Your update of what's happening in Harborough District
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Issue 46 July 2025 |
Welcome to our newsletter, your ultimate guide to the Harborough District. For local residents and curious tourists alike, there is something for everyone. Stay connected by following us on Instagram and Facebook for updates and community highlights.
This is just a snapshot of events happening in Harborough District. Find a full list of events here and discover more about Harborough district at VisitHarborough. |
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Food & Drink Fortnight |
📆 28 June to 12 July Harborough district is serving up its first ever Food and Drink Fortnight – two weeks packed with flavour, local pride and community spirit. From set menus to village events, there’s plenty to tuck into!
🍽️ Enjoy special offers and fixed-price menus at local eateries.
🍽️ See unique collaborations between local producers and venues.
🍽️ Discover food-themed events across towns and villages.
🍽️ Support independent cafés, pubs and restaurants while trying something new. 📱 Follow us on social media for the latest offers and updates across the district! |
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Market Harborough Classic Car Show 2025
| 6 July 2025 | 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM 📍 Market Harborough Town Centre
🎟 FREE event
Get ready for a fantastic day filled with chrome, character and classic style as Market Harborough’s streets transform into a car lover’s dream and a fun day out for the whole family.
🚗 Over 200 stunning classic, vintage and retro vehicles will be on display for you to admire.
🚗 Live music will create a lively and enjoyable atmosphere all day long.
🚗 A great selection of street food and drink stalls will cater to every taste.
🚗 Trophies will be awarded to the finest cars on show.
🚗 Shops, cafés and pubs will be open to complete your day out. |
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Windmill Farm Park – Summer of Fun! |
📅 5 July to 31 August
📍 Windmill Farm Park, Langton Road, Kibworth Harcourt, LE8 0PR Make the most of the summer holidays with non-stop fun for all the family. Windmill Farm Park is packed with exciting activities, adorable animals and award-winning play – and it’s even better with a Summer Pass.
🎟️ Why get the Summer Pass?
Enjoy unlimited visits and save money. What’s on this summer:
☀️ Circus workshops every Wednesday
☀️ Hands-on animal activities
☀️ Tractor rides
☀️ Farmer’s Trail
☀️ Award-winning indoor and outdoor play
☀️ The Riverbank walks
☀️ Goat racing fun
☀️ Creative crafts and family games
🌤️ Book online to save
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Wistow Maze
| 📅 21 July to 31 August
📍 Wistow Maze, Kibworth Road, Wistow, LE8 0QF Enjoy a fun day exploring one of the country’s largest maize mazes, set in eight acres of maize and sunflowers. It’s great for all ages.
🌽 Follow the Quiz Trail to find 12 quiz boards across three miles of paths, with bridges and towers offering panoramic views. 🌽 Enter and exit the maze as often as you like, with breaks for lunch or fun in the Activity Funyard.
🌽 The 2025 maze is shaped like a Steam Train, celebrating 200 years of the modern railway. 🌽 Entry includes access to the Activity Funyard with games like a mini maze, rope maze, hoopla, beanbag throwing and more. |
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Great Bowden Music Fest |
📅 3 to 6 July 📍 St Peter and St Paul Church, Dingley Road, Great Bowden LE16 7ET
Great Bowden Music Fest returns for four uplifting days of live performances, featuring a diverse programme ranging from classical masterpieces to jazz and musical theatre, all set in the heart of Great Bowden.
Tickets:
🎻 Online and from Welton's Deli, Great Bowden.
Prices:
🎻 Festival Pass (8 concerts): £75
🎻 Evening Concerts: £18
🎻 Lunchtime Concerts: £10
🎻 Ages 12–18: £5
🎻 Under 12s: Free The festival offers something for everyone, from emerging talent to beloved classics |
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Cafe Ventoux turns ten
| 📅 Saturday 5 July 2025 📍Tugby Orchards, Wood Lane, Tugby, LE7 9WE
Café Ventoux will celebrate 10 years of being open with a Charity Ride and Family Fun Day in support of The 4Ed Foundation. 🎈 Charity Ride – £45
Riders can choose a 50km or 100km route. The entry fee includes a feed station, BBQ and drink, an exclusive T-shirt, 4Ed socks, route support, mechanical assistance, insurance and parking.
