What's On in Leicestershire & Rutland

Planet Parade

Venue: Leicester City Centre

Website: www.planetparade.co.uk

Planet Parade is a city-wide, family-friendly trail turning the city centre into a city-wide solar system. Perfect for Easter holidays and weekend adventures, Planet Parade blends art, science and play,...

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

Venue: The Little Theatre

Website: https://thelittletheatre.co.uk

The tale of four children – Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie – evacuate from London during the Blitz to stay with a professor. Whilst exploring their new home, Lucy stumbles across a curious...

Heritage Bus and Rail Weekend

Venue: Great Central Railway PLC

Website: www.gcrailway.co.uk

This popular annual event brings together up to 50 heritage and modern buses each day, from beautifully restored 1930s classics to more modern vehicles. The event offers a great day out for transport enthusiasts,...

Leicester Pretty Muddy Kids

Venue: Braunstone Park, Goodings Avenue

Website: www.raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org

Pretty Muddy® Kids is a fun-packed muddy obstacle course for children aged 6-12 (over 1.2m tall). The course is approximately 5k which is just over three miles, and there's no pressure to finish in a...

The Spark Festival 2026

Venue: Various venues

Website: thesparkarts.co.uk

This much loved festival fills Leicester with theatre, music and hands on creative experiences designed especially for children and families. Alongside activity in schools during the week, families can...

Ashby Soapbox Derby

Venue: Market Street, Ashby de la Zouch

Website: https://visitnationalforest.com

Get ready to experience the thrill of a lifetime at the Ashby Soapbox Derby 2026! Whether you’re racing to victory, dazzling the crowd with your creativity, or cheering from the side lines, this action-packed...

Emergency Services Day

Venue: Abbey Pumping Station

Website: www.leicestermuseums.org/

Enjoy a fun, action packed day out for all the family at Abbey Pumping station. With fire engines, flashing lights, police cars, ambulances and so much more! Plus kids dress up zone – kids can dress...

Sunday Sessions: Give it a go!

Venue: Attenborough Arts Centre

Website: https://attenborougharts.com

Join the friendly learning team in the sensory Salmon Gallery to get creative with a choice of arts and crafts in response to the major exhibition: ‘Material Worlds: Contemporary Artists and Textiles’...

Shrek The Musical

Venue: The Little Theatre

Website: https://thelittletheatre.co.uk

Shrek presents a treasure trove of creative opportunities including costumes, sets, puppets (there is a fire-breathing dragon after all), and more! Irreverently fun for the whole family, Shrek proves that...

Pirate Party

Venue: National Space Centre

Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk

An after-hours Pirate Party celebrating 30 years of Muppet Treasure Island, featuring film screenings, live music performance, treasure hunts, access to the galleries, and pirate-themed fun.This special...

Boom Circus: Pirates of the Big Top

Venue: Belvoir Castle

Website: www.belvoircastle.com

Bringing their extraordinarily talented team of acrobats, jugglers and aerial athletes, Boom Circus promises to wow the crowds with astonishing routines in their brand-new Pirate-themed production. Spectacular...

Discover Your Railway

Venue: Great Central Railway

Website: www.gcrailway.co.uk

Join Great Central Railway for a special day out to celebrate them winning the Best Day Out in Leicestershire Award! Offering local residents discounted tickets. It’s your chance to explore behind the...

King Arthur and the Holy Fail - Outdoor Theatre

Venue: Lyddington Village Green

Website: www.threeinchfools.com

In a land of daring quests, dashing knights, and endless jousting, there lived a would-be hero – waiting in the wings – who went by the name of Arthur. Destiny awaits, chivalry calls, and the quest...

May Family Workshop

Venue: Modern Painters, New Decorators

Address: Aumberry Gap

Website: www.visitleicester.info

Family workshops are relaxed, creative sessions where you can make, play and explore together. Includes a range of sensory toys, books and objects in the family resource area to support creative play....

May Half Term - Mission Space

Venue: National Space Centre

Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk

Launch into adventure this May half term with Mission Space! Enjoy family talks, hands-on workshops, and a thrilling trip on the Tharsis spacecraft at the National Space Centre. With the whole Centre to...

