In roman, history, event, family, easter, holidays

Step into the world of the Romans and celebrate St George with a weekend of adventure, as the Old Town Festival celebrates our city’s 2,000 years of history with loads of hands-on fun and entertainment.

There’s also a chance to be part of the biggest public building project in Leicester as we recreate the city’s long lost Roman Forum, full size, out of cardboard boxes! You can sign up here.

So come and join the fun on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April in Leicester’s Old Town!

Living Roman History in Jubilee Square

All weekend long you can step back in time at the Roman living history camp, meet a Roman trader and find out about the skills and tools they needed. You can also join Leicester’s legion, wield a sword and raise your shield for victory with Roman Warrior training. You can also discover the secrets of Roman religion and watch a real Roman parade (with cycle chariots!) through the streets of Ratae (that’s what the Romans called Leicester!).

Celebrate St George

It’s widely believed that the real life St George was a Roman soldier from 3rd century Turkey, so he fits right in! Join in with all the fun of St George’s Day in Cathedral Gardens with Enchanted Face Painting, Inferno the Dragon, Stilt Walking Jesters and Morris Dancing

Story telling and theatre

From Sir Guinebeard and Ladylot to Mystic Merlina, Spartapuss and Vlad the Flea, there are loads of opportunities for your little ones to step back in time with thrilling tales of heros, legends and fun interpretation of history. These are all taking place around Cathedral Gardens, Jubilee Square and the Guildhall on Saturday 26 April only.

Get hands on with history!

There are loads of chances to get creative throughout the weekend (and the week before). You can join workshops to help build the pieces of the Roman Forum from Monday 21 to Friday 25 April. Just email festivals@leicester.gov.uk to book a slot. You’re invited to help raise the monument on Saturday 26 April and then to come back to destroy it on Sunday 27!

There’s also dressing up and a creative corner in Cathedral Gardens, a chance to build an urban mosaic in the Guildhall on Saturday and unearth the secrets of the past with archaeology in Jubilee Square all weekend long.

Talks trails and tours

For the grown-ups or those who want to explore the real history of Leicester there are walking tours around the historic heart of the city, taking in St Nicholas Church, our oldest place of worship, Leicester Cathedral and Richard III, plus the links between Shakespeare and St George in the Guildhall.

You can also join talks from top historians and archaeologists Raksha Dave and Matthew Morris or learn more about Septimus Severus, the first African Emperor of Rome. And find out more about the Roman Army and how it worked or a theatrical walk exploring real life Roman Leicester.

And there’s more!

You can browse the moder day craft market in the Guildhall and Cathedral Gardens from 12-5pm each day and pick up a special gift. The Haymarket are also running two days of Roman themed fun on Thursday and Friday, with the chance to help build the cycle chariots that will be featured in the parade.

The Old Town Festival Brochure

Check out the Old Town festival brochure right here (PDF)

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