Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
What's On in Leicestershire & Rutland
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‘Harborough at Work: Earning a Living in a Ladybird World’
23rd March-1st February 2025
Venue: Harborough Museum
Website: www.harboroughmuseum.org.uk
A family friendly exhibition looking at the Ladybird Books series 'People at Work'. This exhibition considers how occupations and attitudes have changed since the publication of the first title 60 years...
Six
2nd-12th May 2024
Venue: Curve Theatre
Website: www.curveonline.co.uk
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st-century...
SIX
2nd-12th May 2024
Venue: Curve Theatre
Website: www.curveonline.co.uk
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st-century...
House of Bayard Living History
4th-6th May 2024
Venue: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park
Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk
The House of Bayard represent a 15th Century French household on loan from the King of France to the Lancastrian cause (Henry Tudor) during the Wars of the Roses and will be portraying a medieval military...
Leicester Symphony Orchestra - Witches, Wizards and Sorcerers
4th May 2024
Venue: De Montfort Hall
Website: www.demontforthall.co.uk
Leicester Symphony Orchestra present a family concert where witches, wizards and sorcerers of all kinds are featured, including Night on a Bare Mountain by Mussorgsky, The Wizard of Oz Medley by Jeff Tyzik,...
Well Loved Tales: Stories from a Ladybird Childhood
4th May-14th September 2024
Venue: Melton Carnegie Museum
Website: www.meltonmuseum.org
Inspired by the Ladybird Books series Well-Loved Tales, a family friendly exhibition. See the books, trip trap over the troll's bridge and ask the mirror who is the fairest of them all?
Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
7th-18th May 2024
Venue: Concordia Theatre
Website: www.concordiatheatre.co.uk
The story of Joseph and his coat of many colours comes alive in the musical retelling. Set to a multitude of musical genres, spanning from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock and roll....
Mr Toad
9th-11th May 2024
Venue: Curve Theatre
Website: www.curveonline.co.uk
Wise Owl Theatre bring the high-spirited and downright ludicrous tale of ‘Mr. Toad’ to the stage. The story is based on Kenneth Grahame’s ‘Wind in the Willows’, and includes appearances from...
Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical Jr
11th May 2024
Venue: Century Theatre
Website: www.centurytheatre.co.uk
Based on the beloved book “Matilda” by Roald Dahl and adapted from the award-winning full-length musical, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical JR. tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed...
Emergency Services Day
12th May 2024
Venue: Abbey Pumping Station
Website: www.abbeypumpingstation.org
Go and see emergency vehicles from the past and the present. Try on some firemen’s uniforms for a photo opportunity and have a go with a stirrup pump. The Narrow Gauge Railway will be running. There...
Leicestershire Pretty Muddy Kids 2024
12th May 2024
Venue: Wymeswold Airfield & Prestwold Park
Website: www.raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org
Pretty Muddy® Kids is a fun-packed muddy obstacle course for children aged 6-12 (over 1.2m tall). The young fundraisers climb, crawl and slide their way around the course at their own pace, accompanied...
The Greatest Magician
13th May 2024
Venue: Lichfield Garrick Theatre
Website: www.lichfieldgarrick.com
This dazzling, five star rated magic show will leave you aching with laughter and dizzy in disbelief. Directed by the late Paul Daniels in his final theatrical project and Rated 5 stars across the board...
Home Education Day
15th May 2024
Venue: National Space Centre
Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk
Suitable for children from 6-14, sessions will allow children and adults to work together to achieve their own learning goals (children remain the responsibility of accompanying adults at all times)....
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
17th-18th May 2024
Venue: The Little Theatre
Website: www.thelittletheatre.co.uk
Lewis Carroll’s beloved children’s classic, Alice in Wonderland, is brought to life by the LDS Youth Theatre. Join Alice on her fantastical pursuit of the white rabbit and meet all the characters,...
Rutland Walking and Cycling Festival 2024
18th-31st May 2024
Venue: Various locations across Rutland
Website: www.activerutland.org.uk/walkingandcyclingfestival
The festival will be returning once again in May and will feature the Rutland Round walk around the county border and a variety of walking and cycling activities for all levels across Rutland. View the...
