Happy April everyone!
Yes, here we are in the fourth month of the year, and we've got a feeling it's going to be a good one.
The spring flowers are blooming, it's feeling warmer, and Easter is just around the corner.
Plus, there's lots of brilliant events to enjoy this month here in Leicester!
Whether you fancy a night out with friends or a day of fun with the family, there's plenty of options.
Here's a few suggestions of things to do in April...
Transtango - Athena - Thur, April 4
Having sold out venues such as King's Place, The British Library and Bloomsbury Theatre, as well as Aldeburgh Festival, and Salisbury Festival, Transtango is coming to Leicester for one night only.
It features world-leading composers, musicians, filmmakers and dancers in a cutting-edge performance, inspired by Tango - the musical style which was created as a way for immigrant communities in Buenos Aires to form a new common identity in the emerging city.
Based on artistic collaborations, the Transtango project offers artists the possibility of stepping outside the normal boundaries of their work to share this space with artists from other disciplines and other cultures.
Begins 9pm. Tickets £10 / £7 concessions. Click here to visit the website.
An Evening With Ryan Giggs - Haymarket Theatre - Fri April 5
The most decorated player in club football history, Manchester Utd legend Ryan Giggs is coming to Leicester - and there's a limited number of tickets still available.
In a career spanning a quarter of a century, Ryan made more than 1,000 appearances as a professional for club and country at the top of the game, scoring almost 200 goals and achieving 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions’ Leagues.
An Evening with Ryan Giggs: In Conversation is presented by Kong Events and MDA Promotions.
Silver tickets £40 are available. Arrival is 7.45pm, and the event begins at 8.15pm. Click here to visit the Haymarket website.
Canteen street food event - New Market Square - Fri April 5 and Sat April 6
Street food event Canteen is returning to New Market Square, featuring food from some of the best street food traders in the UK.
On Friday, the line-up includes Urban Cheesecake, The Paneer Wrap Street Food Company, Arepazo & Co, Leave It To Esmie, The Gravy Train poutine, and Vegan Fried Chicken.
On Saturday, you can enjoy food from Yo Dough Brum, Manzoku, Beef On The Block, Greidys Wings and Strips, Sticky Beaks, Little Red Food Truck, and Leave It To Esmie.
There will also be a gin fizz and Prosecco bar, Kopparberg cider bar, and a selection of beers.
Music will be provided by Superfly, playing a mix of funk, soul and upbeat tunes.
Entry is £1 (Free before 4pm). Children are free at all times as are University Students/Lecturers, Leicester City Council Employees, NHS Staff, Emergency Services and Armed Forces.
The event runs from 4pm until 11pm on Friday, and 1pm until 11pm on Saturday.
Prosecco Festival - Athena - Sat April 6
The UK's first and only dedicated Prosecco festival is returning to Leicester this weekend.
There will be drink stations serving 30 types of Prosecco, Cava, pink fizz and Prosecco cocktails. Plus, new for 2019, there will also be a selection of world gins.
For the non-fizz fans, there will also be an Italian Peroni area, and there will also be an array of Italian street food
The event will feature a 'dance floor filling live band' at both sessions (12.30pm - 5pm, and 6.30pm - 11pm).
Standard entry costs from £12.50 and includes a branded Prosecco Festival flute and complimentary Prosecco.
Click here to visit the website and purchase your tickets.
New restaurants in Leicestershire
Mods: Shaping a Generation - Exhibition Opening Day - New Walk Museum and Art Gallery - Sat, April 13
Mods: Shaping a Generation tells the story of the 1960's Mod scene in Leicester and Nottingham and how they were connected, concentrating on the themes of social, financial and creative freedom via exclusive first-hand eye witness accounts and unpublished images.
The exhibition also celebrates the 40th anniversary of the release of The Who's cult Mod film, Quadrophenia, and will include ephemera and original 1960's clothing as seen in the film.
The exhibition also re-visits legendary hang-outs visited by the Leicester and Nottingham Mods including The Nite Owl, The Il Rondo and the Dungeon.
As part of the opening day activities, book yourself a place for The Quadrophenia Experience with Roger K Burton and Alan Fletcher Q&A event at 2pm.
The exhibition runs until June 30, open seven days a week, with free entry.
Jersey Budd with Silverball - Leicester Guildhall - Sat, April 13
Here's your chance to see Leicester singer-songwriter Jersey Budd play the historic Guildhall in Leicester for the first time with his new band Silverball.
Backed by an amazing collection of musicians, the show will see Jersey perform songs from his albums 'Wonderlands' and 'The Gathering Dust' as well as showcasing some new folk/roots influenced material, signalling a change in direction for him and his band.
Tickets are £12 and available directly from the Guildhall or online here.
Doors open at 7.15pm with music at 8pm.
King Richard III Visitor Centre - LEGO Event - Fri, April 19 - Mon, April 22
After recreating the most famous portrait of King Richard III in LEGO last year, the LEGO event returns over the Easter weekend.
With a heraldic theme to the Easter holidays, you can help to recreate a huge version of King Richard's Coat of Arms!
Entry tickets for the Visitor Centre are: Adult (16+ Years) £9.25, Child (5 – 15 Years) £4.75
Family (2 adults and 2 children) £23.00, Over 60s, Student £8.30.
Children aged 4 and under are admitted free of charge but you will still need to obtain a ticket for them, on arrival at the Visitor Centre. Tickets are valid for 12 months.
St George's Festival - Cultural Quarter - Sat, April 20
St George's Day itself is on Tuesday, April 23, but the city's annual St George's Day Festival will take place on Saturday, April 20.
The family friendly festival happens in the city's Cultural Quarter, where you can enjoy music, dance and live performances.
The event promises a day of non-stop entertainment for all the family, full of activities to try out and fun things to do including the fancy dress parade and the popular dragon hunt event.
For the full list of activities and timings, click here to read our article about the event.
We're Going On a Bear Hunt - Curve - Tue, April 23 - Sun, April 28
'We're going on a bear hunt, we're going to catch a big one'....
Little ones who are fans of the well-known book by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, are sure to love this mischievous celebration of play.
Direct from the West End, the smash-hit production - directed by Sally Cookson and set to Benji Bower’s score - features an intrepid family of adventurers and their musical dog on a quest to find a bear.
You're invited to join them as they wade through the gigantic swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the thick oozy, squelchy mud! Expect catchy songs, interactive scenes, plenty of adventure and a few surprises along the way.
It is aimed at families with children aged 3 and up. Tickets £14. Click here to visit Curve's website.
