I feel I can write this from a place of experience, I’m sure I don’t get a medal as there are probably lots of people like me that have been to every single night since 2011 (bar the Stereophonics and Nile Rodgers  * there is a story)  

Watch THIS space for a future blog, as I will be running down the highlights of EVERY YEAR and wanting to know what your favourites have been too.

Buckle Up

Ok survival may be a bit extreme, as you know Lytham Festival is like no other, no need for baby wipes, dry shampoo or using eco toilets.

I’m a lady (of a certain age) and if I can do it, anyone can, admittedly it takes longer to recover these days!  You only live once, fill it with amazing experiences. The opportunity to see these performances without a costly trip (and usually overnight stay) to a large city is just a huge advantage.

Now in it’s 12th year, with a ‘blip’ for you know what in 2020, and a different (but no less enjoyable) Wonder Hall in 2021,  the Festival that began in 2009 featuring Lesley Garrett, 2 Fold-Up Tables as a Box Office, and I was there too!!. So that further establishes my right to impart my knowledge

Here are some hints and tips to help you get the best experience ever

Clothing

Bottom line is think comfort and LAYERS

Footwear……….no need for spike heels, apart from anything else you wont be popular should you step on someone toes, you can still look great in trendy flats or trainers, believe it you will THANK me!

Clothing, the weather is VERY changeable and even though it can be balmy early evening it can turn cold when the sun goes down, so suggest a light top, something warm for later and a waterproof layer, because we are known for a bit of rain, so I do mean waterproof NOT a flimsy fashion paka mac. Honestly there is nothing more miserable than being wet through for the night. It can also be windy even though it is enclosed we are right on the coast. On the flip side, put on sunscreen and a hat/cap as it can still be hot early evening, especially if you gentlemen are Follicly-challenged, I have seen some bad cases of sunburn over the years.  If it is warm keep hydrated with water from various stations for free or buy from concessions around the site.

Let’s not forget we are in North West UK, and sometimes we literally can have four seasons in a day!

4 seasons

This years site map

VIP Upgrades

The first year I was going to treat myself to one night in VIP, there is none (what is my luck like!) I have had experienced of the Garden area before and it is worth it in many little ways, you could elevate your experience for one or more nights here  https://www.lythamfestival.com/experience/ 

It’s once a year, and YES you are worth it!!

And After

First time this year where there are no ‘satellite’ events, outside the Main Arena, but please help support the pubs and bars in the local area some have specials and pop up’s on for the Festival period

Travel arrangements

The key to this is PLANNING, if coming by car, public transport, or being dropped off you need to have it locked down BEFORE you come, there are road closures in operation from Tuesday 28th June Click HERE for the Festivals Travel Page

I notice (yet again, after years of highlighting it)  it doesn’t really cover travel from/to Preston and beyond, the bus number you need for that is a 68 and can be caught from several stops along Clifton Street, here is the link to the Stagecoach timetables stagecoachbus.com/  I haven’t found any info about extra buses or times, but will update if I do.

For the first time this year there is a new transport option operating around the North West, every day bar Thursday,   book here biggreencoach.co.uk/events/lytham-festival-tickets-coach-travel

However getting a mate or parent to pick you up is still the best way, you can bribe them with money/food or reciprocal pick ups for the next month. Insider tip if you ARE being dropped off/picked up, Lytham Hospital is a good meeting place FY8 5EE if coming from Preston side and the back of Lowther Gardens/Lytham Cricket & Sports Club FY8 5QD if coming from Blackpool and both are only 5 minute walks from the Main Arena

car share

Food & Drink

There are lots of World Food stands and Drink concessions within the arena, and although there is sometimes queues they are dealt with quickly and efficiently. Some people complain about the drinks prices but can categorically say they are no better or worse than any other festival in the UK!  It’s a once a year occasion!!

This year they say the Festival will be cashless BUT please, please take some spare change for the various charities there that will be grateful for your cash. (See Charities below)

Insider tip, on any/all days, come early and sample some of the local restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and takeaways before heading to the Arena it will be cheaper!

Toilets

As a women of a certain age, that cant drink anything more than a shot, without searching out the facilities, dont worry there are banks at either end of the arena to the left and right of the stage, so queuing time is normally absolute minimum, and with a central hand-sanitiser bank so you can be in and out in seconds. But would recommend taking a travel pack of tissues with you as inevitably they sometime run out of loo paper.

Lytham Festival Facilities

Meeting Places

Lets face it, it is going to be manic everywhere, but outside the Area, the Assembly Rooms on corner of Dicconson Terrace FY8 5JY and the main road, which will be closed anyway, is a good bet and away from pubs and bars in Clifton Square.

Your hosts

Daniel Cuffe & Peter Taylor, now under the LIVE NATION ‘umbrella’,  are local guys with local staff, and even though a UK wide if not now a Global operation, I feel they put extra love into Lytham., their home town,  and once again have put on a brilliant programme of entertainment covering most tastes and ages

Cuffe-Taylor of Lytham Festival

Keep up with what they are up to around the country

cuffeandtaylor.com/news/

Charities

As well as supporting the local economy, Lytham Festival supports many charities, so please give generously if you can

Each year charities are invited to apply to be a partner and this year more charities than ever applied with 68 submissions.

The charities selected and the nights they will partner with are:

Mary O’Gara Foundation: Jamiroquai – 28th June

Park View 4U: George Ezra – 29th June

Lytham Rotary: Sting – 30th June

Trinity Hospice: Lionel Richie – 1st July

North West Blood Bikes: Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe – 2nd July

For 2023 Lytham Festival has chosen to support relatively small North-West based charities who make a big impact in the communities they serve.

And Finally

SO what do the residents think?? Well, you will always get some that are against it, and that is their right, but on the whole people are positive about what it brings to Lytham and the wider local economy plus the closest ones get free tickets and some can even view from the comfort of their own homes (with a third floor)

Please keep behaviours polite and consider people of all ages & children that the Festival attracts. Before and after your concert in the town please be kind, considerate to hospitality and retail staff as we are not used to some many people in what is a small town at one time, and when leaving remember you are in the middle of residential area, not in a field miles from anywhere, so please treat the place respectfully when leaving the Arena.

So in the immortal words of Dame Shirley (and Pink) lets get this Party Started

ENJOY

In the meantime listen in to 4 hours of great music from this years line-up bit.ly/3P8ymBc

*The story around my missed nights, is someone had jumped on my foot on the Wednesday night, and was just too painful to chance knocking it again, I made it on Friday but sad not to boogie around to Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who was incredible, and of course Kylie. I was actually there for Nile Rodgers and I was probably more excited about this than I had been for years, being brought up in the Chic era, I was with my daughters and stupidly started to get into the groove even while getting ready at home, then some in Lytham and a couple in the arena, by the time Nile came on I do not remember a THING, or how I got home, but did safely and was tucked up in bed by the time my frantic daughters got home. Only got myself to blame. This adulting stuff is hard work sometimes!

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Lots more info on lythamfestival.com

Blog header image by https://www.markmcneillphotography.com/