Science Museum: The Live Stage Show
18th May 2024
Venue: De Montfort Hall
Website: www.demontforthall.co.uk
This year join London’s world-renowned Science Museum as they bring you this brand-new stage production aimed at igniting your curiosity, fuelling your imagination, and inspiring you in new and exciting...
Spark Festival 2024
18th-26th May 2024
Venue: Various venues
Website: www.thesparkarts.co.uk/about-the-festival/
At The Spark Festival, children are more than just audiences. They get to use their imagination, work with professional artists, and ‘take over’ some of Leicester’s well known cultural venues to...
Vainburg Vikings Living History
18th-19th May 2024
Venue: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park
Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk/whats-on
Step back in time to an era when Vikings ruled in Leicestershire. You’ll learn about Viking dress the history of the period, weapons and armour…and much more in this interactive and engaging historical...
Vainburg Vikings Raid Bosworth
18th-19th May 2024
Venue: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park
Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk
Step back in time to an era when Vikings ruled in Leicestershire. Immerse yourself in the culture of the 11th century and learn how the Vikings influence impacted on the Midlands with the Vainburg Companye.You’ll...
Grease: The Musical
21st-25th May 2024
Venue: The Little Theatre
Website: www.thelittletheatre.co.uk
The 1950s high school dream is about to explode in this rollicking musical that is both an homage to the idealism of the fifties and a satire of high schoolers’ age-old desire to be provocative and rebellious....
The Sticky Dance by Second Hand Dance
24th-25th May 2024
Venue: Attenborough Arts Centre
Website: www.attenborougharts.com
Three dancers’ shimmy through the audience weaving a tapestry of sticky tape in this dance performance for young children. They invite you to tape, stick and groove, to see and feel sound or to be still,...
Belongings
25th May 2024
Venue: Curve Theatre
Website: www.curveonline.co.uk
Developed through working creatively with young people in care over a period of years, this “inspiring, engaging, beautifully evocative production” (Everything Theatre) explores a fundamental need...
National Children's Gardening Week
25th May-2nd June 2024
Venue: Nationwide
Website: www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk
An annual celebration of the fun that gardens hold for kids, supporting Greenfingers charity which is dedicated to providing magical gardens for children in hospices suffering from life limiting illnesses....
Satellite Safari
25th May-2nd June 2024
Venue: National Space Centre
Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk
Join the discovery team and head out on a space safari to find out about how we can use Earth orbiting satellites to observe animals, track their migration and spot changes to habitats. Book now to include...
Spark Festival 2024: Indo-Jazz Family Gig
25th May 2024
Venue: The Y Theatre
Website: www.yheatre.co.uk
Get ready for your whole family dancing their socks off at this family-friendly gig and a musical journey from Calcutta to Leicester. Join the award-winning clarinetist, Arun Ghosh, for this unforgettable...
Islamic Art: Family Ebru Workshop
26th May 2024
Venue: Leicester Museum & Art Gallery
Website: www.leicestermuseums.org
Join artist Ferdous Hussein to make your very own ebru marbled paper. Ebru is an ancient Turkish method of marble painting and uses authentic, natural colours. There will also be puzzles, stencilling,...
Red Riding Hood – Outdoor Theatre
26th May 2024
Venue: The 1620s House and Garden
Website: www.1620shouse.org.uk
Chorus Theatre present a brand-new interactive storytelling show with music, songs, puppetry, and a big bad wolf! Children are encouraged to dress as their favourite fairytale character for the fairytale...
Knight School
27th May 2024
Venue: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park
Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk
For those brave enough to take on this knightly challenge – pre-book the Knight School sessions and become a squire. Learn how to fight gallantly and you will be rewarded with a certificate for all of...
Garden Delights
28th May 2024
Venue: Newarke Houses
Website: www.leicestermuseums.org
Visit the Museum and see it's beautiful garden in full bloom. Bring a picnic and take part in the garden games. Enjoy Butterfly and garden themed crafts, a garden trail, and much more. Drop-in event, arrive...
Half Term Railway Day
28th May 2024
Venue: Abbey Pumping Station
Website: www.abbeypumpingstation.org
At this event Peter will be the engine running on the railway, make sure you say hello to Peter and even get your photo taken with him! There is a small charge for train rides (£0.50), children under...
Space Cadets ONLINE - May
28th May 2024
Venue: Online learning
Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/space-cadets-online-may
To support Home Education and Lost Learning the Discovery team host regular online space club sessions. If your child is aged 7-11, interested in science and looking for something to do over the school...
