About this event
Join us at the University's beautiful Botanic Garden on Sunday 6 September 2026, from 11.00am onwards, for our Community Festival, proudly sponsored by Rockstar Promotions.
We have lined up some fantastic activities, food and entertainment for all ages. Bookmark this page for updates.
Attractions already confirmed include:
Outdoors
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Musical performances by The Wigston Brass Band (12.00pm-12.45pm and 1.45pm-2.30pm), Oh My Dhol (12.45pm-1.45pm), Contrast Steel Band (2.30pm-4.00pm) as well as a DJ.
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Children’s activities include free face painting from Flutterby Face Painting, free arts and crafts provided by Attenborough Arts Centre and a free Minibeast Stampers Hunt from the Botanic Garden Education team.
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Free henna designs by ZARX HENNA
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A selection of outdoor games, bouncy castle and nine-hole crazy golf course.
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Local food vendors including a BBQ from Leicester Food and Drink, Hot Potato Shop, coffee from Bada Bean and an ice cream van.
Inside Beaumont House
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Enjoy our indoor mini-market, with local traders such as Bindi Red Jewellery, Emily Crofton Arts, Jeweldate, Love Gabby Illustrations, Maisie Makes, Steph Collins, Stuart Hicking Artwork, plus the University of Leicester Archaeological services. The University Science Kitchen will also be attending selling focaccias inspired by the Botanic Garden and serving up its Festival favourite liquid nitrogen ice cream.
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New for 2026! There will be a farm-themed soft play area inside, complete with a ball pit, slide, rockers and horse hoppers. Suitable for under 5s only.
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Gardens Director, plantsman, garden designer and BBC Gardeners' World presenter, Nick Bailey will be giving three exclusive, 30 minute tours of the new World Food Garden. As tours are limited to 25 people, you must book a ticket for a tour - book your tickets.
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Join the Friends of the Botanic Garden and Botanic Garden Director, Nick Bailey, in the Wedgewood Room for an insightful look into the garden’s future. Hear about exciting future developments and get an inside look at the Botanic Garden’s 10-year master plan.
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Mini Professors drop-in workshop for 5-11 year olds, 11am – 1.30pm. Discover the wonders of nature and chemistry through fun, hands-on experiments and interactive activities. Children can drop in at any time, explore science at their own pace, and take home something they've created along the way. Participating children must be accompanied by a parent.
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2.00pm -2.45pm: Poet and author, Tim Relf, shares reflections from his time as the Poet-in-Residence at the Botanic Gardens Garden, including a reading of a poem inspired by one of the Garden’s iconic attractions, the Desert House. The talk will also explore nature writing, offer practical writing tips, highlight contemporary authors to discover, and provide an insider's guide to getting a book published.
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3.00pm - 4.00pm: Brewing Through Time. Join Great British Bake Off 2023 finalist and University of Leicester chemist Dr Josh Smalley, alongside Dr Rachel Small from University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), for a fascinating talk about Leicestershire's brewing heritage. Discover how their recent collaboration with Everards Brewery is recreating beers inspired by recipes and ingredients dating back over 2,000 years. They will share the story behind their Iron Age-inspired beer, Meadow Edge, and reveal what's in store for their upcoming Roman-inspired beer, due to launch later in 2026.
Tickets
There is a small admission fee, with ticket prices listed below. Tickets are available to purchase online. All under 16s must be accompanied by an adult at all times at the Festival.
- Adult, £3.00
- Child (5-15), £1.00 All children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Under 5s, Free. All children must be accompanied by an adult
- University of Leicester student (with valid student ID), £1.00
- University of Leicester staff (with valid staff ID), £2.00
- University of Leicester alumni, £2.00
- Senior (65+), £2.00
Location and parking
The Botanic Garden is situated about three miles south-east of Leicester city centre, opposite Leicester Racecourse. There are two entrances to the festival: Entrance 1 is on Glebe Road, LE2 2LD, Entrance 2 is at Beaumont Hall on Stoughton Drive South LE2 2NA.
View a map of the available car parks at the Botanic Garden (PDF, 101kb)
Parking at the festival is limited, so we strongly encourage you consider using public transport, or walking/cycling to get to the event. Public transport routes can be found online.
If arriving by car, please use the free, designated university car parks (listed below) and refer to the map for their locations. We will be offering blue badge parking on a first come, first serve basis in Beaumont House. Additional disabled car parking spaces can be seen on the car parking map. To respect our garden’s neighbours, please avoid parking on nearby residential streets, ensure driveways remain clear, keep noise to a minimum and take all litter home with you.
University car parks:
- Lasdun (near Rosenfels) - Lasdun, Stoughton Drive South, LE2 2ND
- Bowder Court/Southmeade Court - 17 Southmeads Road, LE2 2LR
- The Coppice - 1 Manor Road, LE2 2LG
- Stamford Court - Manor Road, LE2 2LG
- The Pavilions/John Foster - John Foster Hall, 15 Manor Road, LE2 2LG
- Disabled parking can be found at the Beaumont House car parks
Additional Information
- The Community Festival is a strictly alcohol-free event. Alcohol is not available for purchase on site and must not be brought into the Festival. Security staff will carry out visual bag checks at all entry points, and visitors are encouraged to bring bags no larger than A4 size where possible. Anyone found bringing alcohol into the Festival may be refused entry, have the alcohol confiscated, or be asked to leave the event.
- Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times and cannot attend the Festival without one.
- Photography and videography will take place throughout the Festival. If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform the photographer on the day.
- If you become separated from a child or have any welfare or safeguarding concerns, please visit the Medical Gazebo, which is the Festival's designated welfare and lost-child point.
- For any noise-related concerns during the event, please contact 0116 252 2023
- By attending the Festival, you agree to comply with these conditions and cooperate with any security or safety checks.