The Circus Workshops

Venue: Belvoir Castle

Website: www.belvoircastle.com

Get ready to unleash your inner performer with fun-filled circus workshops, available on selected days only. Perfect for kids and adults alike, these interactive sessions are designed to teach exciting...

The Pirate Adventure Trail

Venue: Belvoir Castle

Website: www.belvoircastle.com

Perfect for families looking to add a little extra adventure to their visit, the Pirate Adventure Playground Trail is a fun-filled quest that will have young buccaneers hunting for treasure and creating...

K-Pop All Stars

Venue: De Montfort Hall

Website: www.demontforthall.co.uk

Ride the global K-pop wave with K-POP All Stars - the explosive live celebration of the music, the artists, and the culture taking over the world. Feel the power of stadium-sized anthems, razor-sharp choreography,...

Turtle Key Arts: Sisters 360

Venue: Attenborough Arts Centre

Website: www.attenborougharts.com

Fatima and Salima are hijabi-wearing step-sisters with one goal: win the Tiny is Mighty skateboarding competition. But when family tensions threaten their dream, only a daring super-plan can save the day...

Knight School

Venue: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park

Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk

Wanted: Brave squires of ages 5 – 14 years to join Sir John of Bosworth on a noble quest against tyranny! Pass the training and become a Knight of the Realm. There are two sessions running 11am – 12pm...

Stupidest Super Stupid Show

Venue: Lichfield Garrick Theatre

Website: www.lichfieldgarrick.com

After a sell out run at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, award-winning comedian and children's author Olaf Falafel is dishing up another frying pan full of family-friendly comedy. Expect jokes, poos on pogo...

Half Term Railway Day

Venue: Abbey Pumping Station

Website: www.leicestermuseums.org

Enjoy the May half-term holiday at Abbey Pumping Station, with a ride on the narrow gauge locomotive in action. The Steam Railway will be running for just £1 per ride. Entry to the museum and grounds...

The Ultimate Bubble Show

Venue: Century Theatre

Website: www.centurytheatre.co.uk

Ray Bubbles, International Bubbleologist and World Record Holder, is on a mission to master the art of bubble-making and create the ultimate square bubble! The performance is suitable for children and...

Fairies and Bugs

Venue: Newarke Houses

Website: www.leicestermuseums.org

Make a ladybird or bee hat and a flying fairy. Take part in the bug hunt trail around the gardens and spot the funny fairies around the museum. Dressing up welcome.Crafts and activities, £4 per child...

Space Cadets Online

Venue: National Space Centre Online

Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk

Spark your child’s curiosity and love for space science with online Space Club sessions, hosted by the National Space Centre Discovery Team. Each 60-minute session is packed with exciting talks, fun...

Top Secret – The Magic of Science

Venue: The Little Theatre

Website: https://thelittletheatre.co.uk/

Fusing the mystery of magic with wondrous and miraculous feats of science. Hang on to your seats and experience a non-stop action packed interactive magical science show with experiments and magic that...

Clay Play Day

Venue: The Guildhall

Website: www.leicestermuseums.org

Visit the Guildhall and create your own clay art or model from air drying clay to take home. They have lots of ideas for things to make and there will be extra craft materials you can use too. Suitable...

Clay Play Day!

Venue: Leicester Guildhall

Website: www.leicestermuseums.org

Visit the Guildhall this half term and create your own clay art or model from air drying clay to take home. Suitable for kids of all ages. Take an apron, some hand wipes and a tub to carry your creation...

Peter Pan

Venue: Loughborough Town Hall

Website: www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk

An adaptation of J. M. Barrie’s story about a boy who never grew up. The three children of the Darling family receive a visit from Peter Pan, who takes them to Never Land, where an ongoing war between...

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Venue: Lichfield Garrick Theatre

Website: www.lichfieldgarrick.com

Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. Don’t miss this stunning stage adaptation of the classic tale of teatime mayhem......

Ashby Arts Festival

Venue: Various venues

Website: www.ashbyartsfestival.co.uk

Ashby Arts Festival is shaping up to be a vibrant, town wide celebration of creativity, with outdoor art, live performances, handson workshops, film nights, and community events running throughout May...

Harborough Summer Fest

Venue: Market Harborough Showground

Website: www.harboroughsummerfest.co.uk

Harborough Summerfest Brings Monster Trucks, Explosive Arena Action, Live Music, and Adrenaline Fuelled Thrills for the Ultimate Family Adventure! Multiple zones and arenas offer families an array of activities...

