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The first part of our review of the year was packed full of awesome events, new discoveries and the launch of a brilliant new campaign, not to mention some incredible sporting achievements. But the fun didn’t stop there. If anything it accelerated as the year went on and we had even more to talk about as summer turned into autumn and finally winter arrived. Read on to see some of our highlights of July through to December!
July
All summer long the city celebrated the 50th anniversary of arrivals from Uganda. The Where is Home, Uganda 50 exhibition at Leicester Museum charted the way the arrival of Ugandan Asians transformed our city and how the people fleeing Idi Amin’s regime contributed to Leicester’s renaissance. The exhibition has just been extended until April 2023 so there’s still time to check it out. More info here.
Hotel Brooklyn opened in July right next to the Leicester Tigers’ Welford Road stadium. Taking its inspiration from the streets of New York and Leicester itself the boutique hotel is a fantastic addition to our city. Find out more and book your stay here.
Leicester was in the news worldwide as work took place on the creation of Europe’s tallest piece of street art. The artwork was created by local artists Wing Lo, Richard Peacock and Leigh Drummond with support from BID Leicester and Graffwerk. Read The Guardian story about the piece.
Our Summer in the City celebrations started in July with the awe inspiring sight of an original Supermarine Spitfire in Leicester’s Jubilee Square. It was part of the RAF Museum’s regional tour and allowed visitors to experience this beautiful plane up close and sit in a replica cockpit.
August
All summer long, visitors could discover ten specially designed globes dotted around Leicester. The World Reimagined was a national project across 7 cities aimed at transforming understanding of the Transatlantic slave trade. Each globe was painted by a different artist with their interpretation of what the theme means to them. Find out more on the website.
Every summer the residents of Cosby, a village in the Blaby District, get out their needles and decorate buildings, bridges and trees with their knitted creations. The Cosby Yarn Bomb is a fantastic way to explore this beautiful place and showcases the amazing creativity of local people.
August was time to party in Leicester as the Caribbean Carnival hit the streets. The Carnival is one of the largest in the UK with thousands of people taking to the city for the parade and then packing out Victoria Park for a day full of music, jerk chicken, celebration and more music.
The temperature soared this summer, with thermometers pushing 40 degrees in the hottest period the country has ever seen. It did make for some spectacular photography as people took to parks and gardens and enjoyed the long scorching days.
Summer is the perfect time for exploration and in August we took a walk round the beautiful grounds of Belvoir Castle. The castle, which was featured in Netflix’s The Crown is one of the highlights of a trip to Leicester and you can even take your dog there to explore the 16,000 acres of gardens and woodlands.
September
September kicked off with a riot of colour as the annual Leicester Pride parade came to the city, and it was fabulous! Thousands of people packed into Victoria Park to dance, sing and celebrate themselves.
It’s the biggest and best wartime recreation event in the UK and The Victory Show did not disappoint this year. With tank displays, wartime aircraft flying over and hundreds of historical re-enactors with more than 50 encampments. They’re back for 2023, so put it in your diary now! More info on the Victory Show website.
Our Summer in the City celebrations concluded in the best possible way as a giant free roaming puppet called Storm came to Leicester. Crowds were stunned as this huge creature (which was intended to raise awareness of sea pollution) tramped through the streets.
In mid-September, De Montfort University and the British Science Association brought the British Science Festival to Leicester. The festival was a mind expanding week of free lectures, public demonstrations and exhibits.
The Force was with us as we went from the National Space Centre to a galaxy far far away with the Star Wars convention Return of the Garrison. Cosplayers, artists, talks and stars of the Star Wars films made this a weekend you won’t forget!
It was a sad and reflective end to September as Leicestershire stopped to mourn the sad death of Her Majesty the Queen. Our monarch, who had visited Leicester many times in her 70-year reign, will be much missed.
October
Leicester Restaurant Week returned after its successful debut in 2022 and this time it was even bigger and better as restaurants, pubs and cafes offered fantastic deals on their menus and we tried some of the fantastic dishes available.
2022 marked 10 years since the historic discovery of King Richard III in Leicester, and the year also saw the release of The Lost King, a new film starring Steve Coogan and Sally Hawkins, telling the story of the search for and discovery of the medieval monarch. Discover the real-life story behind the film here.
This was the first full Diwali festival since the COVID pandemic following last year’s more subdued festivals and Leicester didn’t disappoint. Thousands of people filled the Golden Mile for the parade and fireworks display that marked the lights switch on and beginning of the Hindu festival of light. Leicester
In 2023 Leicester Comedy Festival will turn 30, and they announced a bumper line-up for the festival in October. You can explore the shows and book your tickets now on the Comedy Festival website.
November
The fireworks continued into November as Bonfire night kicked off the month. Abbey Park was packed with tens of thousands of people who were treated to a spectacular display and HUGE bonfire (seriously, we’ve only just got our eyebrows back!)
Donington has a special place in the hearts of heavy metal fans everywhere and the Download Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary next year. They announced the line up for 2023 in November, including two nights headlined by the mighty Metallica who have played at the iconic racetrack venue eight times!
The England Women’s rugby team reached the World Cup final in November inspired by Leicestershire’s Emily Scarratt who was immortalised with this artwork at her childhood club Leicester Forest RFC. The ladies were narrowly beaten by New Zealand in the final, but they made the nation proud.
The history of Loughborough’s Fair goes back to medieval times, and it returned to the market town in November with rides, stalls and all the fun that could be expected! Uncover the Story here.
December
It’s a Christmas Cracker in Leicester this year as the city lights up with a new-look Town Hall Square, the fantastic giant tree and of course the brilliant Jubilee Square Ice Rink and Wheel of Light, which are open until the New Year. Book your skating session here.
Who doesn’t love animals in festive costumes? But of course in Leicestershire they like to do things differently, and these festive Alpacas were the stars of the show as Charnwood Forest Alpacas open their doors for Christmas adventures including mini festive alpaca walks, donkey/pony rides, mulled wine and the craft fair Ice Rink. You can take an alpaca adventure throughout the year.
It was none more festive at Belvoir Castle as visitors immersed themselves in a magical fairyland inspired by Cinderella. And at the bottom of the hill, the Engine Yard hosted a magical festive experience with gifts, ice rink and chance to meet Santa and his elves
The Canal and River Trust confirmed what we already know, that we have some of the best scenery in the country! This shot of the canal near Wistow was voted the most picturesque canal view in the UK by more than a million people! Read the article here.
From 40 degree temperatures in August to minus 8 in December, in the run up to Christmas we may not have had the snow that blanketed some parts of the UK, but we did have the rare sight of the fountain in Town Hall Square frozen solid. And what better way to conclude our journey through 2022 than with this festive image!
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As we look back at these highlights, it's also a good time to consider how to manage finances, especially with all the festivities and celebrations. For those who might have found themselves spending a bit more than planned, there are various loan options and debt management tools available. Apps like Upstart and SoFi offer personal loans with user-friendly experiences, while platforms like Credit Karma can help you stay on top of your credit score and find suitable loan options, learn more about options from this article https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/make-2000-fast-10-genius-tips-you-need-try-denys-volhin-zckmf . It's important to stay informed and make smart financial choices to enjoy all that life has to offer without the burden of debt. Here's to a prosperous and eventful 2023!