School holiday activities

Free and low cost activities for families to enjoy over the festive holiday. 

• Cabinet of Curiosity - Doorstep Museum
  Leicester Museums & Galleries will be hosting a special pop-up museum where visitors will be able to handle a selection of real museum objects from the Cabinet of Curiosity, learning about the origins of some of the fascinating items in Leicester's collections.  Don’t miss lively performances from the Lairy Fairy and the Dancing Christmas Tree, bringing seasonal magic to the shopping centre!
  
  • 12noon to 4pm at Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre
• Cultural Quarter Earlies - Crafts at Central Library
  Take the rickshaw from the Curve to the Central Library and join in writing a letter to Santa and festive colouring.
  • 1pm to 3pm at Central Library
• Cultural Quarter Earlies - Making Christmas
  Free drop-in activities - Design your own cards, make decorations for your tree, festive Toy Swap, story time and craft session.
  • 12noon – 4pm at LCB Depot
• Santa's Secret Workshop
  A free pop-up Panto where Santa and his cheeky elves reveal the secrets of their bustling workshop.  It’s a magical mini-show full of sparkle, surprises, and Christmas cheer!
  • 11am to 7pm (join queue by 5pm) at the Highcross Leicester
  • SEND-friendly performance at 11am to 12noon

• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
  The Muppets perform the classic Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Other Muppets, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear and Sam the Eagle weave in and out of the story, while Scrooge receives visits from spirits of three Christmases past, present and future. They show him the error of his self-serving ways, but the miserable old man seems to be past any hope of redemption and happiness.
  • Two screening at Leicester Guildhall
    • 12.30pm (Doors 12pm) and 3pm (Doors 2.30pm) 
  • Cert U 1h 25min.  Tickets £6

• Letter to Santa craft session
  Join in on this afterschool festive session
  to create your letter to Santa or colour in a festive door hanger.
  • Drop-in between 3pm and 6pm at Central Library

• Letter to Santa craft session
  • Drop-in between 3pm and 6pm at Central Library

• Christmas crafts
  Join in on this afterschool session to create Christmas themed crafts.
  • Drop-in between 3pm and 4.30pm at Rushey Mead Library
• Letter to Santa craft session
  • Drop-in between 3pm and 6pm at Central Library

• Children's Christmas party
  Join us for lots of party games, a visit from Santa and some light refreshments.
  • 4.30pm to 7pm at Braunstone Library
  • Booking essential
  • £4 per person, or £14 Family ticket (family of 4)

• Christmas tree ornament
  Decorate a wooden tree ornament.
  • Drop in between 10am and 11.30am at Beaumont Leys Library
• Santa's Secret Workshop
  • 11am to 7pm (join queue by 5pm) at the Highcross Leicester
  • SEND-friendly performance at 11am to 12noon

• Christmas family activities
  Families can take part in some simple Christmas craft and also make their own Christingle to use in the service at 3pm.  After the service, we hold a ‘snowball fight’ with wool pom poms.
  • Crafts between 2pm to 3pm at Leicester Cathedral
  • Christingle service at 3pm
• Christmas crafts
  Make a gingerbread puppet or a quirky Robin greetings card.
  
  • Drop in between 12noon and 3pm at Fosse Library
• Christmas papercrafts 
  • Drop in between 11am and 1pm at Belgrave Library
• Christmas tree ornament
  Decorate baubles and wooden ornaments for your Christmas tree.
  • 12noon to 1.30pm at Hamilton Library
  • Booking required
• Design a Christmas Calendar
  Decorate a calendar for 2026, drop in between:
  
  • 11am and 1pm at Highfields Library
  • 1pm and 2.30pm at Evington Library
• Letter to Santa craft session
  • Drop-in between 3pm and 6pm at Central Library
• Stay and play
  
  • 10am to 11.30am at: 
    • Eyres Monsell CYPFC 
    • Highfields CYPFC
  • 1pm to 2.30pm at Beaumont Leys CYPFC
  • 1.15pm to 2.45pm at Thurnby Lodge CYPFC
  • 1.30pm to 3pm at Woodbridge CYPFC

• Christmas tree ornament
  Decorate baubles and wooden ornaments for your Christmas tree.
  • 12noon to 1.30pm at St Barnabas Library
  • Booking required
• Santa's Secret Workshop
  • 11am to 7pm (join queue by 5pm) at the Highcross Leicester

• Letter to Santa craft session
  • Drop-in between 3pm and 6pm at Central Library

• Stay and play
  
  • 10am to 11.30am at: 
    • Eyres Monsell CYPFC 
    • Highfields CYPFC
  • 1.15pm to 2.45pm at Thurnby Lodge CYPFC
  • 1.30pm to 3pm at Woodbridge CYPFC

• Meet the Police
  Explore the history of Leicester's first police headquarters, try out our Victorian prison cells, meet the local PCSO's, play dress up and enjoy solving our mystery trail around the museum
  
  • Drop in between 11am to 3pm at Leicester Guildhall
• Stay and play
  
  • 1pm to 2.30pm at Beaumont Leys CYPFC

• Stay and play
  
  • 10am to 12 noon at Braunstone CYPFC

• Leicester Museum and Galleries family-friendly exhibitions
• King Richard III daily activities
• Active Leicester - Leisure centre activities
• Free adventure playground sessions
• Playschemes
• Mychoice - search for other activities, clubs and childcare in Leicester
• What's on in Leicester
• Go Leicestershire

This summary is for information only and is correct at the time of publishing. View the webpage links or contact the individual providers directly to find out if the activities are suitable for your child or family needs. Children must be supervised by a parent / guardian at all times. 

Activities are free to attend unless stated; however, fees may apply for additional activities or services available at the event.