Preston's festival guide - spring and summer 2024

Your ultimate guide to Preston's summer music and culture festivals

This spring and summer will see a sizzling line up of festivals taking place across the city offering a wide mix of arts, culture and music events, which are sure to keep you entertained right through to September.

Kicking off with the Preston Bank Holiday Weekender on Saturday 4 May, the city centre will see the Flag Market transformed into a club arena for the Ministry of Sound takeover with more music from class acts the following day. Here on, expect rolling festival vibes with back-to-back festivities taking place throughout the summer period. From RockPrest, the UK's largest tribute festival, to the legendary Glastonferret, now in its 17th year, expect top notch bands and plenty of fun.

Preston Bank Holiday Weekender - event has now passed

Dates/times - Saturday 4 May - Sunday 5 May 2024
Location - Flag Market
Cost - £15 - £18

The Flag Market will transform into a club arena to host 'Ministry of Sound: Takeover' on Saturday 4 May, as the brand takes over Preston for this headline event! With Hacienda hero 'Graeme Park' taking to the decks,  joined by hit-makers and production pioneers, the 'Freemasons', alongside Amanda Wilson, expect top class tunes and dancers with some of the biggest selling acts of the 90s and 00s performing their worldwide hits live.

Sunday will see another packed day of music from a host of class acts for Sunday on the Square. 'From The Jam', will join 'Buzzcocks' and 'Space' in headlining the event. 

One Park Living Legends - event has now passed

Dates/times - Saturday 25 May 2024 (12 - 9pm)
Location - Moor Park
Cost - £5 - £15

Preston Caribbean Carnival are back once again in Moor Park with their "One Park" Living Legends music stage show bringing together some of the best reggae artists and sound systems around for an experience you won't want to miss. There will be stalls, games and activities for all the family!

Market Street Block Party - event has now passed

Date/times - Saturday 8 June 2024 (from 12 noon)
Location - Chew's Yard, Lost Bar & Pizzeria and Chain House Brewing Co. & Taproom
Cost - Free

Come and celebrate the newest social area in Preston, Market Street West. Jazzin' the Park has brought together some of Preston's finest for a very special event across 3 venues: Chew's Yard, Lost Bar & Pizzeria and Chain House Brewing Co. & Taproom. Expect great music, food, cinema, live performances, DJs, top vibes and beautiful settings.

Windrush Festival 76 2024 - event has now passed

Dates/times - Sunday 23 June 2024 (12 - 8pm)
Location - Avenham and Miller Parks
Cost - free

The Windrush Festival, hosted by the Windrush Initiatives, has been taking place in Preston for the past 10 years to mark the arrival of the first 492 passengers of Empire Windrush that left Jamaica on May 24 1948 and arrived at Tilbury, Essex on June 22, 1948.

As always, there will be plenty of singers, dancers, Caribbean food and great vibes.

RockPrest 2024 - event has now passed

Dates/times - Saturday 29 June - Sunday 30 June 2024
Location - Moor Park
Cost - £8 - £23

The UK's largest tribute act festival is back for a fantastic 10th Anniversary.

Now in its tenth year, Rockprest will bring three stages of outstanding tribute acts to Moor Park, Preston.

Enjoy fairground rides, food, drink, and, of course, your favourite rock songs performed by outstanding tribute acts!

For more information and how to book see RockPrest 2024.

Hopfest 2024 - Hoppers Beer, Gin and Music Festival - event has now passed

Dates/times - Friday 12 July - Saturday 13 July 2024 (12noon - 11pm)
Location -  Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club
Cost - £8

Head along to Hopfest 2024 - Preston Grasshopper's Beer Festival featuring Live Music, 3 Bars, Cask Ale, Craft Beer and Cider, a Prosecco and Gin Bar, Great Food and Touch Rugby.

For more information see Hopfest 2024 - Hoppers Beer, Gin and Music Festival.

The Lancashire Festival 2024 - event has now passed

Dates/times - Saturday 27 July 2024 (11am - 9pm)
Location - Avenham and Miller Parks
Cost - £2.50

Come along and celebrate Lancashire's cultural heritage featuring fantastic live performances, art exhibitions and foodie delights from a wide mix of local talent.

A great opportunity to connect with fellow county lovers, support local artists and enjoy a creative, fun filled day out.

For more information and how to book see The Lancashire Festival 2024.

Glastonferret 2024 - event has now passed

Dates - Thursday 22 August - Monday 26 August 2024
Location - The Ferret
Cost - various 

Back for it's 17th year, Glastonferret is set to be bigger and better than ever. Expect an epic four days of mega live music acts, guest craft ales, cider and summer drinks on tap, fantastic festival food vendors, DJ sessions and crafty stalls. On top of this, there will be real grass and hay bales installed throughout the venue bringing those outside festival vibes indoors creating a great atmosphere alongside class performances.

For more information and how to book see Glastonferret.

Radio 2 in the Park

Dates - Saturday 7 September - Sunday 8 September 2024
Location - Moor Park

Radio 2's flagship annual live music event, Radio 2 in the Park, will be taking over Moor Park this September for two days of sensational music from some of the most loved pop acts on the planet - a weekend most definitely not to be missed.

The full artist line-up will be revealed in early June, and tickets will go on sale shortly after.

For more information visit BBC - Radio 2 in the Park.

Encounter Festival

Dates - Saturday 21 September - Sunday 22 September 
Location - various city centre locations
Cost - free

This year the Encounter Festival gives you free outdoor theatre shows, games, and live music at various locations around Preston City Centre, local heroes on the Community and Traditions Stage outside the Guild Hall and as always, the signature Torchlight Procession will bring music and dancing through the streets and into the city centre.

For more information see Encounter Festival 2024.

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Map address for forthcoming festivals

Moor Park, Moor Park Avenue, Preston, PR1 6AS
Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club, Lightfoot Green Lane, Preston, PR4 0AP
The Ferret, 55 Fylde Road, Preston, PR1 2XQ
Avenham and Miller Parks, South Meadow Lane, Preston, PR1 8JP