Festival

Summer in Leicester & Leicestershire

As the sun comes out around Leicestershire, there’s loads happening from internationally famous music festivals to foodie treats, great gigs and a celebration of railways, find out what’s happening in our city and county this summer.

Explore 2,000 years of history as Leicester celebrates the long-awaited opening of Leicester’s Jewry Wall Real Roman Experience in July.

This summer is also the 200th anniversary of our modern railways. The Great Central Railway and Wistow Maze will be marking this very important anniversary. It’s also the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and this will be marked with VJ Day celebrations and The Victory Show, the UK’s biggest WWII recreation event.

It’s a time for music too! The quiet leafy National Forest gets noisy as the Download Festival returns. There’s plenty of great music in Leicester too, with Craig David and Gabrielle taking over Abbey Park in June and a live jazz festival in the city centre in August, plus the Homegrown Festival featuring Tom Meighan and loads of great local artists.

Taste the place with lots of foodie-centric events. The Leicester Beer Festival in June, Feast Hinckley in August, plus the return of the Leicester Food Festival. The summer concludes with the Brew Beat festival in the city.

It wouldn’t be summer in Leicester without our cultural festivals! An Indian Summer and Leicester Mela celebrate the South Asian community’s culture and music. Windrush Day and the Caribbean Carnival showcase island culture, and Leicester Pride caps it off with a fabulous parade through the city and one big party in the park. 

August

  1. Jewry Wall: A Real Roman Experience

    Step back in time and uncover the secrets of Roman Leicester at Jewry Wall: A Real Roman…

  2. A band on stage at Firebug

    Live music in Leicester!

    Leicester has a vibrant and exciting music scene, with events taking place almost every night of the…

  3. Stomp Round Leicester

    A herd of magnificent Elephant sculptures will be stampeding into the city as part of a…

  4. The Addams Family

    Make This Summer An Absolute Scream! Following two hugely successful UK tours, and sold-out…

  5. A family in Wistow Maze

    Wistow Maze & Wistow Rural Centre

    Get lost in the Leicestershire countryside with this a-Maze-ing summer day out

  6. Curve on the Square

    Leicester residents and visitors of all ages will be able to enjoy a free weekend of top-class…

  7. Back2Fest

    We’re excited to announce that Back 2 Festival is returning to its original home at Cattows…

  8. CQ Earlies

    On the second Saturday of each month, we host CQ Earlies – fun, free, and creative sessions for…

  9. Leicester VJ Day celebrations

    80 years ago, people in Leicester marked the end of the Second World War with a conga round the…

  10. Xstatic Summer Festival 2025

    Xstatic Summer Festival will return to Cattows Farm on the 16th of August 2025! For a one-day…

  11. Leicester Mela

    Leicester Mela Festival 2024 was bigger than ever as it took over Abbey Park for the first time…

  12. For the Love of Jazz Festival

    Cosmpolitan Arts is pleased to announce that the For the Love of Jazz Festival is back for its…

  13. Zippos Circus ‘Bravo!’

    ‘Bravo!’ is a spectacular show featuring a diverse cast of international artists, promising…

  14. Leicester Racecourse Family Fun Day in aid of…

    Join us for an unforgettable day of fun at Leicester Racecourse – fairground rides, exciting…

  15. Loughborough Pride England

    Info Loughborough Pride takes place on Saturday the 16th August 2025. Picnic in the park from…

  16. Home Grown Leicestershire

    Welcome to Home Grown Leicestershire! Join us for a day filled with local talent, delicious…

  17. Leicester Food Festival

    Set to be the biggest food event of the year, the Leicester Food Festival will be returning to…

  18. Summer Family Fun Day

    Join us for a fun, action packed day out for all the family at the 2025 Family Summer Fun Day at…

  19. The Long Road Festival

    Get ready for a weekend filled with the best in country, Americana, and folk rock at The Long…

  20. Motor Show 2025 & Family Fun Day

    Free Admission and Free Parking VIP Paddock: Exclusive access to luxury brands like…

  21. 110 Above Festival

    Hidden away in deepest rural Leicestershire and formed in the shadow of ‘the Temple’ ruins, 110…

  22. The Ferrers Household – Living History Weekend

    Have you ever wondered how your ancestors once lived? What they did in their day-to-day life?…

  23. The Victory Show

    Held over a 100-acre site at Foxlands Farm, Cosby, Leicestershire, the Show provides Historical…

  24. Brew Beat

    Celebrating 5 years of beers, beats & good times! Leicester’s biggest free craft beer and music…

  25. Oadby Food Festival

    It’s even bigger, it’s even better… we’re excited to share that the Oadby Food Festival is…

  26. Botanic Garden Festival 2025

    Join us at the University of Leicester’s annual Botanic Garden Festival! – Tickle your taste…

  27. Sky Bet Championship: Leicester City vs Birmingham City

    Leicester City take on Birmingham City in this Sky Bet Championship fixture.

  28. Leicester Pride

    The biggest celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in the region. Leicester Pride returns for 2025!…

  29. Balloons & Tunes Festival 2025

    Join the Excitement at the Market Harborough Showground! Balloons & Tunes Market Harborough is…

  30. Fantasy Farm

    Get ready for the most magical family day out of the summer! Fantasy Farm 2025 is bursting with…

Keep exploring