Published on 22nd February 2024.
Concerts, Events, and Food Festivals in 2024
When it comes to amazing places to visit, Cheshire is a dream destination. Naturally stunning, it’s home to some of the most breathtaking National Trust properties in the UK. It is also steeped in history, with gorgeous cathedrals, ancient city walls, and a wealth of historic attractions. As if the countryside and heritage were not enough, Cheshire is also home to quirky museums, cultural events, and Michelin-starred dining. If you’re like most people, though, you probably want to visit Cheshire for the festivals. From music to motorcycles, food and drink to pride, female empowerment to hot air balloons, Cheshire Festivals have something for everyone and just about every interest. That is why we offer this month-by-month calendar to some of the most exciting festivals Cheshire has to offer.
Cheshire Events & Festivals in 2024
- March 1-3- Manchester Song Festival
Jazz singer Cleveland Watkiss kickstarts this festival, which features three headliners and an opportunity for local singers to participate and learn from professionals. Classical tenor Mark Padmore performs the works of 20th century British composers, and the festival will close with a performance from Korean opera star Hera Hyesang Park.
- March 28-April 1- Nantwich Jazz, Blues, and Music Festival
More than 25 years ago, this festival was started by the late Phillip Martin, the proprietor of the Crown Hotel. The beauty of the Nantwich Jazz festival is that it has been instrumental in providing opportunities not just for well-known bands to take the stage, but also local artists. The town of Nantwich becomes a dance floor, and a good time is had by all!
- April 13-14- Cheshire Food Festival
This exciting culinary event, held at Walton Hall and Gardens, is a foodie paradise, showcasing the best of regional and local food and drink. With refurbished riding stables housing numerous food producers, delicious hot food and many other stalls situated around the park and in front of the hall, the event offers a wide range of cuisines, from traditional British to international dishes. Attendees will not only get to enjoy the delectable offerings presented here, but they can also attend cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs, and enjoy live music performances throughout the day.
- May 26-27- Cheshire Classic Car & Motorcycle Show
This fun, family-friendly event will be held at Capesthorne Hall, a stunning location in Macclesfield. In this perfect setting, a fantastic vehicle display will feature more than 400 vintage, classic, and modern classic vehicles on display, along with trade, autojumble, and retail stands, and a full vehicle concourse overseen by an experienced commentator. There will also be food, drink, ice cream, and a responsible bar, as well as access to the gorgeous venue.
- June 13-16- Forest Live
Managed by Forestry England, the Forest Live series is an outdoor live music series with spectacular forest backdrops, a relaxed atmosphere, and the opportunity to raise money to plant and protect trees and conserve wildlife habitats. The Cheshire concert is held in Delamere Forest, and this year’s acts include Sting, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Becky Hill.
- June 18-19- Royal Cheshire County Show
What could be more fun than the Royal Cheshire County Show? Competitions, attractions, animals, and some of the best food and shopping in Cheshire makes this an amazing family outing, celebrating the Cheshire countryside. The Horse Show, Sheep Show, Food Hall, and Food Live Theatre are always popular, and, in all, the show will feature over 3,000 beautiful animals. There’s also the Cheshire Farmers’ Market and attractions that include the Knights of Nottingham, the Red Dragon Monster Truck Ride, the Pony Club Mounted Games, the Agri Centre, the Food Village, and the Makers Market, with many more attractions to be announced at a later date.
- June 22- Daresbury Festival
On the grounds of Walton Hall and Gardens, this boutique festival brings house, disco, and happiness to Cheshire. This year’s line-up features artists including Soul II Soul, Craig Charles, Greg Wilson, K-Klass featuring Bobbi, Allister Whitehead, and Rowetta. In the VIP area, visitors can relax with premium amenities and a private bar.
- June 29- Classic Ibiza
An open-air celebration of White Isle-inspired house music, this event is headlined by the 32-piece Urban Soul Orchestra (USO), known for working alongside dance music stars like Groove Armada, Robert Miles, and Nightmares on Wax. Upon arrival attendees can select a dedicated picnic square, of the many marked out across the site, as a private space to set up until its time to hit the dance circle. These spaces can be set up with tables, chairs, picnics, inflatables, and people are welcome to bring their own food and drink or visit the bar and the array of street food vendors. A diverse crowd will be in attendance, in a feel-good, family-friendly atmosphere, at a venue that is a historical estate with a neo-classical mansion, 50 acres of landscaped gardens, 1000 acres of deer park, a medieval Old Hall, and more.
- July 5-7- Brit Fest Cheshire
This celebration of British culture features the arts, fashion, food, drink, classic cars, and a line-up of homegrown artists, in a location with more than 100 acres of family fun. The array of impressive artists includes Scouting for Girls, Bonnie Tyler, T’Pau, Heather Small, Paul Young, and many, many more. Attendees can also enjoy a vintage fairground, artisan market, woodcraft and whittling, white knuckle rides, and so much more to explore and enjoy.
