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August 2009

August 2009: Events, activities performances and more...

August 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>>
 
 
Festival of British Archaeology: Hallaton Treasure
1 August, 11am – 4.30pm
Jewry Wall Museum
FREE admission
A chance to see the stunning Hallaton treasure as part of a travelling exhibition. Consisting of hoards of coins and associated finds including a Roman helmet, ingots, tankard handle, jewellery, pottery and animal bones. The treasure displays will be complimented by re-enactments suitable for all the family! An event with Harborough Museum. Find out more>>
 
 
Leicester Caribbean Carnival
1 August, 12pm – 8pm
Victoria Park
FREE event
One of the premier multi cultural events in the Midlands and this year falls on Emancipation Day. The theme is ‘tropical colours’ and this will be reflected in the colourful costumed bands and floats. Enjoy one of the biggest Street Carnivals outside of London, which culminates with celebrations on Victoria Park. A great event which caters for the entire family. Find out more>>
 
 
Humberstone Carnival
2 August, 11am – 4pm
Monks Rest Gardens
FREE event
A variety of classic cars will be on show along with live acts singing all the hits from yesteryear. Plus, a variety of stalls including a coconut shy, tombola, cake table and raffle. Find out more>>
 
 
Rathayatra
2 August, From 11.30am
Clock Tower, Humberstone Gate, Leicester City Centre,
also at Cossington Street Recreation Ground
FREE event
A colourful Hindu religious event – now in its second year. Your chance to experience a three chariot festival. Includes a procession at 11.30am from the Clock Tower through the city and culminates in activities for all the family including festive music and free vegetarian food in Cossington Park at 2.30pm. Leicester is the second city in Europe to host this festival on such a scale. Find out more>>
 
 
Help the Hedgehogs
4 August, 11am – 3pm
Newarke Houses Museum & Gardens
FREE admission
The founder of Leicester Hedgehog rescue, Colleen Powell, visits the museum with a small prickly personal assistant. Colleen will give a talk on hedgehogs and about the problems they face in today’s busy world and how we can help protect them. You can also make your own clay hedgehog to take home. Find out more>>
 
 
Organ Recital – Nigel Ogden
4 August, 8pm
Leicester Cathedral
£10 / accompanied children free
Celebrity concert part of Leicester Cathedral’s summer concerts. 7.30pm pre-performance talk and showing of one of Charlie Chaplin’s silent films accompanied by the organist.
 
 
National Play Day 2009: Make Time!
5 August, 10am – 3pm
Town Hall Square
FREE admission
Join The City Gallery Learning Team at this free event, make time to celebrate and support children’s play through creative activities. Find out more>>
 
 
Toys Tea Party
5 August, 11am – 3.30pm
Belgrave Hall Museum & Gardens
£1.70 for activities
Bring your favourite toy to Belgrave Hall’s tea party, take part in fun and games, create a fabulous play dough feast and make new toys to take home with you. Find out more>>
 
 
Have Fun with Clay Day!
6 August, 11am – 3.30pm
The Guildhall
£1.70 for activities
Come along and play with clay! Use your imagination to create your own clay sculpture to take home and keep. Trails within the museum throughout the day. Find out more>>
 
 
Market Festival
7 – 8 August, 11am – 3pm
Market Square, Leicester City Centre
FREE event
The summer festival takes place every year, on a Friday and Saturday in August. Back by huge popular demand, this year’s market festival includes Cyberstein the Robot on the 8th August.
 
 
The Three Day Time-Machine Party
7, 8 & 9 August, 11am – 4pm
Belgrave Hall Museum & Gardens
£1.70 per day
Celebrate Belgrave Hall’s 300th Birthday! On Friday we will celebrate 2009 to 1909 with a funky street party. On Saturday the Victorians will visit as we mark the years of 1909 to 1809 with a garden party. On Sunday take part in a masked ball with the Arbeau Dancers as we go back to 1709. Arts and crafts, fun and games, refreshments available. Find out more>>
 
 
 
