Shoppers invited to be stars of 'Carnival Summer' Exhibition at Highcross this July

The pop-up gallery, set to be located outdoors on the centre’s East Square near Luke1977 and Footlocker, is part of a wider partnership with the organisers of Leicester’s official Caribbean Carnival, which also includes:

• 8 – 15 July, Soca Fit Sessions (6:15pm – 7pm): Ahead of the Carnival, shoppers can also get involved in Soca Fit Sessions where Caribbean-inspired dance fitness workouts will get shoppers carnival-ready thanks to high-energy workouts that blend fitness with dance rhythm.
• 14 – 31 July (open during normal centre hours), Carnival Summer Outdoor Exhibition: Shoppers can explore four decades of carnival history through archive photography, costumes, memorabilia and community stories.
• Saturday 18 July and Saturday 25 July, Costume Workshop (12pm - 2pm): Shoppers can get hands-on and create their own carnival-inspired costumes, guided by one of Leicester’s local carnival dance troupes.
• Saturday 18 July and Saturday 25 July (6pm – 10pm), Sound System Nights: two evenings of music bringing authentic Caribbean culture to Highcross. Taking place at the Grammar School Court outside Turtle Bay, the events will feature two sound system scene giants, Passion and Viking Sound. Audiences can soak up the atmosphere and enjoy cocktails from Turtle Bay’s outdoor Tiki Bar.

Speaking about the programme of events, Michelle Menezes, Centre Director at Highcross Leicester, said:

“Leicester’s Caribbean Carnival is such an iconic part of our city’s identity, and we wanted to use this summer to build up the excitement for this year’s celebrations, giving shoppers a flavour of the Caribbean and an opportunity to get into the carnival spirit early, ahead of the 1st of August’s main event.

“This Carnival Summer line-up brings together a fantastic mix of free and entertaining activities that will give our shoppers the chance to dive into the rich heritage of the event, whether they’re looking to learn about its fantastic history through our exhibition, create a one-of-a-kind costume to wear for the Carnival or simply enjoy the music and atmosphere. There’s something here for everyone.”

Tara Munroe, Creative Director of Opal22 Arts & Edutainment, added:

"Leicester Carnival has been at the heart of our city's cultural life for decades, bringing people together through music, creativity, colour and community spirit. We are incredibly excited to be working with Highcross on this new partnership, which gives us the opportunity to showcase Carnival in a completely different way and introduce it to new audiences.

“For us, Carnival is about more than a single day of celebration. It’s about heritage, identity, creativity and the generations of people who have helped shape Leicester into the diverse city it is today. Bringing Carnival into the heart of the city centre allows us to share those stories, celebrate the talent behind the event, and create new opportunities for people to engage with this important part of Leicester's cultural history.

“This is a first for both Carnival and Highcross, and we hope it marks the beginning of an exciting journey that will help the event continue to grow, evolve and inspire future generations."

For more information visit www.highcrossleicester.com, or check out its social media channels, on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

To find out more about Leicester’s Caribbean Carnival, visit www.leicestercarnival.com.