THERE’S waterside fun in Leicester this weekend as the city hosts a programme of activities on and off the river that people of all ages will enjoy.
Splash on the Soar will bring live music and street performance to the city’s Castle Gardens on Saturday and Sunday (11-12 September), with the city council’s Kingfisher boat offering views of Leicester from the water.
On both days, local bands playing acoustic sets will draw visitors to the stage near the maypole in Castle Gardens, with talented youngsters from Stars Performing Arts School opening the programme at 12 noon on Sunday and The King Brasstards bringing the festival to a close with their New Orleans sound at 4pm on Sunday.
Strolling street artists, including a pair of cheeky Girl Guides and some balloon-modelling clowns, will bring pockets of fun to the festival, while a Bubble Fairy will use her magic wand to capture passers-by inside a giant bubble.
Youngsters will also be able to slide down an inflatable helter-skelter and check out their muscles on an inflatable ‘test your strength’ game.
There’ll also be the chance to watch archive footage of Britain’s waterways in a pop-up cinema, while a petting zoo will let children get close to rabbits, guinea pigs and meerkats, as well as to snakes, cockroaches and other creepy-crawlies.
Food and a bar will be available in the area in front of the castle, while local artists will display their works on the railings in Castle Gardens.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair said: “Splash on the Soar will be a family-friendly waterside festival that we hope local people will enjoy.
“With Covid infection rates still high, all our events this year have been of a much smaller-scale to ensure they can be run safely, but I hope that this festival will encourage people who live in the area to get out and about and explore Leicester’s waterside.”
Admission to Splash on the Soar is free of charge.
Splash on the Soar runs from 12 noon until 6pm on Saturday, and from 12 noon until 5pm on Sunday.
For more information, go to visitleicester.info