Open-Air Theatre, Ukuleles And Garden Parties Set For Calderstones Park Summer

A packed programme of open-air theatre, free garden parties, literary events and family festivals is set to return to Calderstones Park this summer, as Shared Reading charity The Reader unveils its Summer 2026 season.

Taking place at the historic Grade II listed Mansion House, the programme brings together storytelling, wellbeing workshops, live performance and relaxed community gatherings, reinforcing Calderstones Park as one of Liverpool’s most vibrant cultural destinations during the National Year of Reading 2026.

Calderstones Members can access priority booking on selected events until Monday 30 March.

Literature, Shared Reading and Summer inspiration

The summer literature season opens with a focus on celebrated Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell, whose works including Cranford, Mary Barton and North and South continue to resonate with contemporary readers.

Highlights include A Day with Elizabeth Gaskell (Saturday 8 August), featuring a talk by Libby Tempest, former chair of the Gaskell Society, alongside Shared Reading sessions and a summer picnic-style buffet prepared by The Reader’s in-house chefs.

The programme also shines a spotlight on Latin American literature through two masterclasses led by Professor Estela Meije, founder of an international Shared Reading project inspired by The Reader. Sessions include Microfiction (18 July), exploring powerful short stories of 300 words or fewer, and Voices from Argentina (19 July), focusing on poetry and short fiction from Argentinian writers.

Other highlights include:

• Bookshop Summer Escapes (19 June), offering curated beach reads alongside cocktails and deckchair vibes
• Two literature masterclasses led by The Reader’s founder Dr Jane Davis, inspired by writers including George Herbert, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Jeanette Winterson and Niall Williams
• A six-week Deep Read series exploring Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations
• Three wellbeing workshops inspired by The Reader’s 2026 Bookshelf, including works by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Marilynne Robinson

Open-air theatre and outdoor cinema return

Outdoor performance is a major highlight of the summer programme, with touring theatre company The Handlebards bringing their unique cycling-powered production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth to the Garden Theatre on 23 August.

Award-winning company Illyria also returns with a family-friendly staging of The Three Musketeers on 6 August, promising a swashbuckling evening of adventure for audiences of all ages.

Following a sell-out debut season last year, Liverpool’s largest open-air cinema will also return to Calderstones Park, with film titles set to be announced soon.

Free community events and creative socials

As the warmer months arrive, The Reader will once again host its popular free Garden Parties, offering relaxed afternoons of live music, barbecue food, crafts and the chance to unwind in the Mansion House gardens.

The free Ukulele Festival also returns on 14 June, showcasing some of the North West’s best ukulele performers across a full afternoon of live music.

Creative visitors can take part in the relaxed Sip & Stitch socials on selected Thursdays throughout the summer, providing a welcoming space for knitting, crochet and craft enthusiasts of all abilities.

Storybarn Fest and family favourites

Families can celebrate the end of the summer holidays at Storybarn Fest on 30 August, a lively courtyard takeover featuring face painting, a barbecue and a programme of activities at The Storybarn and Ice Cream Parlour.

A wide range of regular family-friendly sessions will also run throughout the summer, including Baby Drop-Ins, Bookshop Bedtime Stories, Incy Wincy Rhymers, Storybarn Drop-in Sessions and a Summer Holiday Club.

Katie Clark, Director of Literature at The Reader, said: “This summer season is the perfect opportunity to gather together and discover works by many of today’s most exciting writers, including voices from Latin America alongside outspoken Victorian authors such as Elizabeth Gaskell and Charles Dickens. We’re proud to highlight the essential role the written and spoken word plays in reflecting society’s most pressing issues, while celebrating the power of great writing to inspire positive change during this National Year of Reading.”

The Reader is the UK’s largest Shared Reading charity, connecting more than 25,000 adults and children with literature each week to improve wellbeing, literacy and community connection. Through programmes in hospitals, prisons and community spaces, as well as at its Calderstones Park home, the organisation brings stories to life for thousands of people across the UK.

For full event listings and ticket information, visit The Reader’s website. Annual Calderstones membership is available from £25.