IDEAS for family fun that won’t break the bank this Christmas have been put together by Leicester City Council.
From craft sessions at libraries to free pop-up panto, there are plenty of ideas for free or low-cost activities taking place during December.
The city’s libraries are always a good place to start, with many offering drop-in activities that are free to enjoy – as well as some great books to borrow.
Families can drop into the Central Library on Bishop Street between 3pm-6pm on all the Mondays to Thursdays leading up to Christmas to write a letter to Santa or colour in a festive door hanger. Beaumont Leys Library is inviting youngsters to decorate a Christmas tree ornament on Saturday 20 December, Highfields Library will be making Christmas calendars on Monday 22 December, and there’s winter scene crafts and paper plate angels to make at New Parks Library on Tuesday 23 December (booking required).
Details of all the Christmas events taking place at Leicester’s libraries can be found here
A visit to Leicester Museum & Art Gallery is always popular with youngsters – especially those captivated by dinosaurs or fascinated by the Ancient Egyptians – but at this time of year, families can also enjoy some brilliant work by young local artists.
The annual Open exhibition includes categories for those aged 5-10, 11-15 and 16-18, with the young artists’ work on display until 30 January.
Reputed to be one of Leicester’s most haunted buildings, the medieval Guildhall is offering a free family-friendly ghost tour on Wednesday 17 December.
Youngsters who enjoy being spooked should be prepared for fascinating tales, extraordinary incidents and – maybe – some spine-tingling ghostly encounters…
Free places on the 3pm tour should be booked in advance.
Also at the Guildhall is the return of Meet the Police – a chance to chat to local police officers in the building that was Leicester’s first police headquarters, try out the Guildhall’s prison cells, and even put mum and dad in the stocks. Drop in to the community fun day between 11am-3pm on Tuesday 30 December.
Leicester’s twinkling Christmas lights – including the colourful lighting effects in Town Hall Square – can be enjoyed at any time, but an easy bike ride at 6.30pm tomorrow (Thursday 11 December) will make the illuminations the focus of a five-mile guided tour.
Places on the free ride can be booked at Let’s Ride. Please note that children under 16 must wear a helmet and be accompanied by an adult, and all bikes must be fitted with working lights.
There are free drop-in activities across Leicester’s Cultural Quarter on Saturday (13 December), with family-friendly events taking place at the Phoenix, Two Queens, Leicester Print Workshop, LCB Depot and Curve between 12 noon and 4pm. With a theme of ‘Making Christmas’, the activities will include crafts and card making, with Curve offering the chance to make ‘Aliens Love Panta Claus’-inspired tree decorations.
Highcross Leicester is the place to go for a free pop-up panto that young children will enjoy. Santa’s Secret Workshop runs on Saturday 13, Saturday 20 and Tuesday 23 December, with Santa and his elves revealing the secrets of their busy workshop in a magical mini show. At John Lewis, Santa will be hosting tea parties on Friday (12 December), Saturday (13 December) and Sunday (14 December) and there’ll be a treasure hunt there every day until Christmas Eve.
Bringing live music to Leicester city centre on Fridays and Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas is a series of pop-up Festive Jams.
Presented by BID Leicester, the free jams include live Mexican and Latin sounds from Mariachi Loco in St Martin’s Square (7pm, Friday 12 December), traditional Christmas music from The Salvation Army Band at the Haymarket from 11am on Saturday 13 December, the New Orleans’ sound of the King Brasstards at St Martin’s Square (7pm, Friday 19 December) and Leicester’s own Emmanu’-EL Apostolic Gospel Academy Choir, who’ll perform on the balcony of the Haymarket shopping centre at 3pm on Christmas Eve (Wednesday 24 December).
See the full programme at bidleicester.co.uk/festivejams
The story of Christmas, which is told every year in the traditional nativity scene in Town Hall Square, will be brought to life at Leicester Cathedral at 3pm on Wednesday 24 December. All are welcome to the Crib Service, where families will be able to join in with carols and enjoy the singing of the cathedral choir.
More ideas for free and low-cost activities for families this Christmas, including stay and play sessions for babies and young children, will be available online from Friday (12 December) at families.leicester.gov.uk/winter-fun
The full Christmas in Leicester programme, which lists paid-for activities such as the real ice rink in Jubilee Square, the funfair on Humberstone Gate and the pantomime at De Montfort Hall, is available at visitleicester.info/christmas
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