Riverside Festival returns for 25th anniversary

Highlights of the festival include kayaking

A festival centred around the River Soar in Leicester is returning to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Up to 40,000 visitors are expected to attend the city's Riverside Festival.

It is taking place at locations including Bede Park, Western Boulevard and Castle Gardens on 1-2 June.

Highlights include dragon boat racing, narrowboat trips and kayaking.

People will be offered boat trips on the river

"This year, it’s bigger than ever," said Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for leisure and culture.

"The Riverside Festival will offer something for everyone and we look forward to welcoming tens of thousands of people to enjoy the weekend and celebrate our 25th anniversary with us."

The free festival will include activities on and off the water.

Colourful boats from across the region will be offering trips on the river.

No experience is required for the dragon boat racing, which is being hosted by the local charity PROSTaid.

For the first time, De Montfort University will be taking part in the festival with an outdoor cinema on campus.

It will be showing content from local creative companies, historic archives and the original 1992 animated series of the Beatrix Potter Collection.

Global street food, craft ales and cocktails will also be on offer from a range of bars and traders.