Riverside Festival Q&A

Saturday 7th June & Sunday 8th June 2025

The parks are open at 12noon on both days.

The parks close at 6pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday.

The event takes place in various sites:

• Bede Park, LE2 7HN
• Western Blvd
• River Soar (Mile Strait)
• Castle Gardens, LE2 7BY
• The Newarke LE2 7BY
• Newarke Houses Museum & Gardens LE2 7BY
• The Herb Gardens LE2 7BY
• Castle View, Leicester, LE1 5WH
• DMU Campus LE2 7BJ

No, Leicester Riverside is a free event and open to all. Some stalls and activities will require payment for their services.

Some traders, but not all will have the ability to take card payments. There is a cash point on Western Boulevard at Tesco Express if cash withdrawals are needed.

Travel by bike is encouraged! To visit by bike visit leicester.gov.uk/cycling

There will be 3 free and secure bike parks on site

• DMU Campus
• The corner of The Newarke Bridge
• Bede Park near Tarragon Road entrance

There’s a mixture of activities on and off the water including Live music, an artisan market, children’s funfair, boats trips, kayaking, global street food, outdoor theatre, sports activities, craft workshops, bike shows, Heritage tours, Crazy Golf, face painting, hair braiding, and much more.

For more information: head to our dedicated webpage Riverside Festival – Visit Leicester

There is a huge variety of street food traders at the event this year From South Asian, Caribbean, Polish Kielbasa, Classic British, Thai, stone baked pizza, Kebabs & much more including sweet treats, deserts, and hot beverage vendors.

Yes, there will be catering options for vegan and vegetarian diets, with some stalls offering gluten free options.

Yes, there are fully licensed bars on Bede Park, The Piazza Stage & Castle Gardens. Smaller bespoke cocktail trailers are also on site.

There are road closures in place to make the site safe to the public so parking around the area is limited. We recommend parking in the city centre which is a short walk from the festival.

To visit the festival by bus, telephone Traveline on 0871 200 2233.

We also recommend choosehowyoumove.co.uk for advice on planning your journey.

Yes, the Piazza stage, just outside Bede Park next to Tesco Express starts at 12noon each day.

Saturday 7th June                 

12:00 – 12:15    Playlist & Compere

12:15 – 13:00    Nour

13:15 – 14:00    Tanni Browne

14:15 – 15:15    Soft Touch Arts Presents

15:30 – 16:30    EAVA FM – 1 City 1 Celebration Showcase

16:45 – 18:00    HQ Familia & Friends Showcase

18:00 – 19:00    Harri Georgio & The Well-Behaved Young Men

Sunday 8th June

12:00 – 12:40    Leicester Amika Choir

12:45 – 14:00    Leics Introducing

14:15 – 15:00    Bellatones

15:15 – 15:45    Harry Pentony

16:00 – 17:15    2Funky Arts Project LIVE Showcase

17:15 – 18:00    The Fazed

There is unisex Portaloo’s on Bede Park, Castle Gardens and Western Boulevard with disabled Portaloo’s on the parks.

There are also public toilets at DMU Campus and within the heritage venues you can visit.

There will be large-printed maps around sites.

Accessible Boat Trips

Local disability charity Mosaic will be offering trips on Sunbeam II, their fully accessible narrowboat. This boat is equipped with features to accommodate passengers with mobility challenges, providing an inclusive experience on the River Soar. Boarding is facilitated via an accessible ramp at Millstone Bridge.

Accessible Support Hub & Quiet Space

An Access Support Hub will be available for attendees seeking a tranquil environment amidst the festival’s excitement. This facility will be located within the Food Village on the De Montfort University Campus, situated in the Vijay Patel Building at the crossroads of Mill Lane and The Gateway.

The Food Village is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring step-free access and accessible toilets to accommodate visitors with mobility needs Accessible toilets are also within this venue.

The Creative Health and SHARE Project. Located in Castle Gardens, provides a welcoming environment for individuals of all ages and abilities.

Accessibility Features:

• British Sign Language (BSL) Interpretation: BSL interpreters will be present throughout the weekend to facilitate communication and engagement for Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees.
• Accessible Activities: The programme includes a variety of activities designed to be inclusive, such as BSL-led art sessions, live painting, body art, poetry, music, dance, and comedy performances by both Deaf and hearing artists.
• Quiet and Chill-Out Areas: Designated spaces are available for those seeking a calm environment amidst the festival’s excitement.
• Inclusive Participation: Activities are tailored to be accessible for individuals with mental health challenges, neurodiversity, and disabilities.

There will be a selection of global foods to buy onsite but yes you can bring a picnic

There will be several main bars around the sites including Bede Park, Castle Gardens and the Piazza stage with a few bespoke bars around sites on Western Blvd and DMU Campus, no glass bottles are permitted on the parks.

In the interest of public safety roads need to be closed.

Western Boulevard: – From the junction with Braunstone Gate to the junction with Tarragon Road.

Tarragon Road – Residents & Permit Parking Only

Mill Lane – From the junction with Grassmere Street to the junction with Western Boulevard.

The Newarke -Entire length.

Castle View – Entire length.

The Gateway – Entire length.

Newarke Close – Entire Length.

Grassmere Street – At its junction with Mill Lane.

Eastern Boulevard – From the junction with Ullswater Street to the junction with Mill Lane.

Braunstone Gate (Bus Gate)

Boats are moored on the mile strait, and you can access these from Mill Lane Bridge

There are a number of indoor venues open as part of the Riverside festival that you can visit during the weekend.

• The Gallery (DMU Campus)
• Leicester Castle Business School (off the Newarke, Castle View)
• Trinity Chapel (The Newarke)
• The Castle Micro Pub (off the Newarke, Castle View)
• Stephen Lawrence Research Centre (off the Newarke, The Gateway)

Dogs are allowed in the parks but in the interest of public and animal safety these must be well behaved and kept on a lead.

The BBQ area is closed to the public across the weekend.

The closure of the park is essential for the build of the event and for the safety of the public as we have moving vehicles in the area.

You can find a link to the programme brochure on our dedicated webpage Riverside Festival – Visit Leicester

Social media updates will be given on our pages here:

https://www.instagram.com/leicesterfest