Knights in Battle – Living History Weekend

Venue: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park

Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk

See armoured knights in a thirteenth-century foot tournament, known as a ‘Feast of Arms’: a clash between knights for glory and riches. Will the knights of the Foul Lord defeat those who fight alongside...

Monster Truck Motorfest Leicester

Venue: Leicester Racecourse

Website: https://ramonsterevents.com/event/monster-truck-motorfest-leicester

Experience the mighty Slingshot Monster Truck, Flyin Ryan - fast moving, daredevil motorbike display with huge jumps, pyrotechnic stunts, wheelies and freestyle tricks and Stuntshowsuk — Motorbikes,...

Taylormania

Venue: De Montfort Hall

Website: www.demontforthall.co.uk

Having taken Swiftie fans across the world by storm, Taylormania celebrates not only the chart topping hits but also beloved deep cuts, alongside hits including Shake It Off, Blank Space, Love Story, You...

Justin Live - Justin Time To Rock

Venue: De Montfort Hall

Website: www.demontforthall.co.uk

Get ready to sing, dance and laugh along with BAFTA Award-winning Justin, star of Something Special, Justin’s House, Gigglebiz and Gigglequiz as he and his friends are back in a brand-new live theatre...

Kumon Free Registration

Venue: Various venues

Website: www.kumon.co.uk

Now is the perfect time for your family to discover the benefits of Kumon, as the Kumon Study Centres are now offering Free Registration to new and returning students from 1-30 June. Take this opportunity...

Family Summer Festival

Venue: Marlborough Square

Website: https://visitnationalforest.com/event/family-summer-festival-2

Visit Marlborough Square, Coalville on Saturday 6 June, 10am–4pm for a full day of family fun, live music, children’s entertainment, games, market stalls, delicious food and so much more. It’s the...

Riverside Festival

Venue: Bede Park

Website: https://visitleicester.info/festival/riverside-festival/

Festival highlights on Bede Park include a funfair, global food stalls, arts and crafts, licensed bar and a lively DJ tent. The Piazza hosts the main stage with fantastic live music and on Western Boulevard...

The Great Big Green Week

Venue: Nationwide

Website: www.greatbiggreenweek.com

Children and young people are our best advocates for climate and nature and there are plenty of ways to get your school involved. Visit the website for free resource packs available for primary and secondary...

Natural History Museum Presents Dinosaurs Live!

Venue: De Montfort Hall

Website: www.demontforthall.co.uk

Ever since they were first identified in the 1800s, dinosaurs have sparked the imagination of kids and adults alike and for the first time ever, the world- renowned Natural History Museum has teamed up...

Spring Dog Show

Venue: Huncote Sports and Social Club

Website: www.leicesteranimalaid.org.uk

L.A.A.’s Spring Dog Show will be a pawsome afternoon out for all the family, especially the four-legged friends. As well as the fun dog show there will be a full bar, refreshments, ice cream van, raffle...

AstroSnores Sleepover

Venue: National Space Centre

Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk

Join the Space Lates team for their 25th birthday special public sleepover in the heart of the exhibition. As night falls, enjoy a special screening of Night at the Museum in the UK’s largest planetarium,...

Cultural Quarter Earlies

Venue: Phoenix, Two Queens, Leicester Print Workshop, LCB Depot, Curve + and Central Library

Website: www.visitleicester.info

Free drop-in activities for ages 0-10 across Leicester's Cultural Quarter on the 2nd Saturday of every month. Every venue explores different type of creativity and LCB Depot we have a different creative...

LDN Wrestling

Venue: Wycliffe Rooms

Website: www.visitleicester.info/event/ldn-wrestling

This thrilling event is suitable for all ages, bringing the excitement of live wrestling to your doorstep. With heart-pounding matches, incredible athleticism, and unforgettable moments, it’s the perfect...

Fossll Handling

Venue: Charnwood Museum

Website: www.charnwoodmuseum.co.uk

Fossil handling session 11–1pm. Have a closer look at the museum's collection of fossils. Why not bring your own for a fossil chat! Drop-in, free gallery session for ages 3 and above.

