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. 

June

  1. Nevill Holt Festival grounds with well dressed visitors

    Nevill Holt Festival 

    Held at the beautiful Nevill Holt Estate in Harborough District, this is Leicestershire’s answer to…

  2. 42nd Street

    A new production for 2025 from the creative team that brought you “Hairspray” and “Singin’ in…

  3. CQ Earlies

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

  4. Leicester CAMRA Beer Festival

    After the success of last year, the Leicester CAMRA Beer Festival is back at Abbey Pumping…

  5. Galactic Gathering – Festival of the Force

    Head to a galaxy not so far, far away for a weekend of intergalactic family fun at the National…

  6. Guildhall Summer Craft Fair

    Visit Leicester’s beautiful medieval Guildhall where you can eat, drink, shop or browse for…

  7. Armed Forces Day Service & Parade

    As part of Armed Forces Day, a parade of military personnel will step off at around 11am from…

  8. Blaston Show

    Blaston Show is a fantastic family day out, with livestock classes, horse and pony classes,…

  9. 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…

July

  1. An Indian Summer

    Inspirate’s flagship festival, An Indian Summer, is back this year from 2-6 July, bringing a…

  2. CQ Earlies

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

  3. Belvoir Castle Garden Show

    Immerse yourself in floral splendour at Belvoir Flower and Garden Show, a captivating blend of…

  4. Stomp Round Leicester

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

  5. Cosmopolitan Arts Festival

    Get ready to be dazzled as the Cosmopolitan Arts Festival takes over Leicester to showcase the…

  6. T20 Blast: Leicestershire Foxes vs Birmingham Bears

    Leicestershire Foxes take on Birmingham Bears in this T20 Blast fixture.

  7. A family in Wistow Maze

    Wistow Maze & Wistow Rural Centre

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

  9. Jewry Wall Museum

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

  10. Rail Ale Festival

    Over sixty real ales and twenty ciders on offer. Join us at this years festival, held in…

  11. Melton SKA Fest

    A rudeboy revival comes to Melton Mowbray this summer, with the arrival of Melton SKA Fest…

  12. Shilton by the Sea

    Family fun day with fair rides, giant sand pits, bungee trampolines, donkey rides, food stall,…

  13. Barefoot Festival

    The rumours are true, we are back with a bang in 2025! This year, we are back at the charming…

  14. 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…

August

  1. Leicester Caribbean Carnival

    Welcome to Leicester Caribbean Carnival 2025. The theme for this year is Freedom For All. All…

  2. Legends of Soul

    If you’re looking for a feel-good summer evening of live music and great company, join us at…

  3. Curve on the Square

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

  4. Back2Fest

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

  5. CQ Earlies

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

  6. Leicester VJ Day celebrations

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

  7. Xstatic Summer Festival 2025

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

  8. Leicester Mela

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

  9. For the Love of Jazz Festival

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

  10. Fake Festival

    LEICESTER! Ready to rock?! The stage is set for an ultimate music explosion as we roll into town…

  11. Home Grown Leicestershire

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

  12. Leicester Food Festival

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

  13. Feast Hinckley 2025

    Your free entry food festival will feature around 45 plus street food vendors catering for all…

  14. Motor Show 2025 & Family Fun Day

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

  15. 110 Above Festival

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

  16. The Ferrers Household – Living History Weekend

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

  17. The Victory Show

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

  18. Brew Beat

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

  19. Leicester Pride

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

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