YOUNG visitors to Leicester city centre can celebrate National Playday this week by taking part in a day of fun – and free – activities.
The city council’s family-friendly event takes place in Town Hall Square on Wednesday (2 August) from 11am until 3pm, with lots going on for those aged 0-12.
Activities at Leicester’s Playday will include traditional games, such as skipping and hula hooping, as well as creative play sessions and lots of arts and crafts activities.
There will also be storytelling with Leicester Libraries’ BookBus and a stay-and-play area for parents and babies – and, of course, the chance to hook-a-duck from the Town Hall Square fountain.
Staff from Leicester’s Libraries will be encouraging young people to join the Summer Reading Challenge, which this year has a sports and games theme.
Ready, Set, Read is encouraging youngsters to walk, skip or scoot to their local library, where they’ll pick up stickers and rewards for every book that they read by 17 September.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Sarah Russell said: “The city council’s annual Playday is a great opportunity for families with young children to have some fun together in the heart of the city centre.
“Play is a vital part of a child’s healthy development, so we are pleased to support this national initiative with a day of free activities that the whole family can enjoy.
”The weather isn’t particularly summery at the moment, but even if it's a bit grey and damp on Wednesday, we’ll still be hooking ducks from the Town Hall Square fountain and there’ll be some activities under cover. So wear something waterproof and come and join in the fun!”
National Playday is co-ordinated by Play England and is supported by local authorities across the UK.
Anyone who can’t join in the fun on Wednesday can still take part in two ‘mini’ playdays that will take place in Town Hall Square on Wednesday 9 August and Wednesday 16 August. Mini playdays run from 11am until 2pm.
Other ideas for summer fun in Leicester include a Railway Day at Abbey Pumping Station tomorrow (Tuesday 1 August, from 11.30am-4pm), Gruesome Gargoyles & Castles of Clay at the Guildhall on Thursday 3 Aug (£3 charge) and the Caribbean Carnival parade, which will wend its way from Victoria Park to the city centre and back again on Saturday afternoon (5 August).
More ideas for free or low-cost family activities in Leicester are available here