🎈 Family Fun Day | 10am–5pm
Families can enjoy live music, a BBQ, a kids’ off-road course (suggested £5 donation) and a Wattbike challenge. Children should bring their own bike and helmet. Everyone is welcome to ride, relax and celebrate for a great cause. |
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Open Gardens and Hammond Arboretum |
Take time to unwind and enjoy the natural beauty around you this summer.
Willoughby Waterleys National Garden Scheme (NGS) Open Gardens
🍃 Saturday 6 July | 11:00am – 5:00pm | Willoughby Waterleys
Explore five unique gardens with wildlife havens, colourful borders and cottage charm.
Bitteswell NGS Open Gardens
🍃 Saturday 13 July | 2:00pm – 5:00pm | Green Wicket Farm, Bitteswell
Wander through a formal garden with mature trees and year-round blooms – ideal for a relaxing afternoon.
Hammond Arboretum Open Day
🍃 Wednesday 17 July | 11:00am – 4:00pm Robert Smyth Academy, Market Harborough
Enjoy a peaceful stroll through the arboretum, with beautiful trees, accessible paths and dogs welcome on short leads. |
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Glastontipi at Bridge House Barn
| 📅 Saturday 20 July | 2:00pm – 11:00pm 📍 Bridge House Barn, Wistow Lane, Kibworth Harcourt, Leicester LE8 0RG
🌈 A day of live music, great food and summer vibes inside traditional tipis. Dance, relax and enjoy an unforgettable outdoor gathering.
🌈 Line-up includes:
The Jamlocks, Abandon Her, Robert Smyth Band, Foxy, Sunsplash, Shannon Kelly Gough and Shaka Function Band 🌈 Food and drink from:
That Filthy Food, Wigston Deli, Passion Food Events, Gez’s Ice Creams and Donut Stall
🌈 Essentials:
No food or drink to be brought in
Bag checks on entry
Children aged 5 and under go free 🎟️ Tickets are limited – last year sold out. Book now and be part of the GlastonTipi magic! |
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Festival of Leicestershire and Rutland Archaeology |
🗓️5 July-3 August. Part of the Council for British Archaeology’s national Festival of Archaeology, this annual celebration is back — and this year’s theme is “Archaeology and Wellbeing.”
🏛️ Archaeology is a great way to support your wellbeing.
Spend time outdoors, learn a new skill, connect with others, or take a mindful moment to study a fascinating object. The festival offers opportunities to give, be active, learn, take notice and connect. 🏛️ Events will take place across Harborough District, including at Hallaton, Foxton Locks, Harborough Museum and Church Langton.
🏛️ Did you know there’s a great museum in Hallaton? The Tin Tab is full of local history and with The Ale Tales new exhibition, St Morrell's Round and Hallaton Castle guided walks, it's definitely worth a visit.
🗓️ A full timetable of activities is available on their website. |
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Summer Beer Festival
| 📅 Friday 11 July to Sunday 13 July 📍Langton Brewery, Thorpe Langton, Market Harborough, LE16 7TU
🍺 Enjoy a family-friendly weekend of great beer, delicious street food and live music set in beautiful countryside surroundings. 🍺 The festival offers traditional bitters from Langton Brewery and fresh, modern beers from Partizan Brewing, plus guest beers from local breweries.
🍺 Enjoy a great selection of street food from vendors serving Indian dishes, artisan pizzas and sweet treats. 🍺 The soundtrack features the best local musicians and bands.
On-site camping is available for tents, campers and caravans to make the most of the weekend. |
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Harborough Guided Walks |
👣 Explore Harborough district's stories and heritage this July with two events led by Blue Badge Guide James Carpenter and outdoor writer George Keeping.
👣 The Story of Harborough
Sunday 20 July | 7:00pm | The Old Grammar School, Market Harborough
Step back in time and uncover Market Harborough’s rich past — from medieval origins to corsets, table creams and the English Civil War.
