LEICESTER’S programme of free summer events continues this weekend, with free outdoor cinema, live music, spectacular street theatre, a Scandinavian-style street party and even a giant inflatable slug.
Celebrating its 10th year in Leicester, the Journeys Festival International will bring a packed weekend of free entertainment to the city centre, with the Aalborg Karneval getting the party started at the Clock Tower at 7pm tomorrow (Friday, 12 August).
Other weekend highlights include visits by the Liberty Angels, who’ll be watching over High Street, and live music in both Jubilee Square and High Street from the Liberty Orchestra and Liberty Palermo Music.
Seed will bring puppetry and inflatables to Jubilee Square on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons (13, 14 August), with a one-man show that features a baddy in the form of a giant slug.
There’s also the chance to take a trip on a fabulous Submercycle and Flycycle, while CastAway will bring spectacular aerial theatre to the Clock Tower area.
At 9pm on Saturday (13 August), the Southpaw Dance Company will bring its large-scale production, Rush, to Crown House on Lee Street.
The electrifying spectacle promises to transform Lee Street, with projection, mass movement and some award-winning storytelling – as well as pyrotechnics, flashing strobe lighting and smoke effects.
Full details of all the events taking place are available at artreach.org.uk/journeysfestival/whats-on/.
Journeys Festivals International is an Art Reach project and runs from 12-14 August.
Also happening this Saturday (13 August) is Inspirate’s An Indian Summer, which will bring outdoor cinema to Leicester’s Green Dragon Square.
At 2pm, there’s a screening of the Bollywood classic Hum Aapke Hain Kaun – while at 6.30pm, hot on the heels of the Lionesses’ success, Bend It Like Beckham will be on the big screen.
Admission is free but tickets must be reserved in advance at eventbrite.co.uk
Landlocked-Leicester’s beach will continue to provide seaside fun until Wednesday (17 August), with the stage and stalls of the Leicester Belgrave Mela then taking over Humberstone Gate on Sunday 21 August.
Bringing Indian food, arts and culture to the city centre, the unmissable Mela runs from 11am – 6pm,
The seaside theme returns to Humberstone Gate on Monday 22 August, with fun, games and circus skills with the Pirates of the City Centre. The pirates will bring their free entertainment to Humberstone Gate from 12 noon until 4pm from 22-26 August.
Bringing the summer fun to a close will be an outdoor spectacle on an epic scale.
City Festival will bring live music, street theatre and a spectacular grand finale to the Summer in the City programme on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair said: “Our partners have organised some fantastic free entertainment that will ensure that everyone can enjoy Summer in the City.
“We’re proud to support this great programme of free events and hope that people of all ages will get out and about and enjoy everything Leicester has to offer this summer.”
More ideas for enjoying Summer In The City can be found at visitleicester.info
Picture caption: Ahoy me hearties! These cheeky pirates will be taking over Humberstone Gate from Monday 22 August until Friday 26 August.