The summer programme of events includes a host of family-friendly activities and free events to enjoy
The Reader has announced its summer programme for 2025
An exciting programme of events is set to take place at a beautiful and beloved Liverpool park this summer, including free garden parties, a festival and open-air theatre performances. The Reader has announced its summer programme for 2025 in Calderstones Park.
Highlights for this summer include three free garden parties, which will include live music from Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, talks from top authors, a one-day Ukulele festival with musicians from across the North West, and open-air theatre. There will also be family entertainment, including ‘Bookshop Bedtime Stories’, a holiday club, and events at the park’s Storybarn.
There will also be a pre-loved clothes and book swap, a gardening course and shared reading wellbeing workshops. Families can grab a picnic and head outside to enjoy the programme of cultural events this summer in Calderstones Park.
Three free family-friendly summer Garden Parties will be taking over the stunning ‘secret’ walled garden and restored 1940s Art Deco Garden Theatre in May and July.
On Sunday, May 11, the first garden party, ‘The Mersey Forest Takeover’, will mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Highlights will include live music from the Liverpool Show Choir, a female-led community choir who sing musical theatre, pop, gospel and folk, a free bookable Mansion House Heritage tour at 11am, two shared reading taster sessions at 11.30am and 1.30pm, as well as a poetry walk and seed planting.
On Sunday, May 18, the second garden party, ‘The Liverpool Philharmonic Takeover’ will see the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, In Harmony Liverpool Chamber Stars and The Philharmonic Youth Company Ensemble taking to the stage.
For any budding musicians, a whole host of talented musicians are also leading taster sessions and free workshops.
The Reader at the Mansion House in Calderstones Park(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Mary Crotty, Calderstones Engagement Manager at The Reader, said: “We are so excited for these special collaborations with Mersey Forest and Liverpool Philharmonic, the latter celebrating the rich musical culture of our city and wonderful young people at the heart of it. On both days, we’ll also be running tours of the beautiful Mansion House and Shared Reading Tasters.”
A third summer garden party will take place on Sunday, July 20, the weekend before the summer school term ends.
Summer season of open-air theatre in Calderstones Park(Image: The Reader)
At each event guests are invited to lay down a picnic blanket or pop up a deckchair for a laid-back afternoon of food, music and crafts. There will be a BBQ, as well as a bar serving summer tipples and an ice cream cart.
People can also browse the Library on the Lawn – a handpicked selection of books for adults and children to explore. Entry for all three garden parties is free, though donations are welcomed and will help support The Reader’s charitable work in Liverpool and beyond.
The Reader’s Ukulele Festival is also back in Calderstones Park on Sunday, June 22, with free entry.
New outdoor gardening workshops have also been announced for the summer. A ‘Meet the Bees’ workshop will take place on Saturday, June 7, with a ‘Summer Trees’ workshop on Saturday, June 21, and ‘Botany for Beginners’ on Saturday, July 5. No gardening experience is needed and all materials are provided.
A summer programme of open-air theatre previously announced for 2025 in the Mansion House Gardens includes Twelfth Night on Thursday, July 10, Much Ado About Nothing on Friday, August 1, Pride and Prejudice on Sunday, August 3, Pan and the Eternal Wreck on Wednesday, August 13, and HMS Pinafore on Thursday, August 21.