The Best Festivals in Lancashire

From huge 80s throwback bashes to multi-genre bonanzas like Highest Point, there are some brill fests in Lancashire. Here are the very best...

Skiddle Staff

Last updated: 19th Feb 2024

From quaint Northern villages to the seaside madness of Blackpool to raves deep in the Lancastrian woodland; there's a wide variety of atmospheres to choose from in Lancashire. The one thing you can count on though is that every one of these festivals will be set in one of the multitudes of gorgeous outdoor spaces, meaning that you can both appreciate the county's beauty, and party to all the musical talent that comes to play in it.

If a party's what you want, a party is what you shall receive. If kicking back with a pint is more your scene, there's plenty of opportunity for that too. Or, if you're more the type to go head-first into a moshpit and ask questions later, then they'll be something for you to charge into as well.

Lancashire is an oft under-appreciated area for UK Festivals, and we don't like that, so we've put together our list of the very best festivals the Northwestern county has on offer. Scroll down and check them out!

(Click on the headers or images for FAQs and more information about each festival, and make sure to secure tickets in the boxes below each event.)

Highest Point Festival

2024 Lineup: Busted, Tom Odell, Cat Burns, Sam Ryder, Caity Baser, Gok Wan, Peat & Diesel and more

When: Friday 10th - Saturday 11th May 2023

Where: Williamson Park in Lancaster

Lancaster's number one open-air live music event, Highest Point has confirmed its return to the city's majestic Williamson Park next summer. Taking over the magnificent grounds of the hilltop park once more, providing four days of amazing wall-to-wall entertainment, the festival will welcome a score of fantastic performances from their yet-to-be-announced lineup.

Tickets for this instalment of the Lancastrian musical extravaganza are already in high demand. Secure yours now in the box below to avoid bitter disappointment.

Find tickets, FAQs, and more information on Highest Point Festival 2024 - HERE

Lytham Festival

2024 Lineup: Hozier, Shania Twain, Rag N' Bone Man, Courteeners, The Kooks, Madness, Rick Astley, Lightning Seeds, James, Johnny Marr, and more

When: Lytham Green, Lytham St Anne's, Lancashire

When: Select days on Wednesday 3rd - Sunday 7th July 2024

Before you get too excited, this, unfortunately, isn’t one massive festival. Lytham Festival is broken down into multiple parts, with it being more like a series of day festivals than one giant fest. Sorry to kill your dreams.

But still, the lineup is looking glorious. There are some seriously epic acts on there, such as the absolute pop icon that is Shania Twain; modern indie legends like Courteeners and The Kooks on the same night; 90s icons like James (who are doing an exclusive UK performance with an orchestra) and Johnny Marr; With even more huge names like Hozier, MAdness, and Rick Astley playing across other days.

It's arguably got the biggest lineups in the whole of Lancashire. Grab your tickets to your preferred date (or to a few of them) now!

Find more information on Lytham Festival - HERE

Retro In The Park

2024 Lineup: TBA

When: Towneley Park in Burnley, Lancashire

When: TBC

Step back in time and relive the music of yesteryear at Retro in the Park 2023! The ultimate Lancashire summer nostalgia trip is back and it's bigger and better than ever before. With a lineup like this one, the weekend is bound to be an unforgettable day of classic hits, dancing, and good vibes in the heart of Towneley Park in Burnley.

Last year's lineup featured some of the biggest names in old-school dance music, including legendary acts like Rodger Sanchez, Todd Terry, Judge Jules, Graeme Park, K-Klass, Lovely Laura & Ben Santiago, Peter Heller, and more; so we're sure 2024 is going to deliver ten-fold.

If you think modern lineups lack the calibre of those of your youth, then this is the festival for you!

