There's lots going on in Leicester this month – and with many events free of charge or low-cost, families with young children will be able to get out and about this summer without worrying about the cost.
The city council's Summer in the City programme runs throughout August and includes family-friendly activities such as roller-skating on Jubilee Square, pop-up fitness and circus skills on Town Hall Square and a Spark Arts Fun Café at Highcross.
There's also the chance to have a go at Parkour, enjoy a round of golf in Jubilee Square, or simply relax in a deckchair on land-locked Leicester's beach.
The popular Ride Leicester festival is also under way, with lots of free events designed to get people on their bikes, while the annual Bands on Parks programme will bring the sound of music to a park near you this summer.
For more details of events in Leicester this summer, go to visitleicester.info – and don't forget there's always free fun to be had in the city's parks, libraries and museums.
SUMMER IN THE CITY 2021
Weds 4 Aug
• Playday. Town Hall Square: 11am-3pm
• Caribbean-themed fitness, Jubilee Square: 12.30pm-1.30pm
• Golf in Jubilee Square: 10am-5pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
• Free guided walk: Thomas Cook - From Loughborough to Luxor: 10.30am. Free tickets must be pre-booked
• Belgrave Hall gardens open: 11am-4.30pm
Thurs 5 Aug
• Cosmic Wonders Circus, city centre: 12-4pm
• Seasons - a live acrobatic show by Upswing: tickets £10 for a 6-place family pod. Brite Centre (0116 299 5476): 11am and 2pm.
• Golf in Jubilee Square: 10am-5pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
Fri 6 Aug
• Seasons - a live acrobatic show by Upswing: tickets £10 for a 6-place family pod. St Barnabas Library (0116 299 5450): 11am and 2pm.
• Curve on the Square – live music, dance & spoken word: 6pm-9pm
• Golf in Jubilee Square: 10am-5pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
Sat 7 Aug:
• Virtual Caribbean Carnival: from 11am
• Golf in Jubilee Square (last day): 10am-5pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
• Seasons - a live acrobatic show by Upswing: tickets £10 for a 6-place family pod. Town Hall Square (0116 299 5450): 11am and 2pm.
• Curve on the Square, children’s workshops: 10am-12noon
• Curve on the Square, family performances: 2pm-4pm
• Curve on the Square - live music, dance & spoken word: 6pm-8pm
• Leicester City v Man City: Community Shield, Wembley: 5pm
Sun 8 Aug
• Southfields Concert Brass Band, Aylestone Hall Gardens: 3-4pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 11am-5pm
Mon 9 Aug
• Parkour with LCFC Urban Foxes on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10.30-3.30pm
• Skate Park on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10am-3pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Discover Arts Award (ages 9-12) at Leicester Museum: Mixed Media – part 1: 10-12.30pm. Booking required.
Tues 10 Aug
• Railway Day, Abbey Pumping Station. Train rides 50p. 12-4pm
• Skate Park on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10am-3pm
• Comedy Cavemen, city centre: 12-4pm
• Homewalk, Phoenix: 12-5pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
• Discover Arts Award (ages 9-12) at Leicester Museum: Mixed Media – part 2: 10-12.30pm. Booking required.
Weds 11 Aug
• Parkour on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10.30-3.30pm
• Skate Park on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10am-3pm
• Group walk: Evington village to Shady Lane Arboretum: 11am. (Free, but booking required).
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
• Homewalk, Phoenix: 12-5pm
• Belgrave Hall gardens open: 11am-4.30pm
Thurs 12 Aug
• Medieval Madness, city centre: 12-4pm
• Skate Park on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10am-3pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
• Homewalk, Phoenix: 12-5pm
• Drop-in art workshop at Leicester Museum (free, but tickets must be pre-booked): 11am-2pm
Fri 13 Aug
• Distant Drums, Orton Square: 1pm-4.30pm
• Skate Park on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10am-3pm
• Outdoor film screening: Indian Summer presents Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Green Dragon Square: 6pm-9pm
• Curve on the Square – live music, dance & spoken word: 6pm-9pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
• Homewalk, Phoenix: 12-5pm
Sat 14 Aug
• Outdoor film screening: The Jungle Book, Green Dragon Square: 2pm-4pm
• Skate Park on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10am-3pm
• Distant Drums, Humberstone Gate: 1pm-4.30pm
• Outdoor film screening: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Green Dragon Square: 6pm-9pm
• Tigers’ Fun Bus, Mattioli Woods, 1 New Walk Place: 10-2pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
• Homewalk, Phoenix: 12-5pm
Sun 15 Aug
• Free guided tours of the Guildhall (booking required): 11.30am; 1pm; 2.30pm
• Skate Park on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10am-3pm
• Ratby Co-operative Mid Band, Humberstone Park: 3-4pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 11am-5pm
• Homewalk, Phoenix: 12-5pm
• Free guided walk: Happy Holidays! 11am. Booking required.
