THE "ultimate family extravaganza" will return to St Helens next weekend.
Following the success of last year's inaugural St Helens Gala, organisers are aiming to host an even bigger and better festival that will be "bursting with excitement from start to finish".
Taking place at Ruskin Sports Village on Sunday, August 25, the free event will showcase a vibrant mix of stalls and activities, as well as the annual celebrity bowls competition.
A family-friendly and ticketed music festival will follow the day's fun, with some of the biggest tribute acts set to delight the St Helens crowd.
READ > The cosy family cafe that is the perfect spot for those in the know
Kicking off the 'Handepay Community Engagement' part of the day is the Gala itself, a vibrant hub showcasing the "heart of St Helens".
This will include stalls from local independents and charities, as well as food and drinks from independent vendors.
There will also be attractions such as inflatable arenas, small fairground rides, mini golf, classic car showcases, animal and pet displays, and visits from movie heroes.
Johnny Vegas' annual Celebrity Bowls competition is where 16 celebrities from the world of showbiz and rugby league will battle it out for the prestigious Lol Pennington Memorial Cup.
For those who have purchased the music ticket, which helps to fund the Steve Prescot Foundation's charity and community events throughout the year, the performances begin at 2pm with the emotive sounds of Dan Carney’s 'Lewish Capaldi' tribute.
This will be followed by a tribute of this year's Glastonbury headliner, 'Do It Like Dua', and The 'Arctic Monkeyz' will delight crowds with the Sheffield band's collection of indie classics.
The 'Gerry Cinnamon Experience' and 'Kazabian' will similarly look to get people up and on their feet, and the summer Gala will end with 'Take That Live', who will perform a celebration of pop perfection.
A limited number of VIP Tickets have been made available due to popular demand, which includes a private bar, 'undercover viewing', exclusive food outlets, separate toilets and an after party with JukeBox Duo in the Percival Suite. Family Tickets with a 'Kids Go Free' option also remain.
Remaining tickets can be booked here. Information about remaining gazebo plots, festival advertising, tickets, and VIP upgrades can be directed to info@sthelensgala.com or 07971792859.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here