Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

  Down by the riverside, there’s all sorts going on at Leicester’s riverside festival , in the heart of the city, a weekend bursting with music, food, arts, family fun, and vibrant waterside activity. Starting at Bede Park , where a Ferris wheel turns, giving riders a fun overview of the festival site, and along the mile-long straight. A right turn along the western boulevard past some balloons sees a busy street lined with traders and filled with visitors enjoying the atmosphere. We pass dancers heading to one of multiple performance stages and stalls offering GIANT SAUSAGES . Action on the water next as the ever-popular Dragon Boats line up to race under the bridges to the beat of a drum. In Castle Gardens , we meet performers from the House of Circus running a circus skills workshop for people of all ages. Nearby, a beautiful dress covered in flowers celebrates a bloom theme. Back to the riverside, and we see Paddle Plus offering the chance to 'have a go' in various wa...

  Joining the Leicester Riverside Festival for the first time in 2025 was a recreation of the Siege Of Leicester, in 1645 the Siege of Leicester took place during the English Civil War where Royalist forces, led by Prince Rupert, besieged and sacked the town. In 2025 the The Militias Of Anglia recreated scenes form the period on the streets in and around Leicester Castle and the Newarke on which it actually took place 380 years ago. We open at Leicester castle where the Re-enactors have created a living history encampment teaching visitors about the period, the living conditions of those serving and accurate costumes they are wearing. Next we see the colours raised as the siege begins, following the march beat of the drum out of Leicester Castle, under Turret Gateway and onto the Newarke where various demonstrations of techniques used in the siege are performed for the gathered crowds including very loud shots from period accurate firearms (handled by trained and certified re-ena...

  Leicesters biggest free festival returned to the Riverside over the weekend of Saturday 7th and 8th June 2025 with all the usual fun on the water itself there was also Dragon Boat racing on the Sunday and lots to see, Eat and do at the various locations around the mile straight. We begin the film at the Hammock Garden a relaxing space on the De Montfort University Campus before moving to the water to see Paddle Plus giving visitors a chance to have a go at various water based activities. A little further along and Narrowboat "Jumble" is offering boat rides along the canal. The action builds next as we see the Dragon Boat races taking place and visitors on Sunbeam II have got a prime position for the race. The race begins and even a Swan is joining in and he`s out in front too !. Now onto Leicester Castle where the Militia of Anglia have set up a living history camp recreating the Siege of Leicester. 

Join me for some riparian entertainment at The Riverside Festival which returned to Leicester`s Mile straight and surrounding areas for its 25th year in 2024. New for 24 was Dragon Boat racing with teams from NHS UHL, Arriva, Market Bosworth and Highfield Rangers among those competing and raising money for Prost-Aid. To the rhythmic beat of the drum the rowers sped their narrow dragon fronted boats between The Newark Bridge and Bridge 111A which acted as the finish line, who won ?, stay after the credits to find out !. After the races we head to the Bede Park area where there are water sports to try and boat trips along the river. Heading onto the Riverside De Montfort University campus we find a giant watering can celebrating 25 years of the festival (created by Kate Carton Events). Coming through !, Sambando perform for crowds outside the red bricks of the Queens Building before a unexpected interruption by the 'New for 24' land train offering trips around the festival. Follo...

The Riverside Festival returned to Leicesters mile straight over the weekend of 3rd and 4th June 2023. Featuring riparian entertainment of many forms, from demonstrations of water rescue from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue service, to boat rides and live performances, my film takes a look at various parts of the festival which takes in the Castle Gardens mile straight and Bede Park. We begin with activities on the water before moving to bede park with its hammock relaxation zones rock climbing and other activities, the fun then moves to Castle Gardens where Enter Edem invite us to the Ugly Bugs Wingding and we get a preview of what to expect at Leicester Textile Festival later in the year.

Now in its 22nd year the Leicester Riverside Festival took place over the weekend of 1st-2nd June, featuring narrow boats traveling along the river, water sports, street food and a wide program of music acts the festival is fun for the whole family. My film features a look around the festival and features the Bill Bailey band on their 'Jazz Boat' an act so synonymous with the festival it would seem strange not to hear their sound in the air during the festival. The rain on the Sunday that I visited did nothing to stop visitors enjoying a day by the riverside.