Find tickets and more information on Retro In The Park - HERE

Rebellion Festival

2024 Lineup: The Stranglers, Cock Sparrer, Stiff Little Fingers, Sham 69, Cockney Rejects, Tom Robinson Band, and more

When: Winter Gardens in Blackpool, Lancashire

When: Thursday 1st - Sunday 4th August 2024

The UK’s largest independent punk music festival is back with a pretty damn impressive lineup. We have some essential punk heroes including The Stranglers, Cock Sparrer, Stiff Little Fingers, and Sham 69. But some smaller bands are making serious waves in the scene and punching up to these bigger names in true punk style. With a lineup like this we are sure crowds will be leaving with some fondly remembered bruises.

It’s gonna be crazy, and we do not want you to miss out on a thing. Get them tickets soldier and charge head first into the no-man's-land-esque moshpits that are bound to arise.

Find more information on Rebellion Festival - HERE

Save The Rave: Outdoor 90s Festival

2024 Lineup: TBA

When: Victoria Park in Southport, Lancashire

When: TBC

Get ready to experience a blast from the past with Save The Rave: Outdoor 90s Festival 2024! This festival is the ultimate celebration of all things the 90s, from the music to the fashion and everything in between. Transporting you and your pals back in time to relive the golden era of dance music with the biggest and best acts from the 90s, dancing the day away to classic tracks from the likes of Ultrabeat, Phats & Small, Dave Pearce, K-Klass, Angie Brown, and many more.

The stunning grounds of Victoria Park in Southport are the perfect setting to relive those nostalgic memories and create new ones with friends old and new. So, don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the ultimate 90s festival. Get your tickets now and prepare for a day of pure nostalgia and raving like it's 1999!

Find tickets and more information on the Outdoor 90s Festival - HERE

Restricted Forest Festival

2024 Lineup: Judge Jules, Lovely Laura & Ben Santiago, Todd Terry, N-Trance, K-Klass, Marcella Woods, and more

When: Orrell Hill Woods in Liverpool

When: Saturday 22nd June 2024

Whilst it has recently moved from its Lancastrian home of Witton Park, it's new venue, although in Orrell Hill Woods in Liverpool, is as close to Lancashire as you can get without actually being there, so we wanted to still include it!

Restricted Forest Festival is here to deliver what we all need from time to time - a good old-fashioned rave-up. With music from the realms of house, techno and old school, this fest offers exactly what any raver could want in a secluded forest location.

The 2024 edition is stacked with a mix of classic rave groovers and some up-and-coming talent thrown in for good measure. With names like The Artful Dodger, Corona, Darude and Ultra Beat peppering the lineup, it's clear that this is going to be a secluded forest rave of seismic proportions.

So grab your ticket, stick on your wellies, and get your gun fingers out because it’s gonna be a mad one.

Find tickets and more information on Restricted Forest Festival - HERE

Beat-Herder Festival

2024 Lineup: Denis Sulta, LF System, Sarah Story, K-Klass, Shy FX, 4am Kru, and more, with a full weekend lineup still to come

When: Dockber Farm in Sawley, Lancashire

When: Thursday 18th - Sunday 21st July 2024

Beat-Herder has come a long way since its inception in 2006. Back then, there were only 1,200 attendees, four small tents, a naked sauna and a “couple of hippy food stalls.” Now, Beat-Herder expects around 12,000 attendees and has 16 additional music areas, fairground rides, and more.

The full lineup for 2024 hasn’t been announced just yet, but the Thursday has and with names like Denis Sulta, LF Sustem, Sarah Story, K-Klass, Shy FX, 4AM Kru, and more; when the full weekend lineup dorps we're sure it's going to be absolutely mega!

Its one of the most musically diverse and 'coolest' festivals on the Lancashire calendar, and if you're a bit left field, or you just like your lineups to feature a wide array of some of the most original acts in the biz, then beat-herder has to be your festival stomping grounds this summer

Find more information on Beat-Herder Festival - HERE

No matter which Lancashire festival you choose, we know you’ll have a cracking time. It truly is crazy how diverse the festivals in this county are. And with so many different types on offer, it’s hard to imagine that there isn’t one that’ll suit your needs. Anyway, we’ll catch you later. We’ve got train tickets to book and festival tickets to buy!

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.