Queen Elizabeth AND Queen Mary Sail Into Mersey

THE battle may be on between Liverpool and Southampton over the Mersey's bid to get a slice of the cruise liner action, but in the meantime, Liverpool shows off what it can do with a river as two of the biggest Queens in cruising history call in to port. 

Beverley KnightNo, not the Pride Festival again, but the Mersey River Festival, back as part of the third On the Waterfront bonanza, taking place from the 8 – 15 September. 

The full, impressive line up has just been revealed, kicking off in majestic style with the inaugural visit to the city from the new Queen Elizabeth 3 on September 8. 

And to end the festival, we have no less than the largest transatlantic ocean liner in the world, Queen Mary 2, which will sail into Liverpool’s cruise liner terminal for the day on Thursday September 15.   

Fireworks for both Cunard vessels would seem mandatory. 

In between, MOBO award winner Beverley Knight gives a free outdoor concert at the Pier Head on Saturday 10 September and over that weekend 11 tall ships, including The Phoenix which was featured in an episode of Dr Who, will give visitors the opportunity to experience life on the ocean wave. 

'The Reflection on the Waterfront event
attracted tens of thousands of people
to the Pier Head and I’m sure we’ll see
just as many people out celebrating
the return of this much-loved festival'

The rest of the waterfront will bustle with aerobatic displays, street theatre, a bistro village and rustic farmers market. Swing and jazz will belt out from the Big Band stage – all adding to the atmosphere across the Albert Dock, Pier Head and the Cruise Liner Terminal. 

Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “The Mersey River Festival was always hugely popular, and attracted hundreds of thousands of people every year.  

“Since the last festival took place in 2005, our waterfront has been transformed and is now looking more majestic than ever and the river festival will be a great occasion to showcase it to visitors from all over the world. 

Ship Ahoy“In July, the opening of the Museum of Liverpool and the Reflection on the Waterfront event attracted tens of thousands of people to the Pier Head and I’m sure we’ll see just as many people out celebrating the return of this much-loved festival.”  

The new look festival will also host the finale of the P1 SuperStock Championships. The Race to Liverpool will take place on 10 and 11 September and will see brand new racing boats hitting the River Mersey. 

Other watersports on offer include wakeboarding, canoeing and the historical diving club will giving in depth demonstrations of diving equipment throughout the ages. Other nautical surprises include performances from the sea shanty singing Pirates of Menspants, the Bathing Belles Betty and Flo and an illuminated lobster, it says here.

They couldn't resist a bit of Beatles either. On Sunday 11 September there's the Mersey Beatles tribute band, Made in Liverpool. Sunday will also see performances from Liverpool Shanty Kings and the 70 strong Liverpool Community Choir, who will be entertaining audiences with songs from the 1920s up to the present day. 

To see the full programme, visit here