Wirral Life August 2019 | Page 23

WIRRAL’S BOROUGH OF CULTURE CELEBRATIONS CONTINUE September is set to be a memorable month for Wirral as its Borough of Culture celebrations continue with a series of world-class events putting a spotlight on the peninsula. Birkenhead Park will be centre stage for a week of family-friendly activity for Stage Five of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, the biggest professional cycle race in Britain, on Wednesday 11 September. The Wirral Borough of Culture team will cook up a storm with the help of renowned Wirral-born chef, Paul Askew to create a delicious event which is guaranteed to get your mouth watering. The inaugural Wirral Food & Drink Festival takes place during the day on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September in Birkenhead Park and will fuse together home-grown talent and local produce. This event is free to attend with entry to chef demonstrations on a first come, first served basis. On Saturday evening, sit back and relax to the sounds of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s only outdoor performance of the year as a full Orchestra in the stunning surroundings of one of Wirral’s most remarkable outdoor spaces. Conductor Richard Balcombe and Liverpool-born mezzo- soprano, Jennifer Johnston will take on composers such as Bizet, Lennon and McCartney, John Williams, Holst, and popular classics such as ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and ‘Ferry ‘cross the Mersey’, alongside music from films such as Star Wars and E.T. Tickets are on sale now for this family-friendly event which is sure to be an unforgettable evening. On Sunday evening, following a second day of Wirral Food & Drink Festival, iconic Merseyside bands Lightning Seeds, The Christians and China Crisis will provide a showstopping finale for this incredible weekend of culture at Birkenhead Park. Drawing from their chart-topping hits and classic tunes, these iconic bands will be ‘coming home’ to Merseyside to perform their world-famous anthems. Eclectic songs and nostalgia- filled beats will transport you to a musical paradise amongst the breath-taking backdrop of a park with a rich and colourful history. Tickets are selling fast for this fantastic line-up, so don’t miss out. Following a weekend of local produce and musicians, Birkenhead Park will host both the start and finish of Stage Five during this year's OVO Energy Tour of Britain, bringing some of the world’s top riders to the borough. The 174-kilometre (108-mile) stage will help celebrate Wirral’s year as the Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture, showcasing the area’s history, heritage and beautiful coastlines. Riders will pass through the historic Port Sunlight and into Cheshire West and Chester, notably passing the Airbus UK manufacturing facility at Broughton. The route will return to Wirral via Heswall, Caldy and Hoylake, before passing through the Birkenhead Park finish line and taking in a loop through Seacombe, Wallasey and New Brighton. For event information, and to book tickets for Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Lighting Seeds, The Christians & China Crisis, please visit imaginewirral.com wirrallife.com 23