Things to do this week: Leicester Food and Music Festival, Britcon 2026, Plus Ed Sheeran by Candlelight!

Morning! The big one this week is the Leicester Food and Music Festival, back at Abbey Park for two days with street food, live music, a funfair, and 80+ makers. There's also Britcon at The Venue at DMU, three days of historical wargaming with £3 trade show entry, and a free afternoon of live music at Abbey Pumping Station on Sunday.

Local Scoop Leicester

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK?

🎪 - Leicester Food and Music Festival - Two Days of Street Food, Live Tribute Acts, a Funfair, and 80+ Makers at Abbey Park!
📍 - Abbey Park
📅 - Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August
⏰ - Sat 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM - Sun 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM
🎟️ - From £16 adult, £8 child (5-15), under 5s free
📷 - @theleicesterfestival

The award-winning Leicester Food and Music Festival is back at Abbey Park for its third year with two days of street food, live music, and a funfair. Saturday brings Take That and Oasis tributes, Sunday has UB40 and Aretha Franklin tributes, with soul classics and special guests across both days.

The food lineup goes on for miles - Chicken George, Smashing Plates, Jerk Corner, Chimney Cakes, and dozens more. There's an 80+ maker market tent, a circus school, a silent disco DJ battle, an LCFC penalty shootout zone, free skate lessons, and a live donut eating contest, because someone had to.

MONDAY

Musical Theatre Summer Scheme - All Saints Church Wigston
10:00 AM | More Info

Salsa Cycle - Abbey Sports and Leisure Club
7:15 PM | More Info

WEDNESDAY

Puppets and Toys Family Activity Day - Newarke Houses Museum
12:00 PM | More Info

THURSDAY:

Cops ‘n’ Robbers - Guildhall
11:00 AM | More Info

Jazz in The Loft - Aylestone Black-Horse
7:00 PM | More Info

Womens Circle and Sound Ceremony - Faircharm Trading Estate
7:30 PM | More Info

FRIDAY:

Summer Jams - Abbey Park
3:00 PM | More Info

SATURDAY:

Evington Village Fete and Show 2026 - Evington Village Green
12:00 PM | More Info

Music of Ed Sheeran by Candlelight - Leicester Cathedral
6:30 PM | More Info

Gramps Morgan UK Tour - 2Funky
9:00 PM | More Info

SCRUMPTIOUS SCOOP

☕️ - Public - Coffee Worth Stopping For, Croissants Worth Staying For, and a Pasta Night Coming Soon.
📍- 41 King Street, inside Canopy
⏰ - Mon to Sat, 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM
⏰ - Sun, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
📷 - @publicandplants

Public on King Street needs little introduction, but the reason to mention it now is the After Hours Pasta Night landing on 14th August. Three pasta options including a beef ragu and a spinach and ricotta ravioli with truffle oil, bruschetta to start, and sides and dessert available on the night.

There's a kids option too, and seats are already going, so book ahead if you fancy a candlelit plate of pasta somewhere that usually clocks off at seven.

ACTIVITY ALLEY

⚔️ - Britcon 2026 - Three Days of Historical Wargaming, Tournaments, and a Trade Show in a Former Spitfire Factory!
📍- The Venue @ DMU
📅 - Friday 7th to Sunday 9th August
⏰ - Fri 6:00 PM to Sun 4:30 PM
🎟️ - Trade show entry £3 on the door
📷 - @thebhgs @dmuvenues

Britcon takes over The Venue at DMU for three days of historical wargaming, with tournaments across the Ancients, Dark Ages, Renaissance, Napoleonic, and WW2 eras, plus the Warlord Games Bolt Action GT and the Saga Grand Melee. The venue itself is a former Spitfire factory, which is a fitting setting for a weekend of miniature warfare.

Competition tickets are sold out, but trade show-only tickets are just £3 on the door, which gets you in to browse the two-day trade show and watch the tables in action. Well worth a look even if you've never rolled a dice in anger. Fittingly, it's all happening in the city that buried a king in a car park.

FRESH EXPERIENCES

🎶 - Music at the Museum - A 60-Piece Concert Band, a Picnic Blanket, and a Free Afternoon!
📍- Abbey Pumping Station
📅 - Sunday 9th August
⏰ - 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM
🎟️ - Free drop-in event
📷 - @leicestermuseums

The Leicester Community Concert Band return to Abbey Pumping Station for a free afternoon of live music in the grounds. Over sixty musicians, one of the largest amateur wind ensembles in the county, playing a varied set of well-known arrangements including music from films and shows.

Bring a picnic blanket and some chairs, settle in on the grass, and let them do the work. There's a paid bar and refreshments on site, the museum is open, and dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds. Park at the National Space Centre next door and follow the signposted walkway.

LIVE MUSIC

FRIDAY:

• Senser Plus Collapsed Lung - The International Music Venue - 7:30 PM

• Quirkz Live - Leicester St Andrews FC - 8:00 PM

SATURDAY:

• Raucous Records 40th Anniversary - Duffy’s Bar - 5:00 PM

• Ska & Reggae Night - Leicester St Andrews FC - 5:30 PM

• V8 - Metal Monocle - 8:30 PM

• Kerranthems - Metal Monocle - 11:00 PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading Local Scoop Leicester today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who loves Leicester as much as you do.

The Local Scoop Leicester

MESSAGE US!

Have feedback for us or want to get your business in front of Leicester locals? Email us at [email protected] or DM us at @local_scoop_leicester