- July 6-7- Womanifest
Hosted at Cherry Orchard Farm in Oakmere, Cheshire, this 2-day empowerment and wellbeing festival for women and teen girls brings together like-minded women in an event designed to help women live happy, fulfilling, and successful lives. With educational and inspiring talks, workshops, activities, shopping, food and drink, pamper treatments, and entertainment, designed to inspire the next generation of young women. Come to Womanifest to experience everything from silent discos to walking on coals or broken glass, as well as performances by comedians, singers, dancers, yoga and meditation sessions, and much more.
- July 12-14- Foodies Festival
As if Gastro Glasto’s mouth-watering summer selection of fine food and drinks, showcasing small-batch producers and local breweries wasn’t enough of a draw, the Foodies Festival also offers much more. MasterChef champions, Michelin-starred chefs, top local farmers, makers, and shakers will be in attendance, and attendees can also enjoy a music stage featuring live music with Example, Blue, and Sister Sledge, as well as family entertainment, and a vast array of stalls. Expert bakers will teach you how to make show-stopping cakes, Great British Bake Off stars will share hints and tips, or you can attend the Cook School with Celebrity Chef Nigel Brown. On the other hand, if you are not attending a festival to be educated, you can hang around having fun, sampling new wines, champagnes, and cocktails, and eating delicious street food from all over the globe.
- July 20- Macclesfield Festival
Regarded as Cheshire’s number one family-friendly festival, this event is curated by local residents, for local residents. Established in 2017, this festival has something for everyone, with big names in music and the best of local talent rocking the main stage, a kids’ stage with outstanding kids’ performers, and much more. The Kids Zone has super hero shows, princess shows, dinosaurs, pony rides, stilt walkers, inflatables, facepainting, a giant funfair packed with rides, and much, much more. The dance tents are a highlight of the festival, and our food court features cuisine from around the world. VIP tickets afford holders a luxury experience, and the evening wraps up with a fireworks finale.
- August 16-18- Just So Festival
Are you ready to take your family on a quirky outdoor adventure in an amazing atmosphere of mischief, mayhem, and magical moments? This unique expedition through lands of curious creatures, hidden retreats, woodland stories, and surprises delivers a family adventure you will never forget. It is a music festival and much more, with worldclass literature, arts, theatre, dance, comedy, and creative pursuits. It is also a weekend of enchanting stories told around a campfire, creative workshops, midnight feasts, top-notch food and drink, and boutique camping.
- August 17- Chester Pride
In this joyful celebration of diversity, the city of Chester welcomes a host of free entertainment, in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Original music, acoustic singers on the busking stage, and more, draw crowds to Castle Square, with a focus on creating a world that is fully inclusive of LGBTQ+ people, and a society that treats LGBTQ+ people with dignity, safety, and respect.
- August 30-September 1- Nantwich Food and Drink Festival
One of the UK’s largest free-to-enter food festivals, this three day event brings together the best of talent and produce. Unmissable live cooking demonstrations by local heroes and celebrity chefs, two live music stages with an eclectic music line-up, children’s activities, food stalls, and varied entertainment come together to ensure a good time is had by all.
Where Can I Stay During These Festivals?
If you are looking for accommodation in Cheshire so that you can attend some of these amazing festivals and Cheshire events, Together Travel has some incredible options available. If you are heading to Foodies Festival, the Macclesfield Festival, the Just So Festival, or the Royal Cheshire County Show, we can put you up at The Hayloft or The Hoglets. The Hayloft is a bijou bolt-hole for two, featuring modern amenities in a cosy, rustic setting, just two miles from Holmes Chapel and only five miles from the vibrant market town of Knutsford. The Hayloft is nearby, a contemporary barn conversion with a calm and relaxing ambiance, beautifully furnished to provide all the comforts you would expect from a luxury cottage retreat. Heading to the Cheshire Classic Car & Motorcycle Show? You will only be ten minutes away from our Tattenhall Marina accommodations. Here, we offer luxury floating pods on the marina, with glass fronts offering a beautiful view of Peckforton Castle. Each pod holds a contemporary double bedroom, living area with sofa bed, bathroom, and kitchenette. In addition to providing easy access to Knutsford, Tattenhall is also just a short drive from Nantwich and Cheshire, with their multiple festivals, Oakmere with its Womanifest Festival, and the Forest Live concerts in Delamere Forest.
No matter the festival or event, whenever you are traveling in the UK, Together Travel Co. is here to bring your holiday dreams to life. All across the UK, we have luxurious, comfortable, unique properties located wherever you want to be. When you are ready to book a trip to enjoy some of the events in Cheshire in 2024, find out how we can make your trip amazing by contacting our expert concierge team at +44(0)1625 416430 or emailing us for more information.