July 2009: Events, activities performances and more...
Shapeshifting: The City Gallery Summer Workshops & Events
July & August
The City Gallery
Experiment with a variety of materials and techniques to explore and create amazing art and craft. Workshops will allow you to develop a body of work that uses the qualities of the materials to inform the direction of process, focusing on ‘learning by doing’. It’s all about creative fun, so come along and join us on our five week creative journey. Open to all ages.
Find out more>>
Motion Disabled Disabled Motion
1 July – 4 August, 10am – 6pm
LCB Depot
No charge
Capturing the 3-D physical motion of actors with disabilities, utilising technology used in computer games and blockbuster films. The resulting installation initiates conversation and discussion about physical difference and disability, with linked public and schools seminars.
Braunstone Carnival
4 July
Braunstone Park
FREE entry
A colourful community carnival including floats, dance, live music and stalls plus a range of activities aimed at young people.
Quest Seekers – Leicester Libraries’ Summer Scheme
4 July – 30 August
Take part at all Leicester Libraries and on the BookBus
FREE to join and take part
Summer Scheme for children 0 – 15 with reading activities, competitions and prizes. Pick up your FREE Quest Seekers pack from 4th July, or anytime during the holidays and collect other free Quest Seeker stuff. Complete the challenge by collecting stickers as you read six books on your quest to find the Golden Book – win a magic pen and medal!
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Applause Presents: Somewhere
5 July, 7.30 pm
The Little Theatre
Tickets £12A special charity performance from the team who brought you Somewhere Over the Ruby Rainbow. A ‘world tour’ of great songs from favourite musicals featuring the Applause Company - some of the best performers from around the region. Your ‘tour guides’ will be BBC Radio Leicester’s Monica Winfield, Martin Ballard and Dave Andrews.
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Diabetes UK – Walk the Extra Mile
5 July, 11am – 1pm
Abbey Park
Take part in a 2 – 5km walk. Also suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Dogs on leads allowed too.
Organ Recitals
7 July, 8pm
Leicester Cathedral
Adults £7 - £10 / accompanied children FREE
Join Stephen Moore as part of Leicester Cathedral's summer concerts.
3 x 30 Pledge
8 July, 12noon
The Clock Tower, Leicester
FREE
Come and join us at the launch of the 3x30 Pledge Campaign, you can help us celebrate and find out how the 3 x 30 Pledge can help you lead a more healthy and active lifestyle.
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Fosse Singers & Friends
11 July, 7.30pm
The Y Theatre
£5 / £4 concessions
Inspired by Last Choir Standing? Always fancied yourself as the lead in Sister Act? Then come and join an evening of community singing, with songs from around the world.
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Leicester Belgrave Mela 2009
12 July, 11am – 6pm
Humberstone Gate and Market Place, Leicester City Centre
FREE event
The rich, colourful mix of this south Asian arts and culture festival includes a live entertainment stage, celebrity guests, community performances and a music and dance programme. The event also boasts the Mela Bazaar, featuring mouth-watering Indian food, clothing, jewellery and Asian arts stands plus much more!
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Cancer Research UK Race for Life
12 July, 11am & 2.30pm
Western Park
A brilliantly attended sponsored 5km/10km run/jog/walk for women only, in the beautiful surroundings of Western Park to help raise money for Cancer Research.
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His Dark Materials Part 1
13 – 18 July, Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Sat matinee 2.15pm
Curve Theatre
Tickets £5 - £10
This amateur show, led by the professional team at Curve Theatre, is an epic and fantastical production featuring a large cast from the community.
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Organ Recitals
14 July, 8pm
Leicester Cathedral
Adults £7 - £10 / accompanied children FREE
Join Simon Headley as part of Leicester Cathedral's summer concerts.
Kite Flying Club
18 July, 3pm – 4pm
Spinney Hill Park
Bring your kite along and join in the fun - for FREE!
Anniversary of the Moon Landings Weekend
18 – 19 July, 10am – 5pm
National Space Centre
Standard NSC ticket prices
Come and celebrate all things 1969 as the National Space Centre tells the story of the Apollo moon landings.
