Formby Cricket and Hockey Club is delighted to announce the inaugural Formby Beer Festival, taking place from Friday 3rd July to Sunday 5th July 2026.

Set across an exciting weekend at the club, the festival promises to bring together the local community for three days of live music, fantastic food, sport, family entertainment and, of course, an outstanding selection of beers, ciders and cocktails.

The event has been created by a dedicated team of volunteers, with the aim of establishing a major new annual summer event for Formby. Festival-goers can expect a vibrant carnival atmosphere throughout the weekend, with something for all ages to enjoy.

Friday evening will feature a hockey festival alongside live music and entertainment in the marquee, while Saturday centres around a huge local cricket derby against Northern Cricket Club, accompanied by live bands and a wide range of food and drink offerings.

The weekend concludes with a special “Super Sunday” family day on 5th July, delivered in partnership with Elsie’s Story Charitable Trust. The club is proud to once again support the charity through a day focused on bringing the community together while raising both awareness and funds.

Sunday’s activities begin with a family 1K fun run led by Elsie’s Mini Marathon team fresh from the London Marathon, before the action continues with a Cricket Sixes Softball Tournament at 11am. There will also be children’s entertainers, bouncy castles, assault courses, face painting and a dedicated kids’ zone alongside live music throughout the day.

One of the driving forces behind the festival has been club member Andrew Carney, who helped bring the idea to life and we’ve spoken to Andrew to get his thoughts ahead of the festival:

What inspired you to help start the beer festival here in Formby?

“A number of things really starting with last season when our youngest son Jack joined the Cricket Club and the way that he and our whole family were made to feel welcome was so impressive that it made me want to help the club as best as I could.
I had been Chairman of Southport & Birkdale for four years and I had an instinct that some of the things that we had tried there could potentially work at Formby Cricket and Hockey Club.
Having been to the annual lunch last July which was great fun I started a conversation with Tom Mills last December about how the club would use the marquee the following Summer. Clearly the costs of hiring a marquee are very expensive so I suggested to Tom that given there wasn’t anything scheduled that we should introduce a beer festival.
Southport & Birkdale had got the idea from Chorley Cricket Club and I had also shared with Ormskirk Cricket Club and as long as it didn’t clash I was sure that it could work at Formby.
We therefore pulled together a brilliant and talented team of volunteers and utilising the experience and the models of other festivals we then created both a plan and budget which was approved by the main committee a couple of months ago.
As at the time of writing we are full steam ahead and looking for the inaugural festival starting Friday 3rd July 2026.”

For people thinking of coming along what can they expect from the festival?

“Apart from a brilliant selection of various delicious food choices and the famous Festival Real Ale and Cocktail Bars there will be an exciting carnival atmosphere throughout the weekend with live music and a real sense of togetherness and community.
Each day will be different with a hockey festival on the Friday evening with live bands and on Saturday a crunch local cricket derby with Northern Cricket Club again interspersed with live music and a fusion of local food delicacies.
Super Sunday will be a huge family day raising awareness and funds for our charity partner Elsie’s Story. The day starts with a family 1K fun run led off by Elsie’s Mini Marathon team fresh from the London Marathon followed by a superb children’s entertainer and at 11.00am there will be a Six a Side Cricket Softball tournament.
In addition there will be bouncy castles, assault courses and face painters in what will be a brilliant kids zone delivering a family day full of fun surprises, live bands in the marquee to guarantee an exciting friendly and cracking atmosphere.”

Are there any particular beers or highlights you’re especially excited for people to try?

“Now that’s a really tough question! There are so many different beers and ciders to choose from over the weekend but I think a sundowner cocktail and then watching and dancing to the Ukebox band on the Saturday early evening slot having just beaten Northern by one run should ensure a fine start to the evening!
I also think Sunday morning is going to be special as all the youngsters taking part in the 1K fun run led off by the wonderful people from Elsie’s Story should kick start a brilliant family day.”

What are you most looking forward to over the weekend?

“The smile on peoples faces…..”

What would you love to see the festival become in the future?

“This is the first beer festival for the club so there are bound to be learnings and as each year passes it will get better and stronger and become an annual Summer fixture in everyone’s diaries and a real community event to bring everyone together to spread a little happiness.”

With a packed schedule of sport, music, food, family entertainment and community spirit, the inaugural Formby Beer Festival promises to be one of the highlights of the summer. Whether you are coming for the cricket, the live music, the family fun day or simply to enjoy the atmosphere with friends, there will be something for everyone across the weekend. Formby Cricket and Hockey Club looks forward to welcoming members, supporters and the wider community from 3rd–5th July 2026 for what promises to be a memorable first festival and the beginning of a fantastic new annual tradition.