Teddy Bear’s Picnic
28th May 2024
Venue: The 1620s House and Garden
Website: www.1620shouse.org.uk
Take your favourite Teddy Bear along and explain why they’re the best bear ever! Prize to be given to the winner of the Best Bear competition! You can even take your own picnic to enjoy in the bear-utiful...
The Tiger Who Came To Tea
28th-30th May 2024
Venue: Lichfield Garrick Theatre
Website: www.lichfieldgarrick.com
Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show, packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. Don’t miss this stunning stage adaptation of the classic tale of teatime mayhem......
Under the Sea
28th May-1st June 2024
Venue: Melton Carnegie Museum
Website: www.meltonmuseum.org
Decorate your own wooden coral reef for £2.50. You can also create your own jellyfish for free plus enjoy the free Under the Sea Trail. No need to book - just turn up and join in the fun. FREE admission.
Arty Party!
29th May 2024
Venue: Belgrave Hall and Gardens
Website: www.leicestermuseums.org
Get creative and messy with arty materials this half term holiday. Take along a t-shirt or a glass jar to decorate and enjoy the beautiful gardens as they burst into bloom. Online booking £4 or on the...
Wild Wedesday Mini Beast Adventures (5-11 years)
29th May 2024
Venue: Bradgate Park
Website: www.bradgatepark.org
Kick off the adventure by unleashing your creativity as you craft your very own mini-beast themed mask, an essential accessory for your quest to discover the hidden wonders of Bradgate Park. After that,...
Bradgate Park Family Bushcraft
30th May 2024
Venue: Bradgate Park
Website: www.bradgatepark.org
Learn bushcraft skills such as safe cutting tool use and fire lighting techniques. The goal is to ensure that everyone leaves with a good level of understanding, through explanation, demonstration, and...
Castles and Clay!
30th May 2024
Venue: Leicester Guildhall
Website: www.leicestermuseums.org
Great half term fun making your own clay castles and creations. There will be trails throughout the day. Go in fancy dress as a princess or knight! Tickets £4 online or £5 on the door.
Cirque
30th May-2nd June 2024
Venue: Curve Theatre
Website: www.curveonline.co.uk
Let the music lift you on a truly wondrous journey bursting with kaleidoscopic colour. Stars of the West End combine with incredible circus performers as the biggest hits from your favourite theatre shows...
Harrington Household Living History
1st-2nd June 2024
Venue: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park
Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk
The Harrington Household are a small friendly family group of re-enactors who portray life during the late medieval period. There will be a full programme of activity including archery displays, armoury...
Harrington Household Living History
1st-2nd June 2024
Venue: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park
Website: www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk
The Harrington Household are a small friendly family group of re-enactors who portray life during the late medieval period. There will be a full programme of activity including archery displays, armoury...
Riverside Festival
1st-2nd June 2024
Venue: Bede Park, Western Boulevard & Castle Gardens
Website: www.visitleicester.info/whats-on/riverside-festival-p704771
Enjoy live bands and music, a fun fair, food stalls, street market, arts and crafts, beer tent and more. Running right through the heart of the festival is the River Soar’s Mile Straight. For those wanting...
Milkshake Live on Holiday
2nd June 2024
Venue: Loughborough Town Hall
Website: www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk
Join your favourite Milkshake! friends on Holiday with Dora, Pip and Posy, Blue from Blues Clues and You!, Milo, Milkshake! Monkey plus two of your Milkshake! presenters for an all-new adventure! Pack...
The Boy at The Back Of The Class
4th-8th June 2024
Venue: Curve Theatre
Website: www.curveonline.co.uk
Told from a child’s perspective, balancing heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class highlights the power of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn’t always make sense and reminds us...
The Big Help Out
7th-9th June 2024
Venue: Nationwide
Website: www.thebighelpout.org.uk
Early involvement in volunteering and social action increases a child’s likelihood of taking part in the future. Working together, teachers have the power to instil the values of compassion and community...
Railway Day with Teddies
8th June 2024
Venue: Abbey Pumping Station
Website: www.leicestermuseums.org
Visit Abbey Pumping Station for a fun filled day and enjoy a ride on the "Leonard" the Steam Locomotive. Train rides cost 50p, cash only. Take a "Teddy" with you and enjoy a free ride on your favourite...