Mon 16 Aug
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
• Skate Park on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10am-3pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
Tues 17 Aug
• Railway Day, Abbey Pumping Station. Train rides 50p. 12-4pm
• Skate Park on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10am-3pm
• Fun with the Pirates, city centre: 12-4pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
Weds 18 Aug
• Parkour on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10.30-3.30pm
• Skate Park on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10am-3pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
• Belgrave Hall gardens open: 11am-4.30pm
Thurs 19 Aug
• Fitness Disco Circus, city centre: 12-4pm
• Skate Park on New Walk Place (Mattioli Woods): 10am-3pm (last day)
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
Fri 20 Aug
• Curve on the Square – live music, dance & spoken word: 6pm-9pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
• Fun Café, Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
Sat 21 Aug
• Fun Café (final one), Highcross (near Samsung Shop), 10.30-4pm. Free tickets must be pre-booked!
• Curve on the Square, children’s workshops: 10am-12noon
• Curve on the Square, family performances: 2pm-4pm
• Curve on the Square - live music, dance & spoken word: 6pm-8pm
• The Beach, Humberstone Gate: 10am-6pm
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
Sun 22 Aug
• Liquid Brass Band, Castle Gardens: 3-4pm
• The Beach (final day: 11am-5pm)
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
Mon 23 Aug
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
Tues 24 Aug
• Railway Day, Abbey Pumping Station. Train rides 50p. 12-4pm
• Comedy Cowboys, city centre. 12-4pm
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
Weds 25 Aug
• Group walk (Victoria Park, Queens Rd, Welford Rd cemetery): 11am (free, but booking required)
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
• Belgrave Hall gardens open: 11am-4.30pm
Thurs 26 Aug
• Ugly Bugs Ball Circus, city centre: 12-4pm
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
Fri 27 Aug
• Curve on the Square – live music, dance & spoken word: 6pm-9pm
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (daily until 28 Aug): 10-6pm
Sat 28 Aug
• Brew Beat, Green Dragon Square – 100 beers, 40 live musicians, DJs, free entry: 12 noon- 9pm
• Street Art Festival, city centre: 11am-6pm
• Curve on the Square, children’s workshops: 10am-12noon
• Curve on the Square, family performances: 2pm-4pm
• Curve on the Square - live music, dance & spoken word: 6pm-8pm
• Roller Skating in Jubilee Square (last day): 10-6pm
• BMX National Championships at Huncote Leisure Centre
Sun 29 Aug
• Brew Beat, Green Dragon Square – 100 beers, 40 live musicians, DJs, free entry: 12 noon- 9pm
• Open Streets: 1pm-4pm, Green Dragon Square
• Street Art Festival, city centre: 11am-6pm
• Leicester in the 1950s – a talk at Newarke Houses Museum. Tickets £5. 2pm-3pm
• BMX National Championships at Huncote Leisure Centre
Mon 30 Aug
• Brew Beat, Green Dragon Square – 100 beers, 40 live musicians, DJs, free entry: 12 noon- 9pm
• Last day: Wildlife Photographer of the Year at Leicester Museum
Tues 31 Aug
• Comedy Cavemen, city centre: 12-4pm
Other events:
Ride Leicester: look out for events throughout August
Wildlife Photographer of the Year at Leicester Museum – until 30 Aug
Wild World Heroes – summer reading challenge (until 31 Aug)
Leicester Pride Saturday 4th September in the City centre and Victoria Park
Wish You Were Here at Newarke Houses Museum – until 26 Sept
Rockets Round Leicester - until 26 Sept
Curve on the Square (Friday evenings and Saturdays): Friday 6, Saturday 7, Friday 13, Friday 20, Saturday 21, Friday 27 and Saturday 28 August. NB: No performances or activities on Saturday 14 August.
Every Wednesday in August (apart from 4 Aug): Fitness in Town Hall Square: 12.30-1.30pm (weather permitting)
Every Friday in August: Yoga in Town Hall Square: 12.30pm-1.30pm (weather permitting)
Free guided walks throughout August: details at the Choose How You Move website