Dinosaurs are taking over Marlborough Square

Venue: Newmarket and Marlborough Square

Website: https://visitnationalforest.com

Get ready to step back in time for a roarsome day of family fun right in the heart of Coalville! Meet a dinosaur, dig for dinosaur bones, dinosaur trail around the town, children’s games area plus head...

Rutland Pretty Muddy Kids

Venue: The Rutland Showground

Website: https://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/

Pretty Muddy® Kids is a fun-packed muddy obstacle course for children aged 6-12 (over 1.2m tall). The young fundraisers climb, crawl and slide their way around the course at their own pace, accompanied...

Flowers and Friendship Bracelets

Venue: Lichfield Garrick Theatre

Website: www.lichfieldgarrick.com

Get ready for a dazzling explosion of Music, Dance, and Excitement as Flowers and Friendship Bracelets takes to the stage! Join them for the ultimate pop concert and celebrate the biggest hits from the...

Medieval Joust at Rockingham Castle

Venue: Rockingham Castle

Website: https://rockinghamcastle.com

Prepare for an action packed day at Rockingham Castle as the Knights of Nottingham thunder across the Tilting Lawn once again. Witness sword-swinging action as the brave knights give a momentous display...

Calipso’s Circus

Venue: Melton Mowbray

Website: www.stkyard.co.uk/events/calipsos-circus-2

Take the whole family along to Calipso’s Circus for a brand-new, death-defying spectacular. From world-class stunts and hilarious comedy to live vocals and your favourite cartoon characters, the circus...

Blaston Show

Venue: Blaston Showground

Website: www.blastonshow.co.uk

A vibrant celebration of the countryside and community. From magnificent machines and livestock to enchanting rural crafts, the Blaston Show promises an unforgettable day for families, farmers, and outdoors...

Family Film Club Secret Screening

Venue: National Space Centre

Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk

Family Film Club Secret Screening is a brand-new Saturday morning cinema treat where the film is a total surprise — and discovering what it is together is all part of the excitement. The film will be...

Leicester Sympthony Orchestra: Peter And The Wolf

Venue: The Little Theatre

Website: https://thelittletheatre.co.uk

Join the Leicester Symphony Orchestra for a relaxed family concert. Arrive early to make your own toy instrument to join in with Haydn’s Toy Symphony and a mask to wear for your favourite character in...

Plant Sale and Family Day

Venue: The University of Leicester

Website: www.le.ac.uk/botanic-garden/events

Plant and craft stalls, stalls from local groups, children’s activities, entertainment and storytelling at the Botanic Garden. £6 children and students with ID cards free. Refreshments in Beaumont Hall....

Galactic Gathering - Festival of the Force

Venue: National Space Centre

Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk

Head to a galaxy not so far, far away for a weekend of intergalactic fun for all the family.Meet iconic Star Wars characters in person, step into the universe with real props and sets, try lightsaber training,...

Rapunzel

Venue: Curve Theatre

Website: www.curveonline.co.uk

Golden-haired Rapunzel is trapped in her lofty tower by a wicked witch, who lops off the locks of her beautiful hair and sells them for a tidy profit. It’s time for Rapunzel to take charge of her own...

Magical Honey

Venue: Curve Theatre

Website: www.curveonline.co.uk

Young Maya loves to draw and read and harnesses her own magic with the help of the celestial being Saraswati. Together they explore the mystical world around them where they discover dancing peacocks,...

K9 Kids Workshop

Venue: Leicester Animal Aid

Website: www.leicesteranimalaid.org.uk

K9 Kids workshop is a fun, interactive way to help your child build confidence around dogs. The one-hour session, for 5–16-year-olds, is free and led by an experienced dog professional in a safe environment....

K-Pop All Stars

Venue: Loughborough Town Hall

Website: www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk

From stadium-shaking anthems to breathtaking choreography, K-Pop All Stars celebrates the global phenomenon redefining pop culture.With a sea of light sticks glowing and the crowd moving as one, you’ll...

Proms on the Pitch

Venue: Uptonsteel County Ground

Website: www.leicestershireccc.co.uk/event/whats-on/events

Get ready for an extraordinary afternoon filled with the magic of music plus an array of mesmerising circus performances including stilt walkers, jugglers, and even fire eaters. For younger guests, a fantastic...