By Precious Assah
Organisers of the Riverside Festival are inviting everyone in the Leicestershire community in and outside the city to help them celebrate its 25th anniversary this weekend(JUNE1-2).
This free two-day festival features fun on and off the water and will run from midday until 6pm tomorrow) and from midday until 5pm on Sunday.
The festival started as a small event by the riverside in 1997 when the development of Bede Island was forming.
It has now become a well-known annual event, this year spread over Bede Park, Western Boulevard, the River Soar, Castle Gardens and the DMU Campus, and is within easy walking distance from the city centre.
The event incorporates many diverse attractions and activities including market stalls, live music, a funfair, bars, decorated boats, and art activities. It can attract up to 40,000 people over the weekend and appeals to all age groups from across Leicester and Leicestershire.
Watch out for the dragon boat racing run by Prostaid, which is a charity to help men in the Leicester community who are dealing with prostate cancer.
Rob Banner from Prostaid said: “The race will take place on the mile straight which runs parallel in the castle gardens.
“It’s a great opportunity to have some fun with you and your friends.
“But also race for a good cause.”
Prostaid was started in 2006 as a local, registered, independent prostate and prostate cancer charity, based in Wigston. It relies on donations and bequests, gets no government funding, and is run by patients, families, friends, and urological professionals.
It provides five support groups throughout the area, to give support to men newly diagnosed and treated and to patients with advanced prostate cancer.
The charity funds new innovative treatments, tests, and equipment.