Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
What's On in Leicestershire & Rutland
To search the listings, enter a keyword, location and/or date in the boxes below.
When entering a location, select the best location match from the list that appears, then click Go.
Click here to clear your search.
Bosworth Beasts Hunt
5th-31st July 2025
Venue: Bosworth Battlefield
Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk
Rabbit wants to play a game of football with the other animals found on the Bosworth site. Can you help her assemble her team? £2 per sheet, pick one up from the Ticket Office or Shop.
Fantastic Fossils Hunt
5th-31st July 2025
Venue: 1620s House and Garden
Website: www.1620shouse.org.uk
The garden team want to write a book about fossils.Can you find ten fossils hidden around site to help them get started? £2 per sheet, pick one up from the green hut. Thurs – Sun only.
Stomp Round Leicester art trail
14th July-21st September 2025
Venue: Leicester city centre, various locations
Website: https://loros.co.uk/events/2025/07/14/stomp-round-leicester
Stomp Round Leicester is a public sculpture trail that will leave a BIG impression! For 10 weeks, 40 beautifully designed giant Elephant sculptures will stampede through Leicester’s streets to commemorate...
Summer Craft Activities
15th July-2nd August 2025
Venue: Melton Carnegie Museum
Website: www.meltonmuseum.org
Free craft activities, a free trail around the museum and a special activity for £2.50. (Selected dates).
The Addams Family
15th July-10th August 2025
Venue: Curve Theatre
Website: www.curveonline.co.uk
Following two hugely successful UK tours, and sold-out concerts at The London Palladium last year, everyone’s favourite kooky family are back on stage this summer. Featuring a live orchestra and extraordinary...
Ciquoise
18th July-10th August 2025
Venue: Gates Garden Centre
Website: www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk
The contemporary style Cirquoise family circus features all the acts we love – from laughter-filled clowns to death-defying acrobatics, breathtaking jugglers, and awesome contortionists. The dazzling...
Cirquoise Circus
18th July-10th August 2025
Venue: Gates Garden Centre
Website: www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk/cirquoise
Cirquoise returns to Gates Oakham with a spectacular summer show promising breathtaking acts, new for 2025, including the thrilling Wheel of Death and a mind-bending upside-down tightrope walker, performed...
Farmarama
19th July-1st September 2025
Venue: National Forest Adventure Farm
Website: www.adventurefarm.co.uk
During the summer Adventure Farm will be hosting the ultimate beach party with gigantic paddling pools and a huge sand area to make the farm a festival of fun! Each day they will be hosting seaside shows,...
Space Across the World: Summer
19th July-31st August 2025
Venue: National Space Centre
Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk
Enjoy live science talks, hands-on activities, space-themed crafts, and interactive family fun across the Centre – there's something to explore around every corner. Even better – all day passes are...
Wondrous Trees
19th July-31st August 2025
Venue: National Memorial Arboretum
Website: www.thenma.org.uk
Designed for visitors of all ages, the exciting, interactive free summer programme will spark curiosity in the great outdoors and unlock the tales behind the trees. In addition, every Wednesday throughout...
Wistow Maze
21st July-31st August 2025
Venue: Wistow Rural Centre and Wistow Maze
Website: www.wistow.com
A giant eight acre maize maze with a fun quiz trail hidden amongst three miles of pathways, with high-level bridges and towers. Includes Activity Funyard with mini mazes and games for all the family.More...
School Holiday Fun
23rd July-31st August 2025
Venue: Statfold Country Park
Website: www.statfold.com/rails-to-victory
Visit for an affordable day out with the Steam Into Summer pass for unlimited general opening visits this Summer! Enjoy unlimited train rides or visit Toby’s Barn Soft Play to let off some steam with...
Space Club LIVE
29th July-21st August 2025
Venue: National Space Centre
Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk
If your child is interested in science and looking for something to do over the school holiday period, book a session at Space Club. Sessions aim to support and enhance learning regarding space, science...
Foam Fest
1st-31st August 2025
Venue: Manor Farm Park and Woodlands
Website: www.manorfarm.info
If you're looking for things to do with kids during the school holidays, join Manor Farm Park and Woodlands for FoamFest! Expect lots of laughs and mountains of foam in this family-friendly foam zone,...
The Wind in the Willows – Open Air Theatre
1st August 2025
Venue: 1620s House and Garden
Website: www.1620shouse.org.uk
Multiple award-winning Illyria celebrates Kenneth Grahame’s timeless tale of friendship, laughter, the longing for home and the lure of adventure. Enjoy it all summer across the UK where the story is...
Extinct Express - Family Day
2nd-3rd August 2025
Venue: Great Central Railway
Website: www.gcrailway.co.uk
Step on-board for a terrific family journey, complete with pre-historic appearances by the wonderful mini-dinosaurs! Also 13-14 September.
Summer Fair
2nd-3rd August 2025
Venue: Beaumanor Hall
Address: Woodhouse, Loughborough
Website: www.beaumanorhall.co.uk
With an array of stalls from local makers alongside a sizzling BBQ and cooling refreshments, Beaumanor's Summer Fair is unmatched. As a hub of inspirationfor gifts, foodie treats and items for the home,...
Play in a Week Summer School
4th-15th August 2025
Venue: The Little Theatre
Website: www.thelittletheatre.co.uk
Two separate and self contained Play in a Week summer school weeks.Make new friends while making new theatre. Summer Schools give you the chance to brush up on your acting skills or learn new techniques...
