FAMILIES in Leicester can look forward to a fun and affordable Easter break this year, with a wide range of free and low‑cost activities taking place throughout the school holidays.
The city’s museums and libraries will be hosting Easter‑themed crafts, storytelling sessions, creative workshops and hands‑on activities for children of all ages, with the programme getting under way this weekend.
A Cabinet of Curiosity will arrive at Highcross on Saturday (28 March), offering families the chance to explore everything from dinosaur fossils to retro technology at the city council’s pop-up museum.
The Cabinet of Curiosity will be located next to Boots at Highcross and will be open between 10am and 4pm on Saturday.
On Monday (30 March), the Haymarket shopping centre will host a space‑themed afternoon, featuring stilt‑walking astronauts and comedy walkabouts.
The space theme continues with the spectacular launch of ‘Planet Parade’, with a procession of musicians, dancers and giant planets setting off from Leicester Cathedral at 4.30pm on Monday. The parade will arrive at the Haymarket shopping centre at 5.15pm.
Planet Parade – which continues until 31 May – will see the city centre transformed into a walkable solar system, with giant planets installed at sites across the city. All eight planets will be on display, while the Sun will be installed at the National Space Centre.
Families can also follow a Planet Parade digital trail through the My Leicester App, with the chance to win prizes.
Planet Parade is presented by the National Space Centre in partnership with BID Leicester, with support from the DMU Engagement Community Challenge Fund.
Jewry Wall museum is giving young visitors the chance to craft like a Roman from Monday (30 March), with its Easter Mosaic sessions running on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and at weekends during the school holidays. Places should be booked in advance, with a £4 charge for one mosaic coaster.
Young K-pop fans will want to make a beeline for Leicester’s Guildhall on Thursday 2 April, when the venue hosts K-Pop Does Easter! As well as music-themed crafts and the chance to make friendship bracelets, there will be plenty of sing-along fun with everyone’s favourite K-pop tunes. Places can be booked on two sessions – at 11am and 1pm – and tickets cost £4.
Throughout the Easter holidays, libraries across Leicester will be running creative sessions such as bonnet‑making, Easter basket workshops, Fabergé‑style egg decorating, papercrafts, storytelling, and spring‑themed art. Some activities require booking, while many are drop‑in and free of charge.
Highfields Library is inviting 8-12 year olds to join its Jam Slamwich – a series of three poetry workshops that starts on Monday 30 March and culminates in a performance on Friday 10 April. Places can be booked through Highfields Library.
Leicester Cathedral will also be running free Easter holiday crafts, with the chance for youngsters to make a sun catcher or a flapping chicken. Sessions take place on Tuesday 31 March, Tuesday 7 April and Thursday 9 April.
On Easter Sunday (5 April), Leicester’s Guildhall will celebrate Eastern European spring traditions with a free day of folk crafts and cultural activities, while on Tuesday 7 April, there’s a special Easter Railway Day at the Abbey Pumping Station. Admission to the pumping station is free, with rides on the narrow-gauge railway costing £1.
Families can also enjoy hands‑on music‑making using recycled materials at the Community Shop at Stocking Farm on Wednesday 8 April, take part in a spring craft workshop at Braunstone Library on Thursday 9 April (booking required) or join Stay & Play sessions at their local Children, Young People & Family Centre.
The holiday programme concludes on Saturday 11 April with the return of Cultural Quarter Earlies, offering free creative family fun across Leicester's Cultural Quarter.
Youngsters will be able to make a movie and see the results on the big screen at the LCB Depot, join a workshop with acting, games and stories at Curve, or create a Kamihanga bunny or chick print at the Leicester Print Workshop. Families can then jump in a rickshaw – free of charge – and enjoy free craft activities at the Central Library on Bishop Street between 1pm-3pm.
Assistant city mayor Cllr Elaine Pantling said: “Families with young children will find plenty of free and low‑cost activities taking place across the city this Easter.
“Our handy online guide makes it easy to find fun, creative and affordable ways to help your child play, explore and enjoy the school holidays.”
The city council’s list of free and low-cost activities taking place in Leicester over the Easter break can be found here.
Families are reminded that Leicester’s bus companies are offering a reduced price, great value Family Flexi Day Ticket in time for the Easter holidays. For just £6.40, two adults and up to three children can have a day’s unlimited travel anywhere within Leicester during the school holidays.