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Festival of British Archaeology: Archaeology Detective Agency
19 July, 11.30am – 3.30pm
Jewry Wall Museum
FREE admission
Find out how archaeologists investigate sites and finds, learn how to beat Bonekickers, follow the clues about bones and finds and collect your certificate from Inspector Norse. Tour the Roman bathhouse and hear a talk about recent archaeology in Leicester. A joint event with ULAS and the Friends of Jewry Wall Museum.
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Y Inspire
20 July – 20 August
The Y Theatre
Non-members £75 / members £65 (qualifies for Child Tax Credits)
A new creative summer scheme for children aged 5 – 12. Every week children will have the opportunity to explore their creativity through the arts by working alongside professional artists.
Organ Recitals
21 July, 8pm
Leicester Cathedral
Adults £7 - £10 / accompanied children FREE
Join Martin Setchell as part of Leicester Cathedral's summer concerts.
ZooLab – The Rainforest
22 July, 11am – 3.30pm
Belgrave Hall Museum & Gardens
£2.70 – booking essential
Take a journey through the layers of a rainforest and interact with the creatures that live there. Guided by the animal experts, this is a special opportunity for children to handle wildlife not normally seen in our back gardens! Face painting, house and garden trails, art and craft activities.
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Arty Party – Fun Craft Day for All!
23 July, 11am – 3.30pm
The Guildhall
£1.70 for activities
Bring along a t-shirt and jazz it up with fabric crayons, glitter and sparkles! Or, bring a jam jar or similar glass object and try glass painting. Quizzes and trails throughout the day.
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ILUVLYRICS
25 July, 7pm – 9pm
The Y Theatre
£5 / £3 concessions
Lyric Lounge competition for lyricists, poets and MCs. Compered by 1Xtra’s Ras Kwame. Open to all ages.
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The Lyric Lounge
25 – 31 July
The Y Theatre
Various times and ticket prices
An inspiring performance space promoting the power of poetry and spoken word as part of the cultural program for the Special Olympics.
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The New Walk Egyptian Trail
25 July, 11am – 4pm
Starts from De Montfort Hall
£5 per person (babes in arms come free!)
Join De Montfort Hall, Leicester Libraries, New Walk Museum & Art Gallery and The City Gallery for an amazing family day packed full of fun. Come along dressed for the theme and enjoy story telling, craft activities and a trail down New Walk to see the Egyptians at the museum.
Find out more>>
Celebrating New Walk
25 July – 27 September
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
FREE admission
Marking the 40th anniversary of New Walk’s status as a Conservation Area. Over 100 students have produced artworks inspired by the architecture, the environment and the historical legacy of New Walk.
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Special Olympics Leicester 2009 Opening Ceremony
25 July, 6.30pm
Walkers Stadium
The Opening Ceremony of the 8th Special Olympics Great Britain National Summer Games will be a fantastic launch to the Games week and will host a range of amazing performances commissioned especially for this one off event, involving hundreds of people from Leicestershire bringing the stadium to life.
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Special Olympics GB Leicester 2009 - giving its heart and SOL
25 – 31 July
Various venues
The Special Olympics GB 8th National Summer Games will be held in Leicester between the 25th and 31st July 2009. Special Olympics Leicester (SOL 2009) will see over 2,700 athletes representing 19 UK regions. They will participate in the Summer Games over the seven day period along with 1200 coaches and 1500 volunteers.
Find out more>>
One Leicester - One Healthy Day
26 July, 11am – 6.30pm
Humberstone Gate & Gallowtree Gate, Leicester City Centre
FREE to attend
Family-friendly health festival: your chance to get active, become fitter, eat better and lead a healthier lifestyle. Arrive by bicycle, on foot or by bus to watch or join in. Get a free health check, meet street doctors, health support and advice.
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Summer Sunday in the Gardens
26 July, 11am – 4pm
Newarke Houses Museum & Gardens
FREE admission
See the museum gardens in their summer splendour. Children can have a go at the garden trail and also take a free tour with the head gardener and learn about the history and unusual plants in this hidden garden. Why not bring a picnic hamper?
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Special Olympics Service
26 July, 4pm
Leicester Cathedral
FREE admission
Service to mark the start of the Special Olympics.
