By Rachael Grealish

Whitehaven Alive is finally here and thousands are expected to flock to the town for the musical festival, so here’s a round-up of everything you need to know from the entry times and parking to the weekend’s weather.

Taking place between September 8 and 10, on Whitehaven Harbour, the festival will feature live entertainment – including performances from Tinie Tempah, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Vaccines and Jake Bugg, among others – an event village with over 70 stalls, a Porsche car display and much more as organisers promise an ‘unforgettable’ weekend.

Whitehaven Alive Festival Day Splits:

Whitehaven Alive is taking place on the Quay Street Car Park, on Whitehaven Harbour, CA28 7QG, from Friday September 8 to sunday September 10.

On Friday, September 8, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Tinie Tempah headline the event on the Mitie-sponsored main stage, with support from Lowes and Springfield. On Saturday, September 9, The Vaccines and Jake Bugg take the headlining spot, with support from The Danny Dunnery Band and Northern Threads.

The festival wraps up on Sunday, September 10 with Björn Again and Boney M taking event-goers back to the 70s, with support from Real Thing and Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band.

Whitehaven Alive Ticket Availability And Children’s Tickets:

Tickets for all three days are still available to purchase and can be done here. Children are allowed at Whitehaven Alive however under-18s must have a responsible adult with them (someone aged over 21). Adults responsible for children must bring original Photo ID documentation if they look under 25 – organisers will accept driving licences and current passports – copies of these or invalid passports that have had the corner removed will not be accepted.

Everyone, including children, need their own ticket to attend the festival, apart from those aged under 5. If you have someone under the age of 5 in your group, must email the Whitehaven Alive team at hello@whitehavenalive.com so you can be issued a free child ticket as you will be asked for your booking reference upon arrival.

When Do Whitehaven Alive Gates Open?

For both the Friday and Saturday shows, gates open to the event venue at 4pm and the last entries are at 7pm.

On Sunday, gates open at 12.30pm, with the last entry being 3pm.

What Time Does Whitehaven Alive Finish?

The concerts will end at 11 pm on Friday and Saturday, while Sunday’s concert will finish at 6 pm.

Will I Need Cash For Whitehaven Alive?

Event-goers will not need cash for the event as the food and main bars within the music arena are card-only. Alongside this food or drink from outside the music arena will not be permitted at the event.

Can Event Goers Bring Chairs?

Whitehaven Alive is primarily a standing event, however, organisers are allowing small camping chairs that are foldable into the music arena. This means standard-sized camping chairs that do not recline or have excessive padding or features.

Is There Disability Access Viewing And Parking?

For Whitehaven Alive there is limited availability for access to the disabled viewing platform and disability parking, and it must be booked prior to the event by emailing hello@whitehavenalive.com – event-goers will be asked for a booking reference.

Parking For Whitehaven Alive?

If you’re driving to Whitehaven Alive there are several car parks in the town all a short walking distance to the venue, including:

• Preston Street Car Park – Preston St, Whitehaven CA28 9DL
• Tangier Street Car Park – 6A Tangier St, Whitehaven CA28 7UZ
• Strand Street Car Park – 5 Strand St, Whitehaven CA28 7LF
• Ginns Car Park – 17 Bentinck Row, Whitehaven CA28 9BS
• North Shore Car Park – Whitehaven CA28 6AX

Whitehaven Harbour Commissioner is also opening the multi-story car park to the public from From 3pm on Friday 8, to 7.30pm Sunday 10, when all levels will be available for public parking.

In a social media post they wrote: “In addition, for drivers who would usually use our surface car parks on weekdays, the Multi Storey Car Park will also be available to the public from Monday 4 to Thursday 7, September Levels 1 & 2 only (excluding permit holder bays where stated).”

PLEASE NOTE this is pay by phone ONLY – download the app in advance or find them online https://www.paybyphone.co.uk

Taking Public Transport to Whitehaven Alive:

If you’re travelling to the festival the following buses go to and through Whitehaven:

• Stagecoach 30 Bus – Frizington – Cleator Moor – Whitehaven – Workington – Maryport
• Stagecoach 30 Bus – Thornhill – Egremont – Whitehaven – Workington – Maryport
• Stagecoach 2/2A – Kells to Whitehaven

Journey’s from Thornhill and Frizington to Whitehaven take approximately 30 minutes, whereas the bus from Maryport takes 57 minutes and stops at Workington bus station.

If you’re travelling to the festival via train there are currently no works or protests scheduled for the weekend of the festival and details for the times can be found HERE. The line goes from Carlisle to Barrow/ Barrow to Carlisle, stopping at Whitehaven train station on route.

However, the last train leaves from Whitehaven on Friday and Saturday at 10.09pm and 8:30pm on Sunday. So, people may need to make other transport arrangements for the first two days as the scheduled finish time for the festival on those days is 11pm.

Weather For Whitehaven Alive:

England seems to be going through an early-Autumn heatwave, this will followthrough for the start of the festival on Friday, September 8, as the Met Office says the day will have plenty of sunshine once any early low cloud and mist clears. Temperatures are due to get to highs of 22°.

It’s set to be a cloudier start for Saturday with some mist and the odd shower possible. Turning dry and sunny later on though and highs of 21°. Sunday is predicted to start wet with light rain showers and light wind, however, things will clear for the afternoon with cloud and patches of sunshine and highs of 21°. It definitely seems like it’s going to be a weekend to pack the sunscreen and your light raincoat – just in case.