The Southport Amateur Athletic Society held its first Annual Festival in 1870, which took place in "a large field in Weld Road, Birkdale, near Southport." The Liverpool Courier of August 8th 1870 reported on the very popular meeting which had a 2 miles bicycle handicap race, a 1 miles handicap race for local riders and a slow bicycle race.
The second Annual Festival in 1871 was held at the Southport Cricket Club, Manchester Road and included a 1 mile bicycle race. This venue was used up to 1874, when the sports moved to Cemetery Road.