👣 Foxton and the Locks Guided Walk
Thursday 31 July | 1:30pm | Foxton Village Hall
Stroll through the village and down to Foxton Locks, then enjoy afternoon tea at a local café. A perfect mix of history, nature and charm. |
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Creative Harborough |
Have you heard of Creative Harborough?
Creative Harborough is a group of local arts and cultural organisations who want to make it easier for us all to enjoy a whole host of arts and creativity. It's good for our health and wellbeing and it's also a way to have great fun together!
Events include:
🎶 Music – Live gigs, choirs and pop-up performances.
🎨 Art and Craft – Exhibitions, live painting and workshops.
🎭 Theatre – Local productions, drama clubs and open days.
🚶♀️ Heritage – Guided countryside walks and town trails.
📚 Literature – Summer Reading Challenge and local stories.
🎉 Plus more – From teddy ziplines to afternoon teas!
📲 Follow Creative Harborough on Facebook to see more. |
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Dodie's Cafe, Kibworth
| 🍰We recommend you head to Kibworth Beauchamp and visit Dodie’s Café, tucked away at 39 High Street.The smell of freshly brewed coffee and creative cakes with Instagram-worthy presentation will draw you right in.
🍰Inside, friendly locals and homely décor give it a real community feel. The menu has a great mix of dishes, from hearty breakfasts like pancakes to light lunches such as paninis, so there’s something to satisfy every craving. 🍰What makes Dodie’s special is the warmth of the staff. Stop by for coffee, a sweet treat or a friendly chat — it's a much-loved spot in Kibworth Beauchamp. |
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New bus routes in the Harborough district |
Exciting improvements to Harborough district's bus network make getting around easier than ever. See the latest updates below: 🚍 New Town Routes (HC1–HC4): Circular routes around Market Harborough with new Friday and Saturday evening services.
🚍 Shopper Bus (LC11): Trial service from Market Harborough to Corby on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 🚍 Rural Routes Updated:
• LC4: Fleckney – Market Harborough – Foxton, faster journeys
• LC7: Uppingham – Leicester, more peak trips
• LC10: Market Harborough – Lutterworth, added evening journeys
🚍 FoxConnect Zones: Five new on-demand zones covering Lutterworth and Thurmaston Shopping Centre. Book via app or call centre. |
| Find Out More
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Open spaces and car parking surveys
| 🗓️ Have Your Say
Two Harborough District Council consultations are now open. Your views help shape the future of Harborough district so please share them with us. 🏛️ Car Parking Strategy
Help shape the future of local car parks — including locations, funding and green upgrades.
🗓️ Closes: 28 July 2025
Complete Car Parking Survey 🏛️ Open Spaces Review
Share your views on how open spaces are used, maintained and improved.
🗓️ Closes: 15 July 2025
Complete Open Spaces Survey |
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| Do you know about the ghosts of the Three Swans?
👻 The hotel’s most famous ghost is the Lady in White, often seen gliding silently through the upper corridors with a sorrowful expression.
👻Guests have reported phantom footsteps, disembodied voices, sudden cold spots and the eerie sensation of being watched.
👻 The ghost of a stable boy, who died after being kicked by a horse in the 18th century, is said to haunt the old courtyard stables.
👻Some guests have witnessed furniture moving on its own and heard the sound of horses or murmuring voices in empty rooms.👻 Also, the cellars are thought to be older than the hotel itself, with rumours of secret tunnels once used by monks or fugitives! |
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Here's just a snapshot of what's coming up in the district.
Follow our socials for more up-to-date information. |
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Date:Various Dates
Place :Harborough Theatre, Market Harborough
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Date:Various Dates
Place :The Wycliffe Centre, Lutterworth
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Date:Various Dates
Place:Various locations across the district
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Date: 3 July 2025
Time: 9am to 3pm
Place:The Square, Market Harborough
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Date: 26 July 2025
Time: 9am to 4pm
Place: The Square, Market Harborough
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Great places to rest and relax
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Delicious local tastes and eateries |
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Amazing attractions and great things to do
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Calling local event organisers!
Tell us what's on and we'll help to promote.
Email us
For regular updates join us on social media. |
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