We are delighted to announce that the 10th Saturday Heritage Fair will take place on Saturday 21st November 2026, between 10.00am and 3.00pm, at Leicester Adult Education Centre, 54 Belvoir Street, Leicester, LE1 6QL.
Saturday Heritage Fair is a FREE city centre event bringing together independent heritage organisations, community projects, researchers and practitioners from across Leicester and Leicestershire.
We are delighted that the Heritage Hub at the University of Leicester will be an official partner for the event.
Heritage Hub Ambassadors will be helping to welcome visitors and facilitate activities throughout the day.
An expanded programme of exhibitions, heritage stalls, talks, workshops, screenings and participatory activities is listed below.
Saturday Heritage Fair is open to the public to explore and engage with the display stands, free talks, documentary screening, and workshops on offer.
- Are you now the custodian of family heritage items and want to find out more about them?
- Is your community group in the early stages of developing a heritage collection?
- Are you thinking about growing an existing collection?
If the answer is ‘YES” to either of these questions, then the Saturday Heritage Fair will help you find what you are looking for with the help of the Independent Heritage Network.
Find out more about independent heritage projects being developed across all areas of Leicester & Leicestershire, and how to get involved through sharing your own lived experience.
There is also a Special Military History event on Friday 20th November specifically designed for people researching their family’s military service … you can also bring along any items you would like our exhibitors to identify for you. ALL are welcome to this FREE event.
Exhibitors (so far):
Conflict Memory Education Centre
Erin – Small Place, Big History – Museum and Study Centre
Leicestershire & Rutland branch of the Western Front Association
Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society
Rudy’s Crew – RAF Stories by Paul Aldwinckle
British Op Herrick & Telic by David Hibbert
I’m delighted that this Military History Research Live event has seen the Heritage Hub at University of Leicester become a partner, and we look forward to supporting their heritage event in March 2027 with a new Military History Zone.
Timetable for Saturday Heritage Fair:
08:30 The Old Library Cafe opens in Leicester Adult Education Centre on Belvoir Street, Leicester, LE1 6QL.
10:00 Hansom Hall opens with stalls (see Exhibitors list below)
Conflict Memory Education Centre
East Midlands Oral History Archive
Erin – Small Place, Big History – Museum and Study Centre
Food Heritage of Nigeria & West Africa
Greater Wigston Historical Society
Heritage Hub, University of Leicester
Hold Tight, Raver – A Spotlight on the Forgotten City
LE Confidential – Artist as Collector
Leicester High School for Girls
Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society (Main Society)
Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society (Natural History Section)
Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society (Section C – Geology)
Leicestershire Historic Churches Trust
Leicestershire & Rutland branch of the Western Front Association
Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society
MACE (Media Archive for Central England)
Memories of Living Well Together – St Philips Centre
Veteran’s Mental Health with Reiss Thomson
Ride Leicester – 20 Years of Cycling Promotions
Rudy’s Crew – RAF Stories by Paul Aldwinckle
Spotlight on Heritage Podcast – Soar Sound Radio
Tatakai: A Game of Covert Warfare
Tryzub Arts & Culture: Intangible Heritage of Ukraine
Victim First – Restorative Justice
Film Showcase:
10:30am John Ghent – Leicester Heritage on Instagram
11:30am Leigh Spencer – Leicester & Leicestershire Events Showreel
12:30pm MACE Showreel (Media Archive for Central England)
1:30pm Escaping Idi Amin – BBC – Episode 1 screening
Talks Programme:
11:00am Dr. Liam McCarthy: 1944: Leicester’s All American Race Riots
12:00 Nigel Atter: Lieutenant Colonel Sir Iain Colquhoun DSO who commanded 2/4th Leicesters during 1917 – 1918.
1:00pm Sue Lester: Getting Started on Your Family History (Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society)
Workshops Programme:
Scrapbooking – FREE family friendly workshop – Scrapbooking is often seen as a personal hobby – a way to keep photographs, letters, and memorabilia together. It can also be a useful tool for family history research and community heritage projects. Scrapbooks bring together different types of material in one place and make it easier to tell stories that connect past and present. Supported by the Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society and Leicester Adult Education.
Display & Embroidery by Tryzub Arts and Culture Intangible Heritage of Ukraine Association
Sharing and celebrating Ukrainian culture is more vital than ever before — safeguarding our national identity has taken on profound new meaning in these times. At Tryzub Arts and Culture Intangible Heritage of Ukraine Association, our mission is to bring the richness of Ukrainian customs and heritage to audiences near and far.
I work with embroidery myself, and it brings me great joy to share the stories behind this beloved art form. To us, it is far more than a skill or pastime — it is the living, breathing story of our nation and people. I find endless inspiration in the beauty of these designs: I could spend hours examining each motif, understanding the meaning woven into every symbol, and picturing the generations of stories they hold.
It warms our hearts to see visitors connecting deeply with our exhibition; this shows that our culture remains powerful and relevant. Through this work, we hope to share the resilience and beauty of the Ukrainian spirit. Every time we speak about our traditions, we carry them forward with love and dignity. Together, we help ensure this precious heritage thrives, echoes through time, and continues to inspire generations yet to come.
Alina Blyzniuk
Research & Focus Group:
Vortex Museum – Eclectic museum bringing a new physical media workshop ran by founder Paul Vernon.
Soar Sound – Soar Sound Radio will be broadcasting live from the Saturday Heritage Fair at Leicester’s Adult Education College. Throughout the day, the team will record vox-pops, capture stories, and invite visitors and exhibitors to share their experiences of local history and heritage. The live coverage will bring the atmosphere of the fair to listeners while giving participants the chance to hear their voices on air. Exhibitors will also be featured, highlighting their projects and community work. Alongside the broadcast, visitors will be able to try their hand at becoming a community reporter, learning how to gather interviews and record material for radio. These contributions will feed into future programmes, ensuring the conversations continue beyond the day itself. By combining live coverage, story collection, and practical learning, Soar Sound will make the fair both an engaging showcase and an opportunity to experience community radio in action.
Radio LEAR – Radio Lear will be part of the Saturday Heritage Fair with a focus on sound and storytelling. The team will showcase vintage analogue and digital media equipment, giving visitors the chance to explore the tools that shaped radio and recording in past decades. Alongside this, extracts from the East Midlands Oral History archive of the 1980s will be relayed, bringing voices and memories from the region’s past back into the present. Volunteers will also be learning how to make field recordings during the event, capturing the sounds of the fair itself. These recordings will later be compiled into a soundscape to be broadcast on Radio Lear, blending heritage voices, live atmospheres, and creative interpretation. The project demonstrates how sound can connect past and present, while offering hands-on experience in the skills of radio production and community storytelling.
Evington Echo – The Evington Echo will be at the Saturday Heritage Fair offering volunteers the chance to develop skills as community reporters, photographers, and storytellers. Visitors who take part will learn how to capture stories from exhibitors and fellow visitors, gather images that reflect the spirit of the day, and shape reports that highlight local heritage. These contributions may be published in future editions of the Evington Echo, giving participants the opportunity to see their work in print and share it with the wider community. The Echo team will be on hand to guide volunteers through the process, offering advice and encouragement on how to turn observations and conversations into published stories. This involvement provides a hands-on introduction to community journalism, while also ensuring that the stories and memories shared at the fair are recorded and passed on, strengthening the sense of belonging and connection across Leicester.
