New summer event planned as part of action-packed programme

Published: Thu 18th April, 2024

A series of exciting events will take place this year for residents and visitors to enjoy including a fantastic new summer event.

The borough council will be holding ‘Celebrating Charnwood’ over a weekend in June which will include film screenings, fun fair rides, food and drink stalls, family competitions and more. 

This new event comes as Charnwood celebrates its 50th anniversary after being formed in 1974. 

Other great events returning for the year include an enhanced Christmas lights switch-on weekend, Loughborough Mela, specialist markets and the historic Loughborough Fair.

Chris Grace, head of economic development and regeneration at Charnwood Borough Council, said: “I am really pleased to launch the Celebrating Charnwood event this summer in what will be an exciting and fun weekend for visitors and residents.

“We are offering a great programme of events in 2024 which combines established favourites with new events for people of all ages to come and enjoy.

“I want to thank all the partners and organisations who help us deliver popular events.  Our local businesses benefit from increased footfall within our town centres. 

The full details of Celebrating Charnwood will be released soon but it will be held in Southfields Park, Loughborough on the weekend of June 29 and 30. 

The Council will be running polls on social media to determine which films will be screened on the outdoor cinema throughout the weekend.

This event, along with the Christmas lights switch-on, Loughborough Fair, specialist markets, the beacon lighting for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Remembrance Sunday and Proms in Park are all developed and managed by the Council. 

The popular Gardeners’ Fair, operated by Love Loughborough, will be taking place over the summer months.

Love Loughborough will also be running a Car Show in Loughborough Market Place on Sunday, June 16. 

Visitors will be able to enjoy a vegan market in June and October with Ceramics in Charnwood returning in May.

The 80th anniversary of D-Day will be marked with a beacon lighting in Queen’s Park in Loughborough on Thursday, June 6.

Another new event will be taking place in September with ‘Proms in the Park’. This will see a number of groups perform during a weekend of music, following the popularity of the bandstand concerts in Queen’s Park. 

Charnwood Eco Hub will also be returning to Queen’s Park in September for the Charnwood Sustainability Fair which will be showcasing greener living for residents.

The year will be rounded off with the Remembrance Sunday service on November 10 before Loughborough Fair returns for its 803rd year from Wednesday November 13 to Saturday November 16.

The Christmas lights switch-on will then take place across the final weekend of November.

The list of events can be found below:

  • Pinders Circus – April 23 – April 28
  • May Bank Holiday Fair – May 3 – May 6
  • Gardeners’ Fair – May 5
  • Ceramics market – May 12
  • Barking Mad Dog Show – May 19
  • Young Market – May 26
  • Beacon lighting to mark 80 years since D-Day – June 6
  • Vegan market – June 9
  • Car Show – June 16
  • Celebrating Charnwood – June 29 & 30
  • Gardeners' Fair – July 7
  • Gardeners’ Fair – August 4
  • Loughborough Mela – August 25
  • Gardeners' Fair – September 8
  • Proms in the Park – September 14 & 15
  • Charnwood Sustainability Fair – September 29       
  • Vegan market – October 13
  • Remembrance Parade and Service - November 10
  • Loughborough Fair – November 13 – November 16          
  • Loughborough Christmas lights switch-on – November 29 – December 1
  • Santa Run – December 1
  • Gardeners' Fair – December 8
  • Carols at the Carillon – December 24.

Please note that these events are subject to change.

Residents are also encouraged to visit Discover Charnwood to view events from across the borough which are organised by other organisations and community groups.

Loughborough also hosts a retail market every week on Thursday and Saturday and a vintage market on Fridays.

Traders and charities are encouraged to contact the markets office if they are interested in being involved with any of the markets or events in 2024. Please email the Council’s markets team on: .

Any businesses interested in sponsoring events are also encouraged to contact the team as soon as possible.

To keep up to date with all the latest news and information on events held in Charnwood, sign up for email alerts: charnwood.gov.uk/alerts and follow the Council’s social media pages: @CharnwoodBC.