Evington Village Fete & Show
8 August, 12pm – 5pm
Evington Village Green
FREE event
Includes face painting, Punch & Judy, a bouncy castle, mini fair ground rides and a circus workshop, also the Scottish dancers – the Seaforth  Highland Pipe Band.  Plus a show marquee displaying flowers, fruit and vegetables and arts and crafts. Find out more>>
 
 
Lemon Jelly Arts – Summer Camp 2009
10 – 14 August, 9.30am – 3.30pm
Leicester Grammar School
£100 for the week, includes a Lemon Jelly t-shirt
Want to act, dance and sing your way to success? Dreamed of recording your own radio show or making your own film? Fancy making your own props or costumes? Now you can! Learn with professionals in the performing industry. Girls and boys aged 7 – 17 years. Find out more>>
 
 
Organ Recital – Nikola Eckertova and Pavla Bockova
11 August, 8pm
Leicester Cathedral
£7 / accompanied children free
Part of Leicester Cathedral’s summer concerts series. These organists are two highly acclaimed musicians currently studying at the Royal College of Music.
 
 
Story Book Friends
12 August, 11am – 3.30pm
Belgrave Hall Museum & Gardens
£1.70 for activities
Dress up as your favourite story book character; take part in activities related to your most loved stories and listen to some magical tales being told. Refreshments available. Find out more>>
 
 
Exhibition Icons of the Incarnation by artist Sophie Hacker
12 – 24 August, 8.30am – 7pm
Leicester Cathedral
FREE admission
These artworks have recently been seen at Canterbury Cathedral and have been created in celebration of the composer Messiaen’s anniversary year.
 
 
Circus Fun
13 August, 11am – 3pm
Abbey Pumping Station
£1.70 for activities
Come dressed as your favourite circus character, make a mask and a big top elephant, follow trails around the museum and play games outside. Bring a picnic and enjoy a circus extravaganza!!
Find out more>>
 
 
Cops n Robbers – Crime and Punishment Fun Day!
13 August, 11am – 3.30pm
Performance times: 11am – 12.30pm, 1.30pm – 2.15pm & 2.45pm – 3.30pm
The Guildhall
£1.70 for activities
Come and see Bill Brookman and Friends and lock 'em up! See our trickster in the real Victorian prison, can you help the policemen catch the thief? Arts and crafts, trails and face painting throughout the day. Find out more>>
 
 
Summer Sundae Weekender 2009
14 – 16 August
De Montfort Hall Gardens & Victoria Park
Ticket prices vary
An award winning, family freindly, three-day music festival - now in its 9th year. Over 100 acts including The Charlatans, The Streets, The Zutons, Bon Iver, Saint Etienne, Noisettes and Hugh Cornwell. There's so much more to enjoy including comedy, spoken word performances, a silent disco, plus unique stalls selling cool crafts, funky clothes and culinary delights. And, for all you film lovers, expect some classic late night viewing before tucking up.
Find out more>>  |  www.summersundae.com
 
 
Kite Flying Club
15 August, 3pm – 4pm
Spinney Hill Park
Bring your kite along and join in the fun - for FREE!
 
 
Roots Reggae Dance
15 August, 10pm – 4am
DMU - Student Union
Humble Lion brings you 30 years of Roots and Culture: Mikey Dread, Ras Kayleb and The Full Chennel One Crew. Suitable for peopled aged 18+  Find out more>>
 
 
Saffron Fete
15 August, 10.30am
Aylestone Recreation Ground
FREE event
The fourth annual Saffron Summer Fete promises a range of attractions for all ages.
 
 
Pre Concert Talk on Messiaen by Prof. Nigel Simeone
18 August, 7pm – 8pm
Leicester Cathedral
See listing below for details.
 
 
Organ Recitals
18 August, 8pm
Leicester Cathedral
Adults £7 - £10 / accompanied children FREE
Join Colin Walsh (Lincoln Minster) as part of Leicester Cathedral's summer concerts.
Includes free talk - see above.
 
