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. Mars: War and Peace

    From the artist behind the beloved Museum of the Moon and Gaia, Luke Jerram’s fusion of Mars…

  2. Step Back in Time: Great Central Railway’s 1940s…

    Join us for a memorable journey back to 1945 during our 1940s Weekend, from May 31 to June 1,…

  3. Bunting over a river with kayakers on it

    Riverside Festival

    Taking over the banks of the River Soar, the historic Castle Gardens and De Montfort University camp…

  4. Craig David

    British R&B singer, songwriter, rapper, DJ and producer who rose to fame in 1999. As one of the…

  5. Download Festival

    Download Festival is the home of rock and takes place on the sacred grounds of Donington Park,…

  6. Park Series Leicester: UB40 ft. ALI CAMPBELL +…

    Get ready for an electrifying night of reggae as UB40 ft Ali Campbell takes the stage at Abbey…

  7. Nevill Holt Festival grounds with well dressed visitors

    Nevil Holt Festival 

    Held at the beautiful Nevil Holt Estate in Harborough District, this is Leicestershire’s answer to t…

  8. 42nd Street

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

  9. Last Night of the Proms

    Join us once again for a fantastic evening of rousing music. The ever-popular 33-piece British…

  10. CQ Earlies

    Free As capacity is limited, we are asking customers to book for these sessions. Please book…

  11. Leicester Comedy Festival in the Botanic Garden

    Summer is on the way, and comedy’s in bloom! Join us for a specially curated lineup of festival…

  12. The Windrush Tea Party

    Want a day of music games good drinks and Caribbean food? Come and celebrate the legacy and…

  13. Vainburg Vikings – Living History Weekend

    Step back in time to an era when Vikings ruled in Leicestershire. Immerse yourself in the…

  14. Leicester Print Festival

    Leicester Print Workshop is very happy to announce their annual Print Festival is back for…

  15. Leicester CAMRA Beer Festival

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

  16. Armed Forces Day Service & Parade

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

July

  1. CQ Earlies

    Free As capacity is limited, we are asking customers to book for these sessions. Please book…

  2. Dark Horse Ladies Day

    Featuring ‘Sophie Ellis Bextor’ live 9pm until 10.15pm and ‘Mark Wright’ DJ from 7.30pm until…

  3. T20 Blast: Leicestershire Foxes vs Birmingham Bears

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

  4. People walking though the maze

    Wistow Maze & Wistow Rural Centre

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

  5. Jewry Wall Museum

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

  6. Rail Ale Festival

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

  7. Melton SKA Fest

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

  8. Shilton by the Sea

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

August

  1. CQ Earlies

    Free As capacity is limited, we are asking customers to book for these sessions. Please book…

  2. Leicester Food Festival

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

  3. Feast Hinckley 2025

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

  4. Motor Show 2025 & Family Fun Day

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

  5. 110 Above Festival

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

  6. The Ferrers Household – Living History Weekend

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

  7. The Victory Show

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

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