Another winter weekend chockablock with things to do will soon be upon us.
Now that January is in full swing, we’re really not short of exciting activities and events to be getting up to right across the East Midlands– with everything from a Traitors screening party to Cuban live music.
Still not what to do though? Never fear! We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our weekly weekend guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pounds are featured. Here’s all the deets in no particular order…
Traitors Final Live – Friendly, Leicester
One of the biggest TV moments of the year is coming to Leicester, as one local venue is set to host a live screening of the Traitors finale.
Share the drama with friends on Friday night and grab a ticket to a live Traitors final screening.
Held at the new Friendly creative space in St Mary’s Works, they’re pulling out the sofas and bringing out the big projector so you can share the drama with friends on Friday night
Tickets are £5 and you can take your own booze.
Buy tickets HERE
WHERE: Friendly, St Mary’s Works, Burnmoor Street, LE2
WHEN: Friday, January 23 from 7.30pm
Hickley Indie Market – Hickley town centre, Leicestershire
A community ‘Indie’ market is coming to Hinckley town centre this Sunday with more than 30 independent stalls in Market Place and The Borough – and there’ll be plenty of unique and quirky products for sale.
They will include handmade, personalised, home-baked and ‘not on the high street’ goods, meaning there will be something for everyone.
The market, run by local non-profit group All Communities Matter, also has a community space offering different activities and freebies for visitors each month.
WHEN: Hinckley Town Centre, Castle Street
WHERE: Sunday, January 25 – 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Annual Winter Steam Gala – Grand Central Railway, Loughborough
Steam fans can kickoff the New Year with Grand Central Railway’s Annual Winter Steam Gala. The event runs from January 22 – 25.
The action-packed four-day event features an intensive timetable of both passenger and goods trains, plus a line-up of special guest locomotives.
Joining a strong supporting cast from the GCR home fleet and steaming through the frosty Charnwood countryside will be three visiting locos including Battle of Britain class locomotive No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron, BR 9F No. 92134 and the 3809/18 Hunslet “Austerity”.
Refreshments and places to warm up will be available throughout the event, including the Tin Shed Bar at Quorn and Woodhouse station, serving a range of cask ales and ciders alongside hot and soft drinks and light refreshments. The Butler-Henderson Café and Ellis Tearoom will also be open, offering hot and cold food and refreshments as well as the Refreshment Room at Loughborough Central, Platform Tearoom at Rothley and wartime themed Naafi at Quorn & Woodhouse station.
Tickets HERE
WHERE: Grand Central Station, Loughborough
WHEN: January 22-25, 8am-6pm
Sambroso All-Stars – Drill Hall, Lincoln
Is there a more iconic Cuban album than Buena Vista Social Club’s eponymous debut? Winning the Grammy for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album, it remains a high watermark not just for Cuban music but world music as a whole, having been only one of two non-English speaking albums to be included in Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest albums of all time list.
Doing this album any sort of justice is no easy task, but there isn’t anyone better than Sambroso Noda, the beating heart of London’s Cuban community and flourishing music scene. A bonafide ‘all star’ group of Cuban musicians have been put together to pay their own unique and loving tribute to the landmark album.
The seven-piece all star band have promised to mesmerise the crowd with their combination of Cuban Son, Latin Jazz and Rumba, from Cuba’s Golden era.
Tickets HERE
WHERE: Lincoln Drill Hall, Lincoln
WHEN: Saturday 24th January 24, 2026 19:30PM
Candlelight: Rings and Dragons – Nottingham Contemporary
Two of the biggest fantasy properties in the world, The Lord of Rings meets A Game Of Thrones in this epic candlelight concert celebrating the wonderful music of both. You’ll be taken on a journey through Middle Earth and Westeros through the music of Howard Shore and Ramin Djawadi. Enjoy a night of rings, dragons, battles, and more – as presented in a location fit for a Queen or King of the North or Lothlorien!
Presented by Fever, candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Nottingham. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Rings and Dragons at Nottingham Contemporary under the gentle glow of candlelight.
Tickets are available HERE
WHERE: Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham
WHEN: Saturday, January 24, 6pm–7pm