Family Dance Workshops with Foot in Hand
27 – 31 July (excludes 29th July)
Times vary, contact the venues: Peepul Centre, New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
FREE admission
Fun, creative dance sessions for parents, grandparents, siblings and friends with the disabled and non-disabled dancers of Foot in Hand.
Showcase Live
27 July, 7pm – 9pm
The Y Theatre
£5 / £3 concessions
The return of this groundbreaking showcase featuring powerful and poetic contributions from local young men, sparking debate around mental health issues. Part of Lyric Lounge.
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Mad Hatters Tea Party
28 July, 11am – 3.30pm
Newarke Houses Museum & Gardens
£1.70 for craft activities
Bring a picnic and meet the White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts and Alice. Have your face painted or try our museum trail and find the Cheshire cat! Enjoy a game of croquet on the lawn or make a Mad Hatters hat. Refreshments available.
Find out more>>
Organ Recitals
28 July, 8pm
Leicester Cathedral
Adults £7 - £10 / accompanied children FREE
Join Robert Sharpe as part of Leicester Cathedral's summer concerts.
One Night Only Igniting Ambition Dance Performance by Foot in Hand
29 July, 7.30pm
Peepul Centre
Tickets £8 – £12.50
Celebrating our differences during the Special Olympics! Beautiful music, inspiring dance and entertaining chat showcasing professional disabled and non-disabled dancers.
Recycle Magic
29 July, 11am – 3.30pm
Belgrave Hall Museum & Gardens
£1.70 for activities
Make fantastic things from your everyday household junk! Get creative with rubbish and re-use all those little bits that you never thought would come to use again! Take part in tricycle and bicycle fun with Cycle Magic.
Find out more>>
The Edge
30 July, 7pm – 9pm
The Y Theatre
£5 / £3 concessions
Talented local young people reflect on contemporary issues in this evening of compelling live performance and poetry. Part of Lyric Lounge.
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More to do this Summer...
Igniting Ambition
LoveSport
On now until 4 October
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
FREE admission
This interactive sporting experience lets you shoot for goal in Penalty Pressure, slam-dunk in Hectic Hoops basketball or Go the Distance in the Tour de France. Get active and have a go!
Find out more>>
The Really Sweaty Show - a LoveSport event
Every Saturday until 26 September
Session 1: 10.30am, Session 2: 1.30pm
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Get your tracksuit on and get active. Join in our warm up and get your heart pumping in the show that investogates our sporty bodies.
Find out more>>
Something wonderful happens on Sundays...
Highcross Leicester
St. Peter's Square
From 12 noon
From 21st June right the way through to September you can enjoy live entertainment from street
performers‚ musicians‚ and artists as well as exciting offers and competitions for all the family.
Toddler Times - Under 5's
Weekly drop-in sessions
Leicester Libraries
FREE admission
Toddler times are weekly drop-in sessions held at local libraries where you and your under 5's can play with toys and puppets, enjoy storytelling time, create with craft's, join-in with rhymes and singing. The toddler time assistant can also help with choosing books. Contact your local library to find out when and where the sessions take place.
Find out more>>
Written Repercussions - Inspiring Creativity in Young Minds
On now until 21 December
Leicester Libraries
Young people in Leicester aged between 12 - 19 years are invited to let their imaginations go wild this summer in an on-line story challeneg organised by the city's library service. It's your task to take the story further.
Find out more>>
Weird Fiction
Leicester Libraries
Summer Scheme for children aged 11+ tying in with the libraries new collection of weird fiction.
Find out more>>
Bands on Parks Season
On now until September
Various parks
A season of popular community brass band concerts taking place this summer varying from brass and silver to youth and steel pan bands.
Find out more>>
FREE Swims
16 years and under
60+ years (city residents only)
Various Leicester City Council pools
Got some spare time over the summer holidays, why not take the kids swimming? Under 16's and older people can now swim fro FREE! For more details simply pop in to any Leicester City Council Leisure Centre. Enjoy Swimming, have fun... and get fit!
Find out more>>
Playschemes in Leicester
There's a whole range of indoor and outdoor activities for school-age children during the holdidays. Some also run outings to local attractions. Contact your local SureStart Children's Centre, or drop in at: The Children's Information Service Drop-in-Centre. Freephone 0800 952 5678.
