Curate of Prescot, presented by Stephen Mannings, with judges including conductor James Luxton (Prescot Festival Chorus) and our own Dr Robert Howard. WATCH NOW
Saturday 26 June
Prescot Prayer Journey
Courtesy of the Revd Kim Mannings of Prescot Parish Church, take part in a ‘Prayer Journey’ through the town. Download the trail as a PDF here, and follow the walk at your own leisure. FIND OUT MORE NOW
Prescot Festival Short Story Competition
We will declare the winner of the 2021 Prescot Festival Short Story Competition and publish the winning tale online. READ NOW
Sunday 27 June
Sung Eucharist
10am Join the congregation of St Mary the Blessed Virgin for their Sunday morning service of worship, featuring music from Prescot Parish Church Choir and organist Tim Hall. Motet during Communion: Robert A Howard, Ave verum corpus. Organ voluntary: Alexandre Guilmant, Finale, from First Organ Sonata. Book ahead via Eventbrite to attend in person, or participate online. Please note that Prescot Parish Church is responsible for this event. www.prescotparish.org.uk
Farewell from the Artistic Director
Dr Robert Howard draws the 2021 proceedings to a close in a personal video message to Prescot Festival artists, sponsors, volunteers and audiences. WATCH NOW