Snakes
8th June-1st September 2024
Venue: Leicester Museum & Art Gallery
Website: www.leicestermuseums.org
This family friendly exhibition includes displays of taxidermied snakes, skeletons and models. Visitors can come face to face with iconic reptile specimens, including a Rattlesnake, a Green Anaconda and...
Meet an Astronaut – Don Thomas
9th June 2024
Venue: National Space Centre
Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk
Thanks to the team at Inspire Space astronaut, veteran of four flights, scientist, educator, and author Don Thomas is visiting the National Space Centre. He has spent 44 days in space completing nearly...
Loughborough Amherst School's Year 7 Taster Day
12th June 2024
Venue: Loughborough Amherst School
Website: www.lsf.org/amherst
Pupils benefit from exceptional facilities, including an 'All-Steinway School' Music department, cutting-edge STEM resources, diverse co-curricular programmes, exceptional sports facilities and comprehensive...
1940s Wartime Weekend
15th-16th June 2024
Venue: Belvoir Castle
Website: www.belvoircastle.com/1940s-weekend-2024
Step back in time to the golden era at this 1940s Weekend – a nostalgic journey into the past! Immerse yourself in the enchanting melodies of live singers, setting the stage for a weekend filled with...
Bright Spark STEM Fair 2024
15th June 2024
Venue: Leicester Grammar School
Website: www.lgs-senior.org.uk/bright-sparks
Go along to this FREE Bright Sparks STEM Fair, between 10am and 3pm which aims to excite pupils about STEM subject. With over 60 exhibitors, it promises to be a fantastic day out for all ages. Register...
RSPCA One Fun Day - The Big Doggy Run
15th June 2024
Venue: Woodside Animal Centre
Website: www.rspcaleicester.org.uk/events
For over 135 years, RSPCA Woodside has been caring for mistreated, abandoned and neglected animals, throughout the Leicestershire, Peterborough and Rutland areas. For more information about the Big Doggy...
National School Sports Week 2024
17th-23rd June 2024
Venue: Nationwide
Website: www.youthsporttrust.org
This year's theme brings a special one-off Euro 2024 event that emphasises football as a means to engage young people in 60 minutes a day of PE, sport and play. By registering, schools will receive free...
As You Like It
19th-20th June 2024
Venue: Botanic Garden, University of Leicester
Website: www.attenborougharts.com
The ancient Forest of Arden serves as the backdrop for Shakespeare’s most famous and quotable comedy. When Rosalind is banished from Duke Ferdinand’s court, new identities are explored with hilarious...
TMMTC Presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast
19th-22nd June 2024
Venue: Melton Theatre
Website: www.meltontheatre-tickets.ticketsolve.com
This "tale as old as time" is filled with spectacular costume and set opportunities or, even more simply staged, Disney's Beauty and the Beast offers a great opportunity to bring your entire community...
Hamlet - Outdoor Theatre
22nd June 2024
Venue: Bradgate Park
Website: www.tlcm.co.uk/booktickets
Join The Lord Chamberlain’s Men this summer, in their 20th year, for Hamlet, arguably the greatest play in the English language. they present this great play as he first saw it – in the open air, with...
MishMash Productions present 'Ruby's Worry'
22nd June 2024
Venue: Melton Library
Website: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/library-events
Told through live music, song, puppetry and physical theatre, Ruby’s Worry takes the audience on a delightful musical adventure. Based on the book Ruby’s Worry, written and illustrated by Tom Percival....
Outdoor Theatre: Hamlet
22nd June 2024
Venue: Deer Meadow, Bradgate Park
Website: www.ticketsource.co.uk/tlcm/hamlet/2024-06-22/19:00/t-vvkpzrd
Celebrating 20 years as a production company, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men will be presenting this great play as William Shakespeare first saw it – in the open air, with an all male cast and Elizabethan...
Wellbeing Day
23rd June 2024
Venue: Belgrave Hall and Gardens
Website: www.leicestermuseums.org
Step into the peaceful beauty of Belgrave Hall and Gardens for a day of wellbeing and relaxation. Enjoy taster sessions, stalls and treatments from local providers. These will be running from 10am to 4pm.Entry...
