A DAZZLING bike parade is being planned as part of next month’s Light Up Leicester festival – and everyone is invited to join in the pedal-powered fun!
Leicester city centre will be lit up with some extraordinary illuminated artworks and nightly performances from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 March, as the world-class Light Up Leicester festival returns to the city for a third time.
The Light Up Leicester Bike Parade takes place on Thursday 13 March and gives participants the chance to be part of the event! The route takes riders on a vibrant 1.5km tour of the city centre, featuring some of the stunning art installations that will be in place for the Light Up Leicester festival.
Arrive at 5pm at Town Hall Square to ‘bling your bike’ at one of the workshops run by local artists from Graffwerk and Cyclone Works, where you can add lights, colours or sparkle to your bike and get creative, as well as watch live art being created by local street artists. Participants might also like to arrive with their own fairy lights or other novelty lights attached to their bikes, to form part of a glittering cycle parade!
Parades will start at 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm and 8pm. Sign up for your chosen start time and meet at Town Hall Square to join the parade.
Assistant city mayor for environment and transport Cllr Geoff Whittle said: “We are inviting people of all ages to join together and experience the city in a whole new light.
“The circular bike parade route will meander through the heart of the Light Up Leicester Festival, showing glimpses of the fabulous installations. Our focus is on it being a family-friendly ride, inclusive of all ages and abilities.
“This will also show people how easy it can be to navigate the city centre by bike - and after the ride, you can use the bike park at Town Hall Square to securely store your bike while you look around on foot. It promises to be a great showcase of our city and a really enjoyable experience for those on the rides – and it’s all free.”
Leicester city mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We are really looking forward to this festival, which will bring together our diverse communities and promises to be great experience for people of all ages.
“Leicester will come alive with light and colour, with extraordinary performances and installations by international artists that people will be able to enjoy free of charge.
“More than 80,000 people enjoyed Light Up Leicester last time we hosted this festival, in 2022. Thanks to the generous support of our funders and sponsors, this free festival will brighten up the dark winter nights for many thousands more.”
Presented by Leicester City Council, BID Leicester, Leicester Cathedral and Art Reach, and with additional backing from headline sponsor Highcross Leicester and PPL PRS, Light Up Leicester 2025 will feature four nights of family-friendly performances and activities. Schools and communities are getting involved too, with partners Inspirate and Art Reach working with local groups on projects that will celebrate the city’s diversity and bring an extra dimension to the festival.
A full festival programme is available at lightupleicester.com/home
Sign up for the bike parade at www.letsride.co.uk/rides/light-up-ride-leicester-bike-parade and plan your journey into the city by bike at choosehowyoumove.co.uk/
Light Up Leicester is committed to being a welcoming and accessible event for everyone. A range of adapted bikes, e-cycles and piloted rickshaws can be booked in advance for free by people who need extra support to take part - please email cycle-city@leicester.gov.uk before 6 March to arrange this. Find out more at lightupleicester.com/accessibility/