Southport reveals year of cultural events to entice tourists after attack | Merseyside
Southport has unveiled an “elegant and eccentric” year-round cultural program aimed at luring tourists back after last summer’s deadly attack on teenage girls.
The Merseyside town will be transformed into an “open-air ballroom” as part of a spring outdoor show by renowned French street theater company Transe Express.
Other events include a specially designed immersive light and sound installation in February, a major circus festival in May, the British Musical Fireworks Championships and a literary festival in October.
This year-round extravaganza was planned to draw back visitors and boost the town’s economy following the murder of three teenage girls at a Taylor Swift dance workshop on July 29, 2024.
Sefton council’s Labor leader, Marion Atkinson, said those affected by the attack wanted to ensure Southport, a town heavily dependent on summer tourism, was not damaged.
“There will always be a memory of what happened, but we can’t let it define us,” he said earlier this year.
The Southport 2026: Elegantly Eccentric program is being launched alongside a modern recreation of Fortunino Matania’s 1936 painting Southport for Holiday in Wintertime, featuring local business owners.
Southport MP Patrick Hurley said: “Southport has always stood out in the north of England for its elegant charm and character. The Elegantly Eccentric vision perfectly captures this spirit and updates it for the 2020s.”
“After experiencing a decline over the last few decades, Southport is now firmly on the rise again. The cultural vision for 2026 and beyond will be about celebrating creativity, promise and the pride we all share in our town’s unique identity.”
“I’m proud to support Southport 2026 and the people who are making this bold, beautiful idea a reality, and I’m determined to ensure Southport’s brightest days are ahead of it.”
For more than two centuries, Southport has welcomed a wide variety of visitors, from Napoleon III to Judy Garland to day trippers. Victorians enjoyed camel races on the beach, elephants parading down Lord Street, the town’s main street, and street performers diving from the now-closed pier.
Claire McColgan CBE, deputy director of culture for Liverpool city region, said next year’s cultural program would be based on the town’s “rich history”. “This has been the epicenter of fun and entertainment for generations and now we want visitors from near and far to come and rediscover what this jewel on the coast has to offer,” he said.
According to Sefton council, events will kick off in February with an immersive light and sound installation by international artist Lucid Creates that will “transform the town into a rainbow of color and creativity”.
In April, Transe Ekspres will open the magnificent open-air Cristal Palace with its 15-meter wide flying chandelier, live music, air show and dancing.
Next month will see the town host circus acts, including Circa and Gandini Juggling, ahead of a summer full of food and drink festivals, flower shows, air shows and the British Musical Fireworks Championships.
Then in October, the program will pivot to reading with a “reimagined literary festival” for families and young readers. Southport will be filled with storytelling installations, live performances and author-led workshops throughout the half-term break.
