Hello everyone, and welcome to your weekly guide to the best things happening across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire this Bank Holiday weekend…
🎪 Festivals & Big Events
Robin Hood Festival
📍 Sherwood Forest 📅 29 to 31 August
The final weekend of celebrations includes arena performances, outlaws, medieval markets and an evening spectacle on Saturday. [visit-nott…hire.co.uk],
Foolhardy Folk Festival
📍 The Arboretum, Nottingham 📅 30 August
The celebration of music, community and trees personally curated by Beans on Toast takes place on Sunday with a full line-up featuring Badly Drawn Boy, Skinny Lister, 3 Daft Monkeys, K.O.G, Gecko, Nuala and King Killership. [Tickets]
Leicester Fake Festival 2026
📍 Victoria Park 📅 29 August
Late summer’s calling and Victoria Park’s gearing up for one last blowout before the lights go down. Fake Bands for Arctic Monkeys, Blur, Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Pink and Bowie – six monsters of rock ready to tear it up. [Tickets]
Day Fever Festival
📍 Nottingham Arboretum 📅 Saturday 29 August
The daytime disco phenomenon arrives in Nottingham with music, entertainment and a festival atmosphere. [visit-nott…hire.co.uk]
Asylum Steampunk Festival
📍 Lincoln 📅 28 – 31 August
It’s the time of year when Steampunks take over Lincoln. This year they’ll be in the Castle grounds with many other awesome traders, but you will also find tomfoolery at its finest in the Bail, on the high street, and all over Lincoln city
👨👩👧👦 Family Days Out
Adventure Cinema at Wollaton Hall
📍 Nottingham 📅 28 to 30 August
Grab a blanket and enjoy outdoor screenings in one of Nottinghamshire’s most spectacular settings. [Tickets]
Leicester Trading Card Show
📍 Welford Road Stadium, Leicester 📅 29 August
Top Vendors & Trusted Sellers from across the world of Pokémon, Sports Cards, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Sports and so much more. [Tickets]
Leicester Open Streets x Graffwerk Street Art Jam
📍 Graff HQ, Frog Island 📅 30 August
Get ready for a burst of colour as Leicester’s creative quarter comes alive with live street art, spray‑paint workshops, upcycling activities, bike fix‑it sessions, accessible cycling with @wfacharity and a soundtrack of great music filling the streets. It’s vibrant, hands‑on and perfect for all ages! Takes place between 1-4pm
🌳 Outdoors & Heritage
Major Oak Walk
📍 Sherwood Forest
Combine the festival with a stroll to Nottinghamshire’s most famous tree and explore the ancient woodland that inspired the Robin Hood legend.
Lincoln Cathedral & Bailgate
📍 Lincoln
Perfect for a Bank Holiday day trip, with independent shops, cafés and incredible historic architecture.
Peak District Late-Summer Walks
📍 Derbyshire
Before autumn arrives, this is an ideal weekend for exploring Monsal Trail, Dovedale or Mam Tor.
🎶 Music & Culture
Carnival in the Courtyard
📍 Merchant’s Yard, Leicester 📅 30 August
The Courtyard gets a full carnival takeover this Bank Holiday Sunday: one venue, ten hours. Expect house, RnB, garage, reggae, disco and jungle rolling through the afternoon and into the night, plus the biggest singalong anthems from the 70s right through to today. Doors from 2pm. Bank Holiday Monday to recover. [Get Tickets]
The Enemy
📍 The Engine Shed, Lincoln 📅 29 August
The Coventry outfit are back with new music, including their fifth album Social Disguises released in February 2026, The Enemy are once again proving why they remain one of the UK’s most exciting live acts. [Tickets]
Live Music Across the Region
Keep an eye on venues including:
The late-summer live music calendar remains packed across the East Midlands. [gigantic.com]
🛍️ Shopping
Derby Farmers’ Market
📍 Market Hall, Derby 📅 29 August
Enjoy a relaxed, welcoming space filled with fresh produce, artisanal foods and seasonal flavours, perfect for browsing with family and friends.
🍔 Worth the Journey
Southwell
A great choice for independent cafés, boutique shops and a wander around Southwell Minster.
Stamford
Often regarded as one of England’s prettiest towns, offering food, history and picturesque streets.