 
Beauty and the Beast Puppet Show
20 August, 11.30am & 2pm
The Guildhall
Tickets £3
Lock up your grownups! Brian and Rhona present Bill Brookman's madcap musical version of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. This irresistibly energetic show is like stand-up comedy for kids. Come along in your fancy dress costume, arts and crafts face painting and trails. Find out more>>
 
 
Watermead Discovery Day
22 August, 10am – 4pm
Watermead Country Park South
FREE admission
A family fun day in natural surroundings with a focus on the environment. Have a go at ancient crafts using natural materials. Try food from a wood burning oven and watch, or take part in, a Newfoundland Dog rescue display. Other activities include story telling, Punch & Judy plus much more.
 
 
Castle Park Heritage & Arts Festival
24 – 31 August
Various venues in the Castle Park Area
This year the festival remembers the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War and the part the area played in the conflict. Each day features children and family events, music events exhibitions and tours. The festival will culminate in a family day at Castle Gardens on the Bank Holiday Monday afternoon. Find out more>>
 
 
Daniel Lambert Day
25 August, 11am – 3.30pm
Newarke Houses Museum & Gardens
£1.70 for activities
Commemorate Daniel Lambert, Leicester's famous son, who died 300 years ago. Meet the man himself, take part in craft activities including workshops, badge making and trails or have a go in our Daniel Lambert competition. Refreshments available. Find out more>>
 
 
Sports Inclusion Family Fun Day
25 August, 10am – 3pm
Aylestone Leisure Centre
FREE event
A day of activity, fun, entertainment and information, for disabled children and young people aged 0  19 and their families. Wheelchair basketball, trampolining, boccia/curling, a climbing wall, arts & crafts, Cycle Magic and much more.
 
 
Fairies & Superheroes
26 August, 11am – 3.30pm
Belgrave Hall Museum & Gardens
£1.70 for activities
Put on your best fairy frock and dust down your Superman cape and become a fairy or superhero for the day! Enjoy a magical family day, including story telling, arts and craft activities, garden trailsand  games. Find out more>>
 
 
Family Fun Day: Terrible Tudors!
27 August, 11am – 3.30pm
The Guildhall
£1.70 for activities
Take part in an exciting Tudor court session! Help us make a Tudor feast out of clay and have a go in the stocks, trails, dressing up and lots more! Find out more>>
 
 
Michael Jackson 51
28 – 30 August
Curve Theatre
Ticket prices and times TBC
A music and dance extravaganza to celebrate the king of pop’s 51st birthday from Leicester’s Bollywood dance and performance academy. Find out more>>
 
 
Sports Fest
28 August
Humberstone Gate, Leicester City Centre
FREE event
A Festival of Sports with a focus on health and fitness for all the family. An opportunity to have a go at a variety of sports on offer in Leicester and to try something different, including workshops in basketball, football, skateboarding, dance and wheelchair basketball, to name a few. There will also be a fitness marquee offering free fitness checks! Find out more>>
 
 
Skyride - Leicester
30 August, 10am - 4pm
Leicester City Centre
FREE
We've removed the cars so the whole family can enjoy a traffic-free ride through the city. It's free. All you need is a bike. Go Skyride!
 
 
Eddi Reader
31 August, 8.00pm
Leicester Cathedral
Tickets £18.00
Acclaimed singer songwriter Eddi Reader will be headlining this year's award winning Castle Park Heritage and Arts Festival with a special show at Leicester Cathedral. Tickets available from The Guildhall. Find out more>>
 
 
 
City of Leicester Horticulture Show
31 August
Aylestone Leisure Centre
Now in its 13th year, this fantastic horticulture showshowcases a variety of locally grown fruit, vegetables and flowers. Pick up tips on how to grow your own produce and enter competitions in a variety of classes for children and adults.
 
 
Castle Park Heritage & Arts Festival – Family Day
31 August
Castle Gardens
Enjoy a family fun day on Castle Gardens where there will be a range of activities, displays and performances for the whole family to enjoy. Find out more>>
 
 
More to do this Summer...
Igniting Ambition
Various venues
A five year cultural programme of summer festivals and events in the East Midlands building up to the staging of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, principally funded by the Legacy Trust UK.
Find out more about Igniting Ambition>>   |  Igniting Ambition events>>

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.
And right now you can park for just £2 on Sundays (see terms and conditions) giving you even more of a reason to visit Highcross this Summer. Find out more>>
 
 
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.