Alice Through The Looking Glass - Outdoor Theatre
6th August 2025
Venue: Bradgate Park
Website: www.bradgatepark.org
Join Alice on her magical journey through the looking-glass world, where nothing is quite as it seems. With live music, comedy, and Carroll’s unforgettable characters, this lively production is a perfect...
Leicester Food Festival 2025
9th-10th August 2025
Venue: Abbey Park
Website: www.leicesterfoodfestival.co.uk
With over 50 global food vendors offering everything from Greek street food to viral smashed burgers and Dubai chocolate ice cream, your taste buds are in for a treat. . Music lovers can see live bands...
Play in a Week
11th-22nd August 2025
Venue: MMC Venue
Website: www.mmcvenue.co.uk
These week-long workshops are led by working professional performers giving young people the chance to develop their skills in ensemble work, movement, script reading, monologues, puppetry and script analysis,...
The Wind in the Willows
15th August 2025
Venue: De Montfort Hall
Website: www.demontforthall.co.uk
Multiple award-winning Illyria celebrates Kenneth Grahame’s timeless tale of friendship, laughter, the longing for home and the lure of adventure. Enjoy it all summer across the UK where the story is...
Day Out With Thomas: The Party Tour
16th-17th August 2025
Venue: Statfold Country Park
Website: www.statfold.com/day-out-with-thomas-the-party-tour
Time to Party with Thomas the Tank Engine at Statfold! Spend the day creating family memories and celebrating 80 years of Thomas.There will be so much to do from rides behind steam engines Thomas, James...
DragonFest
16th-17th August 2025
Venue: Bosworth Battlefield
Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk
Dragon themed family event centred around the symbol of a Dragon found on Henry Tudor’s flag. There will be Re-enactments, Dragon themed crafts, Author talks and lots more! More details coming soon,...
Pride and Prejudice
16th August 2025
Venue: De Montfort Hall
Website: www.demontforthall.co.uk
Following seven sell-out seasons of this sparkling adaptation, award-winning Illyria returns to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday in style. Take a picnic and enjoy her at her vibrant, forthright,...
Summer Family Fun Day
17th August 2025
Venue: Abbey Pumping Station
Website: www.leicestermuseums.org
A fun family event with games to play, plenty to see with more exciting activities to be announced! An array of historic vehicles will be on display in the grounds including Leicester Museum’s collection...
The Merry Wives of Windsor
17th August 2025
Venue: De Montfort Hall
Website: www.demontforthall.co.uk
Performed in the great outdoors by five phenomenal professional actors, this fast-paced production has been created using only the First Folio text - the most authoritative edition of Shakespeare’s plays....
Pirate Day!
21st August 2025
Venue: 1620s House and Garden
Website: www.1620shouse.org.uk
Join in with the best dressed pirate competition, sea shanty singing, cutlass training, treasure hunt, join a captain’s crew and man the guns for a great pirate battle! Normal admission applies, plus...
Zippos Circus
21st-26th August 2025
Venue: Victoria Park
Website: www.zippos.co.uk
Zippos Circus is back with an all-new 2025 show and have no price increases so you pay the same as in 2024! The show is packed with edge-of-your-seat thrills. From Italy, we have the very funny Mr Lorenz...
The Big Statfold Weekender
22nd-24th August 2025
Venue: Statfold Country Park
Website: www.bigweekender.statfold.com
With performances starting at noon each day and tribute acts playing into the night, The Big Statfold Weekender offers non-stop entertainment. Your ticket also includes access to the facilities at Statfold...
The Ferrers Household – Living History Weekend
23rd-25th August 2025
Venue: Bosworth Battlefield
Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk
Visit the 15th Century campsite of the Household of Sir Walter Devereux, The Lord Ferrers, loyal supporters of the House of York. They’ll be portraying military and civilian life through out the period...
Meet The Gruffalo
24th August 2025
Venue: Great Central Railway
Website: www.gcrailway.co.uk
Steam trains and the chance to see The Gruffalo at intervals and much more!
The Koala Who Could
28th-30th August 2025
Venue: Lichfield Garrick Theatre
Website: www.lichfieldgarrick.com
An empowering and chuckle-out-loud story about embracing change — whether we like it or not. Join Kevin, King of the staying-still-kings, and his friends kangaroo and wombat in an Australian Outback...
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Open Air Theatre
30th August 2025
Venue: 1620s House and Garden
Website: www.1620shouse.org.uk
Quantum Theatre presents a brand new production of Shakespeare’s most enduringly popular play of love and intrigue, magic and celebration set on that most dangerous of nights when fairies are abroad...
Balloons and Tunes
5th-7th September 2025
Venue: Market Harborough Showground
Website: www.balloonsandtunesuk.com/events/market-harborough
Get ready for an unforgettable day of family fun and excitement! The event features a fantastic lineup of activities and entertainment, including Tribute Acts performing all your favourite hits, The dazzling,...
Leicester High School for Girls Open Morning
27th September 2025
Venue: Leicester High School for Girls
Website: www.leicesterhigh.co.uk
As an all-girls school for ages 3-18, Leicester High offers a unique environment where girls are free to be themselves, take the lead, and grow in confidence. Visitors can tour the school, meet staff and...