Summer events in the county
From food festivals to soap box derbies, Leicestershire has more than its share of offbeat events and festivals. Becky Jones looks at what’s in store
LOUGHBOROUGH 5k Loughborough Town Centre May 29
This is a 5k for everyone and is in aid of Cancer Research UK. The race starts in Queen’s Park in the town and gets under way at 10.30am. See the Cancer Research UK website for more details.
The town hosts a Race for Life later in the year.
BRING THE PAINT Leicester, May 23-29
The award-winning international street art festival returns, bringing together renowned artists from across the globe to transform the city centre with world-class music and art. There will also be workshops, food and drink and a skate and BMX arena.
GLASTONBUDGET Turnpost Farm, Wymeswold, June 2-4
This year, the tribute festival will host the Best of British Weekend, with the Bootleg Beatles and Mercury confirmed as headliners. Recreating the biggest hits from the biggest British bands, renowned tribute acts Antarctic Monkeys, Kazabian and Oasish have also joined the lineup.
DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL Donington Park, June 10-12
Get ready to have your world rocked this summer. Rock royalty and heavy metal icons will unite for a weekend of unapologetic show and spectacle. Headliners Kiss, Iron Maiden and Biffy Clyro will be joined by big names including The Pretty Reckless, Korn, A Day To Remember, Code Orange and Mastodon.
THE HALAL FOOD FESTIVAL Morningside Arena, Leicester, June 26
Expect world cuisine, live cooking demos, street food stations, a mocktail lounge, special guest chefs and influencers, plus much more!
11th ANNUAL SOAP BOX DERBY Hinckley, June 26
A tremendous day out for the teams and spectators alike. Watch as entrants steam down the 200 metre Castle Street hill for a chance to become the ultimate driving champ.
TIMBER FESTIVAL Feanedock Covert, National Forest, July 1–3
A weekend of music and art that celebrates nature and re-examines our relationship with the natural world. Acts already announced include the Penguin Café Orchestra Haiku Salut and The Turbans, alongside Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, who will read from his new book and also hit the decks for a throwback DJ set, while author Max Porter has a very special performance planned.
PIE FEST Melton Market, August 6-7
Another date for the diary! The national celebration of pies returns with a huge selection of sweet and savoury, hot and cold delights.
JOURNEYS FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL Leicester, August 12-15
Celebrating the creative talent of exceptional refugee and asylum seeker artists, this festival will offer a powerful mix of visual and digital art exhibitions, virtual reality installations, performances, food gatherings, films and animations created by artists (and chefs) from around the globe.
THE WORLD REIMAGINED Leicester, August 13 to October 16
Leicester has been announced as one of seven UK cities that will host this national art education project that aims to transform understanding of the Transatlantic slave trade with a trail of 10 stunning globe sculptures throughout the city centre.
VAN GOGH: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
All Saints Church, Highcross Street, Leicester, until August 22 Explore the worldrenowned works of Vincent Van Gogh like never before. Step in to the spectacular universe of one of the greatest figures in art history and delve into the painter’s extraordinary life.
LEICESTERSHIRE FIREWORKS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Belvoir Castle, August 20
Now in its 14th year, the UK’s best firework companies compete against each other in a choreographed display, followed by a spectacular finale.
THE VICTORY SHOW Foxlands Farm, Cosby, September 2-4
The largest Second World War reenactment of its kind in the UK, the three-day event gives an insight into the war years and allows visitors to get up close to the static aircraft, tanks and military vehicles.
HINCKLEY BID’S 11th ANNUAL MOTOR SHOW
Hinckley town centre, September 18 Hundreds of vehicle owners from all over the Midlands and beyond filled the town centre and Argents Mead on a Sunday last year to show off their beautiful and carefully restored machines to a crowd of several thousand people. There will be entertainment for the children, ice cream and face painting, making it a fantastic day out for all the family.
Many of the town’s cafes, bars and shops will be open too. If you attend one motor show this year, make sure it’s this one. It’s free to exhibit for classic vehicles and vehicles of special interest and free to attend as a spectator.
FOOD FESTIVAL
Melton Livestock Market, October 1-2
A huge foodie festival, featuring about 200 stalls selling the finest cheese, pies, charcuterie and chocolate.
Leicester and Leicestershire are home to an array of unusual and fascinating, weird and wacky events
RACE FOR LIFE 5k
Queens Park, Loughborough, Sunday, October 3
This colourful event attracts thousands of participants in aid of Cancer Research UK.
CHOCFEST
Melton Market, November 19-20 Enjoy all things chocolate – pizza, puddings, liqueurs, beer, even chocolate kebabs – from some of the UK’s best chocolatiers. There will also be talks, tastings and chocolate-making workshops.
■ For more information on sights to see, things to do and places to stay in Leicester and Leicestershire, visit: