Community Festival to bring live entertainment and family fun to Leicester Botanic Garden

The University of Leicester’s Botanic Garden will come alive with music, family entertainment and hands-on activities this September as it welcomes visitors to its annual Community Festival.

Taking place on Sunday 6 September, the festival offers a packed programme of events within the grounds and the historic Beaumont House, bringing together local performers, traders, and food vendors.

The festival will also allow visitors the opportunity to discover more about the future of the Botanic Garden. Garden Director and BBC Gardener’s World presenter, Nick Bailey, and members of the Friends of the Botanic Garden will be on hand to talk about its ambitious 10-year masterplan.

The festival will feature live performances from The Wigston Brass Band, Leicester-based dhol drumming group Oh My Dhol, and the Contrast Steel Band, alongside music from a DJ throughout the day.

Families can enjoy a range of free activities, including face painting, arts and crafts workshops delivered by Attenborough Arts Centre, henna designs and a minibeast stampers hunt led by the Botanic Garden education team. Visitors can also take part in outdoor garden games, tackle a nine-hole crazy golf course and enjoy a bouncy castle.

Inside Beaumont House, visitors will be able to explore a mini-market featuring local traders and makers, meet the University’s Science Kitchen team and try some locally made ice cream and focaccia.

There will also be a farm-themed soft play area featuring a ball pit, slide, rockers and horse hoppers for younger visitors with more activities set to be announced.

Professor Tom Robinson, Chair of the Botanic Garden Board, said: “This is a time of year when the summer holidays are over and term time beckons, whether for school or university, so it is excellent to have a family event to look forward to. There is always plenty of activities to entertain and it is an opportunity to see what has happened in the University's Botanic Garden since your last visit and to see the plans for the future. I do hope that you can join the fun and that the sun shines down on us.”

The Community Festival is sponsored by Rockstar Promotions and is open to everyone. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available now, with prices starting from £1 and free admission for children under five.

For more information and tickets, visit the Community Festival event page.