Things to do this summer in Liverpool

We'll be updating this round-up of the best events in Liverpool and beyond throughout the summer; if you have an event you want to tell us about, or think we've overlooked something, drop us a line at jess@theskinny.co.uk.

Liverpool Pride

Time to face up to the facts of this year and accept that fully-fledged equality is nowhere near where it should be, as Liverpool Pride returns to celebrate the city’s LGBT community. The seventh annual festival will be themed on Liverpool icons, with the core ‘Big Day’ on 30 Jul alongside a programme of films, exhibitions, theatre and more to support it in the weeks that precede it. 30-31 Jul, St George’s Hall and St John's Gardens, times and prices vary

Witch Beach: QOTT Summer Goth Party

Queen of the Track Zine presents their summer goth party, Witch Beach – because, y’know, ‘freaks do summer too’. Tash_LC from London ’s Boko! Boko! club nights will play us everything from Afrohouse to Kwaito through to Gqom (don't worry, we had to Google that too), along with QOTT’s own Faux Queens and Alec Tronik. 29 Jul, 24 Kitchen Street,10pm, £3-£5

As You Like it

MATE Productions are on open air theatre duty this summer with Shakespearian comedy As You Like it, packing the play with original live music, country dancing and stunning design for a family-friendly performance in the woods. 29-31 Jul, Prescot Parish Church woodland garden, times vary, £8

[Morning Gloryville, photo: Mark McNulty]

Liverpool Loves

Celebrating the best of the Liverpool’s cultural heritage, food and drink scene and the many local businesses that the city what it is, the positive-minded Liverpool Loves returns this summer with a programme of business, culture, food and wellbeing events. Expect lots of live music on the main stage with BBC Merseyside, booze from mobile bar bods Boston Shakers, a 'Punks for Peace' themed Morning Gloryville and much, much more. 4-6 Aug, Pier Head, 9am, free

Grrrl Power Liverpool

A two-day event showcasing women’s creativity, Grrrl Power Liverpool launch their first group exhibition by artists including Becky Currie, Elizabeth Brownsword, Faux Queens (Hannah Bitowski and Amy Brew), Freya Momomoses and many more on Sat 7, which is followed by a day of workshops, screen printing and a ‘Burn Your BraBQ’. 5 & 7 Aug, Constellations, times vary, £4-£8 (BraBQ free)

[Botanical Garden]

Jolt x Hustle present Mark Farina

Mushroom Jazz legend Mark Farina returns to town this summer for a whopping 17-hour party, playing at the Botanical Garden throughout the afternoon for a summery daytime session (be sure to grab a cubano sandwich from the Finca crew to keep you going), before moving onto 24 Kitchen Street as the night draws in. Support comes from Jimmy Allen, James Morgan, Andy Ash and Lewin, with more yet to be announced. 6 Aug, Botanical Garden, 12pm; 24 Kitchen Street, 11pm, £15

[Speke Hall, photo: Glen Bowman]

Gulliver's Travels

Over at Speke Hall it's time to embrace the outdoor potential that summer brings with Gulliver's Travels, a family-friendly adventure through fantastical kingdoms brought to you by The Pantaloons. 11 Aug, Speke Hall, 7pm, £14

Much Ado About Nothing

Knowsley Hall and Rufford Old Hall also become the setting for some seasonal outdoor theatre, as The Lord Chamberlain's Men present a touring all-male production of Shakespeare's battle-of-the-sexes comedy, Much Ado About Nothing – tying in nicely with the 400th anniversary year of the Bard's death. 11 Aug, Knowsley Hall, 7.30pm, £11; 23 Aug, Rufford Old Hall, 6pm, £14.50

Southport Flower Show

Southport Flower Show returns this summer with a Meditteranean theme, which sees green-fingered professionals and amateurs inject a little Spanish flair and the je ne sais quois of the South of France into their displys. Celeb appearances include Mr Bloom (gardening whizz of the kids' TV realm, for the uninitiated), The One Show's Christine Walkden, BBC Gardeners' World's Joe Swift, telly chef Ainsley Harriot and others, while the show will also feature its own food festival on site. Not just one for mums. 18-21 Aug, Victoria Park, Southport, 10am, £19-£55

Bank Holiday Punk Weekender

Summer brings the welcome return of a bank holiday weekend, after we were bombarded with them back in May (not that we’re complaining, of course). At Maguire’s this also means the return of their annual Bank Holiday Punk Weekender, promising three days of punk, ska and hardcore goodness from the likes of Down & Outs, Epic Problem, Ohmns, Flat Back Four, Pardon Us, Queen Zee and The Sasstones, Rash Decision and Franceens. 26-28 Aug, Maguire’s Pizza Bar, 6pm, £16

Folk Festival on the Dock

Liverpool-born BBC Radio 2 DJ Janice Long will host the main stage of Folk Festival on the Dock, a weekend of live acoustic folk, sea shanty and roots music from the likes of The Lost Brothers, Laura J Martin and Blair Dunlop, along with ticketed events elsewhere in the city from The Christians, Henry Priestman and Sam Winston. 26-29 Aug, Albert Dock, times vary, free

[Photo: Brandon Leon]

Summer at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks

If you're out in Cheshire, you'll be able to break up your shopping with free family-friendly summer activities at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks, which will be transformed with a pop-up bar, BBQ and children's games to go alongside a programme featuring children's activities, a Nike sports day, live music and more. Browse what's on here. Until 4 Sep, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks, free

Food and drink events

And because summer to many means getting pissed on Pimms and firing up the BBQ, we've also rounded up the best food and drink events in Liverpool this summer - from celebrations of gin and whisky to the mammoth Liverpool Food and Drink Festival. We've also done a guide for Manchester and Leeds and Yorkshire too, if you're in the area.