Holi Festival, known as the Festival of Colours, is back this year as a celebration that can finally return in person.
To mark the end of the two-year hiatus, Leeds Holi Festival is Leeds biggest festival of colour and you can bet that this year's celebration is going to more than make up for lost time.
The event celebrates forgiveness and peace and is widely celebrated in places like India, Nepal and Pakistan, as well as around in a whole host of events around the world.
Image: John Thomas, Unsplash
Here in Leeds, the celebrations will involve the traditional dry powder paints, as well as the serving of street food, live DJs and performances right in the heart of the city.
On Sunday 20 March, a seven hour festival run by the Leeds Indian Student Association will return to the Beaverworks.
Leeds Holi Festival is all about celebrating peace, love and equality with bright colours and live music- and we can't wait to celebrate the Festival of Colour in such a friendly environment.
Organiser Eshaan told The Hoot Leeds that: "Colour festival is all about peace, love, equality. It eliminates all negativity like racism, religion etc. It unites people from different cultures" and sounds like the ultimate celebration to us.
Image: Leeds Holi Festival
There will be four live DJs including Bollynights team, performances from talent near and far, as well as street food from local takeaway and catering service Punjabi Heaven.
Slingsby Gin have agreed to sponsor the event, where you'll leave covered head to toe in bright colours from Ministry of Colours.
"Holi is a festival of love, peace and happiness. A celebration of fertility, colour, and love, as well as the triumph of good versus evil. Join the party as we welcome the spring and celebrate the new life and energy of the season through music and colour."
The festival last took place in 2019, and the long-awaited return has been highly anticipated. Tier one tickets have already sold out for the seven hour event, but remaining tier two tickets are still available for purchase.
Hop City, the long-running beer festival from award-winning Leeds-based brewery Northern Monk, returns this month for its ninth year.
Beer lovers, this one's for you.
Bringing over 35 of the best independent breweries from the UK, Europe and North America together to The Old Flax Store, Hop City will have approximately 250 different world-class beers for guests to try across one weekend of festivities.
The best part? Every pour across the weekend is included in the price of the ticket alongside a Hop City branded glass to enjoy them in, so don't worry about having to continuously reach for your wallet.
Images: Supplied
Joining Northern Monk this year are UK breweries including Brighton’s Beak, Deya from Cheltenham, Manchester-based Track and Edinburgh’s Newbarns who will be pouring next to the likes of US breweries Trillium, Root + Branch, Finback and everywhere; Canadian’s Messorem and Third Moon, and a selection of Europe’s finest indie brewers.
Seriously, this is a beer lover's paradise.
And it's not just about the booze, as joining Hop City 2026 will be joined by Leeds’ own Bundobust who will be bringing their Indian street food alongside Bonehead Fried Chicken and Hermanos Caliente, courtesy of Niko’s Comfort Kitchen.
Images: Supplied
Not a beer fan? Don't fret as natural wine bar Rinse will be pouring all weekend whilst Below Stairs will be providing the cocktails.
Russell Bisset, Founder of Northern Monk, said: “What started out as an idea to host some of our favourite breweries in Leeds has grown into something bigger than we could have imagined. From the beginning, the ambition was clear - to champion the best hop-forward breweries in the world and to create the first beer festival in Europe dedicated to celebrating hoppy beers and IPAs.
"Today, it’s about bringing some of the greatest breweries from across the globe together under one roof, creating something genuinely special for people who love beer as much as we do. Heading into our ninth year with a line-up of this calibre is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s not just about the beer, but the community, collaboration, and spirit behind it.”
Hop City 2026 will take place from Friday 15 to Saturday 16 of May, and you can buy your tickets here.
A breathtaking giant sculpture of the sun is coming to Yorkshire for the summer
Clementine Hall
A giant model of the sun is set to be illuminated in Wakefield.
The sun is coming to Wakefield… and we’re not just referring to that one that’s popped up in the sky at long last.
We’re taking about Helios, the amazing art installation that’s about to stop off at Wakefield Exchange as it tours around the UK.
Created by renowned artist, Luke Jerram, the beautiful art piece measures a whopping seven-metres in diameter and has been created using images captured by NASA.
Helios builds on the success of Luke Jerram’s previous installations in Wakefield, including the hugely popular Museum of the Moon.
Image: Wakefield Exchange (Press photos)
With its striking scale and rich scientific detail,the artwork provides a safe and captivating way to encounter the Sun up close, highlighting everything from solar flares to the phenomena that created the unforgettable Northern Lights visible across the UK in 2024.
Stepping beneath the breathtaking glowing sculpture, audiences can experience an atmospheric fusion of solar imagery, sunlight and a specially commissioned surround‑sound composition that brings the science and mystery of our nearest star vividly to life.
Alongside the striking sun instillation, Wakefield Exchange will present a full programme of free, family‑friendly, space‑themed activities throughout the summer.
Visitors can enjoy hands‑on workshops, creative crafts, dressing‑up sessions and playful drop‑in experiences.
Helios will be hosted by Wakefield Exchange from Friday 12 June until Sunday 6 September 2026, and you can find out more here on their website.
Sophie Smith -
28th February 2022 
