Halton has always been a borough of celebration, famous for its medieval background, hosting global music legends and leading ground-breaking festival productions. Located between Liverpool and Manchester, Halton’s unique location has made it a melting pot of musical talent and cultural innovation. As Creamfields returned this month, take a look back at the borough’s rich history. 

Origins of Celebration: Medieval Period – 1875 

In the medieval period, Halton was known for its weekly markets and annual fairs where locals gathered to trade, compete in summer games, and enjoy entertainment. As time passed, the essence of these celebrations has evolved but never faded. Widnes Market, opened in 1875 during the Victorian Era, it’s celebrating its 150^th anniversary this year and continues to serve local meats, handmade crafts, local delicacies and valued sundries.

Find out the list of traders here.

Musical Legends & Iconic Venues: 1960s – 1990’s

From the swinging 60s to the present day, Halton was a cultural hotspot for musical influence, acting as a midpoint for upcoming bands from Liverpool and Manchester.

Pre-Queen, Freddie Mercury’s final performance with Wreckage at Wade Deacon High School, Widnes in 1969 went down in history as the night he adopted his famous pole mic stand, unscrewing it from the base because the stand was faulty.

Before it closed in 2004 and demolished in 2012, the Queens Hall in Widnes, hosted the greats of the Merseybeat and Madchester scene. Welcoming the likes of The Stone Roses (1989), Happy Mondays (1989), Gerry and the Peacemakers and The Beatles five times before they became a global phenomenon. After their final concert in Widnes, The Beatles recorded their debut single Love Me Do at EMI Studios, which reached no.17 in the charts.

In 1990 during the peak of the Madchester movement which fused indie pop and house music, the Stone Roses held a concert at Spike Island that went down in history.

Around 30,000 fans were in attendance and although performance was messy and sound was poor, the frenzied atmosphere of the crowd climbing on sound towers and dancing wherever possible was a turning point in musical history, influencing the later Britpop movement of the mid 1990s.

Succeeding these musical greats, Halton has produced its own talent in recent years. Before becoming a global superstar as the lead singer of Take That, 14 years old Gary Barlow performed his own material at Halton British Legion including A Million Love Songs before it was an award-winning single. Other notable performers who grew up in Halton include Mel C, Nicola Roberts and David Dawson.

While Halton’s musical legacy is rooted in iconic performances, its modern-day concerts, theatre and festivals continue to celebrate creativity and community.

Modern Festivals & Culture: 2004 – Present Day

Music & Theatre

In Runcorn, the award-winning Brindley Theatre opened in 2004 and hosts Broadway and West End productions as well as tribute acts, film screenings and dance shows. Just a short distance away, Norton Priory Museum & Gardens offers an intimate musical experience. During the summer period, the tranquil Walled Garden comes alive with outdoor performances and award-winning theatre productions, while The Liverpool String Quartet frequently perform as the ensemble in residence.

Creamfields

Halton is proud to host Creamfields. The Daresbury Estate has been the festival’s home since 2006, after it relocated from Liverpool Airfield. Since then, Creamfields has transformed from a one-day festival into a four-day spectacle with top-tier performances, world-class DJ’s and jaw-dropping production. In 2024, the festival invested £2 million into Flavour Street, a new food and drink village, and the ZZZ stage, the world’s largest indoor main stage. This year, Creamfields unveiled Downtown, a wellness, sports and entertainment village, along with the Electric Forest, a woodland inspired outdoor stage with a 10,000 capacity. 2025 marked the second year of Creamfields’ 3-year plan ‘Cleanfields’, which aims to preserve the 600-acre festival site and introduce more environmentally friendly habits. Next Year, 2026 marks a special milestone for Creamfields as they celebrate 20 years of Daresbury

To find out more details and take the Cleanfields pledge click here.

[Image Credits: Creamfields UK]  

Halton Stadium

The DCBL Stadium has prolonged Halton’s musical legacy having welcomed multiple award-winning artists. In 2017 five-time Grammy award winner Sir Elton John visited Widnes as part of his Wonderful Crazy Night World Tour. Following on from its success, the stadium was sold out again in 2022 for Bryan Adams’ So Happy It Hurts UK & IE Tour.

Eco-Fest

Eco-Fest began in 2023 with the Imagine Bamboo is Everywhere project, showcasing bamboo’s versatility through craft activities, an expert panel, and environmental stalls inside The Butterfly House and Garden glasshouse. In 2024 it returned as a week-long celebration featuring yoga classes, artist-led workshops, meditation sessions and locally sourced food. The festival is set to return next month at the Butterfly House and Garden focusing on upcycling crafts, in collaboration with Hazelhurst Artist Studios and Fortuna Female Society.

Halton Fest

Born from the success of Halton’s Golden Jubilee celebration last year. HaltonFest 2025 was hosted at Runcorn Hill Park between 7^th and 8^th June and featured a family-friendly funfair, big top circus, classic cars, live music and food stalls.

Halton MakeFest

Halton MakeFest is an annual event that brings creatives and makers from Halton borough and beyond together for a one-day festival that celebrates creative crafts. The festival focuses on fostering community and connectivity through a massive variety of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths (STEAM) activities for children of all ages and provides a safe environment for fun and learning. Makefest aims to spark interest and signpost opportunities for children as well as strengthening the local community through interactive art exhibits and hands-on workshops featuring coding, sewing, painting and much more!

Heritage Open Days

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest annual history and culture festival, involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations. This year it takes place between 12^th -21^st September, themed around architecture and is an opportunity for traditions to be explored, stories to be told and histories brought to life. As part of the festival, Norton Priory’s historic Walled Gardens and Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum will have free entry and hold activities and exhibitions for all ages!

Visit Heritage Open Days to find out more locations and details.

Continuing the Celebration for the Future

Halton’s cultural story is one of transformation and tradition. From Medieval fairs to world-class festivals, the borough has embraced new opportunities to help bring the community together by providing fun, exciting and creative learning experiences to people of all ages. To find out more about Halton’s musical culture check out Halton Music Trail!