Riverside Festival celebrates 25 years of bringing free fun to Leicester

LEICESTER’S Riverside Festival returns to the city to celebrate its 25th edition^th anniversary – and this year is bigger than ever!

The free festival, which takes place on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June, will include activities on and off the water at locations including Bede Park, Western Boulevard, Castle Gardens and – new for this year – the De Montfort University (DMU) campus.

For those who want to get closer to the action, colorful boats from around the region will be offering river tours. Have fun in a kayak with Paddle Plus or take a narrowboat trip with Sileby Mill Boatyard. Local charity Mosaic will be there with Sunbeam II, their fully accessible boat.

On Sunday, there will be exciting dragon boat races hosted by local charity PROSTaid. If you fancy joining the race, no experience is necessary, just a boat full of enthusiasm and 10 individuals willing to give it their all!

On land there will be activities for the whole family to enjoy, including a new big screen outdoor cinema at DMU. It will feature content from creative companies in Leicester, historical archives and the original 1992 animated series of the Beatrix Potter collection.

A full program of music will be on offer, with a main stage in the square, refreshing Ibiza classics in the teepees on Bede Park and the chance for visitors to DJ on the DMU campus. Other attractions and activities will include a funfair, crazy golf, an extreme mountain bike show and pop-up dance performances.

Children can choose from activities including arts and crafts, a ‘creative builders’ workshop and outdoor theater from a brilliant bee adventure, while visitors of all ages can take a trip on the Riverside Land Train, which links some of the heritage sites that want to be open on weekends.

Global street food, craft beer and cocktails will be on offer from a range of bars and traders, plus there’s the chance to see and buy the work of local artists and makers as Art on the River returns.

Cllr Vi Dempster, the city’s assistant mayor for leisure and culture, said: “The Riverside Festival is one of Leicester’s biggest free festivals and attracts up to 40,000 visitors to the city. This year, it’s bigger than ever and we’re delighted to welcome De Montfort University as a partner in this hugely popular event.

“Like all our festivals, the aim of the Riverside Festival is to bring people together to celebrate all that is good about our city – from the river and green spaces to the modern university campus and our wonderful heritage. It’s also a chance to showcase the diverse range of music, dance and arts that make Leicester so special.

“Riverside Festival will offer something for everyone and we look forward to welcoming tens of thousands of people to enjoy the weekend and celebrate 25 years.^th anniversary with us.”

Sarah Thomson, Director of Engagement at De Montfort University, said: “DMU is delighted to be partnering with the city council to bring this fabulous event to the communities of Leicester. It has traditionally been held nearby and this year we are delighted to be able to bring visitors to our campus to enjoy the festival. The partnership between DMU and Riverside is something we hope to grow and we look forward to supporting the festival this year.”

To find out more visit www.visitleicester.info.

To get involved in dragon boat racing and start a team, contact [email protected]

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