Each year Leicester hosts many amazing festivals, from the biggest Diwali celebrations outside of India to the spectacular music festival - Summer Sundae Weekender - at De Montfort Hall and Gardens.
To ensure you don't miss out, One Leicester has listed some of the city's major annual festivals below...
January
February
Leicester Comedy Festival | www.comedy-festival.co.uk
The Leicester Comedy Festival started in 1994 with 40 events programmed into 23 venues over 7 days throughout Leicestershire. An ever growing event, the comedy festival is one of Leicester's major winter attractions now taking place over 17 days. The festival features a whole host of big name established acts and the hottest in new talent.
March
April
Christ in the Centre | www.christinthecentre.co.uk
Every Good Friday thousands of people gather in the centre of Leicester to watch a dramatic
re-enactment of of Jesus' last days.
St. George's Festival | www.leicester.gov.uk/festivals
The St. George's Festival celebrates the old and the new with a fun-filled week of activites and events in and around the St. George's area of the city.
May
Spark Children's Arts Festival (May - June) | www.sparkfestival.org.uk
The Spark Children's Arts Festival is a 14 day feast of circus, theatre, dance, music, puppetry and sculpture for children and young people aged 0 - 13 years, specially created by a range of regional, national and international companies.
June
Leicester Riverside Festival | www.leicester.gov.uk/festivals
Family fun on and off the water. The event offers boat trips, live music, stalls, displays and an exciting choice of activities for children, making it a funpacked weekend. The Festival takes place during the first weekend of June each year.
Big Session Festival | www.bigsessionfestival.com
The Big Session Festival at De Montfort Hall and Gardens has carved out a cosy niche on the periphery of the folk music scene. The event provides family freindly festival-goers with the best of acoustic, folk and roots music. There's also a proper session bar, giving you the opportunity to take along your own instrumnets and join in! In 2008, the festival won the Greener Festival Award.
July
Leicester Belgrave Mela | www.leicester-mela.co.uk
The rich, colourful mix of this south Asian arts and culture festival includes live entertainment, celebrity guests, community performances and 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!
August
Leicester Caribbean Carnival | www.leicestercarnival.com
The Leicester Caribbean Carnival is the biggest multi cultural event in the Midlands. It is celebrated each year on the first Saturday in August with a parade around the city of Leicester (usually taking in the city centre and the suburb of Highfields), culminating in an event on Victoria Park.
Summer Sundae Weekender | www.summersundae.com
An award winning, family freindly, three-day music festival at De Montfort Hall and Gardens showcasing over 100 acts. As well as fantastic live music from well known acts, there's also comedy, spoken word performances, silent discos, plus unique stalls selling cool crafts, funky clothes and lots of culinary delights.
Castle Park Heritage & Arts Festival | www.leicester.gov.uk/festivals
Castle Park Heritage and Arts Festival embraces Leicester's heritage with lively events, activities and performances for all ages helping to commemorate the past, present and future within the historic heart of the city.
September
Leicester International Music Festival | www.musicfestival.co.uk
World class artists bring the best of classical, jazz and world music to the city each year in September! The festival celebrates national and international recognition for high quality musical performances.
Navratri | www.leicester.gov.uk/festivals
Navratri is the Hindu festival of nine nights. Leicester is the number one city in UK to celebrate the festival.
Dashera | www.leicester.gov.uk/festivals
A giant effigy of a Hindu deity is set alight as part of celebrations marking the religious festival of Dashera. Dashera is the culmination of the nine-day Navratri festival.
October
Black History Season | www.leicester.gov.uk/festivals
Black History Season promotes the history and contribution that African and Caribbean communities have made to Leicester, helping to understand the present through our past.
Diwali Celebrations | www.leicester.gov.uk/festivals
Leicester's Diwali celebrations are the largest in the world outside of India, and about 60,000 people attended the switch-on of the lights each year. Over 3,000 feet of lights adorn Belgrave Road. This is a cultural festival you do not want to miss on a visit to Leicester!
November
Abbey Park Bonfire & Firework Display | www.leicester.gov.uk/festivals
Abbey Park bonfire & firework display is a spectacular show and is Leicester’s Biggest Display. The event takes place each year on the first Saturday in November and celebrates the foiling of the Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot of the 5th November 1605.
Christmas Lights Switch On | www.leicester.gov.uk/festivals
Leicester's Christmas light switch on ceremony takes place on the penultimate Sunday in November each year. The event takes place in Leicester's Town Hall Square and marks the start of the wonderful festive celebrations that take place throughout the city.
December
Hanukkah Light Switch On | www.leicester.gov.uk/festivals
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem - the light switch on ceremony takes place on Victoria Park each year during December.
Back to what's on home>>
