2021 Prescot Festival

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.

Check in here or on Facebook and Twitter any time after 8.00am every day between Friday 18 and Sunday 27 June for the latest festival news, exclusive content and events.

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 moreVIEW 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