Leicester High School for Girls’ Discovery Morning
26th June 2024
Venue: Leicester High School for Girls’
Website: www.leicesterhigh.co.uk
Explore the campus, chat with their wonderful staff, and learn how their holistic approach nurtures confidence and develops leadership among young women. For more information, feel free to contact the...
Blaston Show
30th June 2024
Venue: Blaston Showground
Website: www.blastonshow.co.uk
Blaston Show is a fantastic family day out, with livestock classes, horse and pony classes, vintage cars, a dog show, barrel racing, and all sorts of other entertainment and shopping opportunities. They...
The D-Day Darlings
30th June 2024
Venue: The Century Theatre
Website: www.centurytheatre.co.uk
The D-Day Darlings proudly present their brand new show marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. With special guest performance from the brand new Coalville Voices Choir - suitable for all the family. Tickets...
Film Club - The Lion King (U)
5th July 2024
Venue: National Space Centre
Website: www.spacecentre.co.uk
Celebrate 30 years of the circle of life with a cinema screening of The Lion King.Sit back in the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium to enjoy Simba's journey, and live your own carefree life thanks to "hakuna...
Cirquoise
26th July-11th August 2024
Venue: Gates Garden Centre
Website: www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk/cirquoise
A first for Gates as they introduce Cirquoise! This unique group of wonderful artistes, with their long heritage of Italian and British circus, in their Big Top on the field next to the main car park,...
Activities at King Richard III Visitor Centre
Venue: King Richard III Visitor Centre
Website: www.kriii.com/your-visit/whats-on
Medieval dressing up, Boar Hunt Trail, White Boar Cafe and craft area, War of the Roses shield rubbing activities and the Rex Factor: Lost in Time app-based game are available every day to help younger...
Biking Buddies Courses
Venue: B-Buddies CIC
Website: www.b-buddies.com/cycleskills-club
Each course has a maximum of 12 riders age 4-13 years with lots of members of staff to make sure your child gets plenty of attention. Each session is full of games and riders leave the sessions with great...
Cultural Quarter Earlies
Venue: Phoenix
Website: www.phoenix.org.uk
Cultural Quarter Earlies is a series of free family activities in the Cultural Quarter, taking place on the second Saturday of every month across Leicester’s Cultural Quarter, with venues including Phoenix,...
CycleFit Club
Venue: B-Buddies CIC
Website: www.b-buddies.com/cyclefit-club
A fun, recreational cycling club for riders age 4+ who can cycle independently and are wanting to improve their cycling ability, learn new skills and try a bit of off-road cycling in an engaging and exciting...
Experience The Legend
Venue: King Richard III Visitor Centre
Website: www.kriii.com/the-rex-factor
The King Richard III Visitor Centre stands on the site of the medieval friary of the Grey Friars where the king’s remains were buried over 500 years ago. It reveals one of the greatest archaeological...
LCFC: Beauchamp Skills Centre
Venue: Beauchamp College
Website: www.visitleicester.info
The Skills Centre Programme consists of weekly football sessions for children 5-13 years old. Regardless of starting ability, these sessions are open to everyone looking to improve their playing ability,...
Lutterworth Country Park Junior Parkrun
Venue: Lutterworth Country Park
Website: www.parkrun.org.uk/lutterworthcountrypark-juniors/
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 2k event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds) held every Sunday at 9am. Free to join but please register before you first go along. The aim is to have fun, go along and join...
Market Harborough Junior Parkrun
Venue: Welland Park
Website: www.parkrun.org.uk/marketharborough-junior
A free, fun and friendly weekly 2k event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds) every Sunday at 9am. Free but register before you first go along.
Rutland Water Parkrun
Venue: Rutland Water Reservoir
Website: www.parkrun.org.uk/rutlandwater
A free, fun and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate every Saturday at 9am. Free to join but register before attending.
Saturday Clubs
Venue: The Menphys Hub
Website: www.menphys.org.uk/saturday-clubs
The clubs provide the opportunity to meet up in a friendly, supportive, needs-led environment. The club costs £10 per Saturday and includes a wide range of activities that are designed to not only be...
We are Harborough
Venue: Harborough Museum
Website: www.harboroughmuseum.org.uk
Exhibition showcasing work developed through the 'We are Harborough' project. Ukrainians and their host families share their experience of the district, gypsy and traveller communities explain common myths...