From Leeds Pride to Calendar Girls and Bongo's Bingo... it's looking like a busy month
BALL MANIA | Shooters Bar | 1-10 August
Embrace your inner child and dive headlong into Leeds’ very first adult ball pool, a pop-up at city centre bar Shooters. Frolic around in 500,000 balls to your heart’s content before enjoying some retro-themed cocktails that’ll take you right back to days of Bacardi Breezers snaffled under the table at your local disco.
Shooters Bar Leeds, The Headrow, LS1 5RD (£10 for a 90-minute session, tickets at shooterssportsbar.co.uk)
YORKSHIRE DAY AFTERNOON TEA | Just Grand! | Wednesday 1 August
Get some reet good fayre down yer neck in celebration of God’s Own Country. Just Grand! Vintage Tearoom will be celebrating Yorkshire day in style with their signature afternoon tea; featuring Yorkshire brewed ales, Pontefract liquorice cake and tons of other delights besides.
Just Grand! Vintage Tearoom, Grand Arcade, LS1 6PG (10am-5pm; call 0113 2431306 to book)
BONGO’S BINGO | Canal Mills | 4, 10, 24 August
Bringing the numbers game to a new generation, Bongo’s Bingo is said to be two parts disco to one part dobbers-down. Building on its massive success with twenty-somethings all around Europe, Bongo’s is bringing the revelry to Leeds for three summer events, all set to sell out pronto. Impromptu raves and wacky prizes guaranteed.
Canal Mills, Brandon Street, LS12 2EB (doors 6pm, last entry 7.30pm; tickets £10 at bongosbingo.co.uk)
LEEDS PRIDE | City centre | Sunday 5 August
In a world full of inequality, Pride has never felt more necessary. A huge array of events celebrating the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community will be taking place throughout the city in August, but it’s the official event on Sunday 5 that is the must-see; featuring performances from local drag queens as well as musical turns from Bang Bang Romeo, Vaughan and Eurovision hopeful SuRie.
Leeds City Centre, LS1 (12pm-9pm; more info at leedspride.com)
CHILD FRIENDLY LEEDS LIVE | Millennium Square | Wednesday 8 August
This family fest makes its debut with CBeebies stars Andy Day and Alex Winters, Breeze has Talent competition heats, exciting performances from DAZL and The Rainbow Factory plus a range of fun, free activities for children to enjoy. It’s part of a handy six-week calendar of kids’ events across the city. Summer hols? Sorted.
Millennium Square, LS2 3AD (morning or afternoon session £4 at millsqleeds.com)
GIRL TALK | Waterlane Boathouse | Thursday 9 August
Whether there’s something you want to get off your chest or you’re just looking to make new friends, Girl Gang Leeds have your back. Open to all women and non-binary people, their informal monthly meet up helps plan future events in the city, launch important projects and create a relaxed, welcoming environment of solidarity in the creative industry.
Waterlane Boathouse, Canal Wharf, LS11 5PS (7pm-10pm; free)
LUSH SPA OPEN DAY | Commercial Street | Saturday 11 August
Soak off the stickiness of summer in the city with a sneak peak behind the scenes of Lush Spa. With treatment demonstrations, sustainable gift-wrapping and themed refreshments on offer, it’s a great way to learn more about the brand’s success – see how we got on with the bath bomb connoisseurs here.
Lush Leeds Spa, Commercial Street, LS1 6EY (10am-5pm; free)
CALENDAR GIRLS | Leeds Grand Theatre | 16 August -1 September
Somebody call Mr Greggs, we’re going to need bigger baps! Fresh from a stint on the West End, Gary Barlow’s musical take on hugely-acclaimed film Calendar Girls will be hitting Leeds Grand Theatre in August. Perfect for a girly day out.
Leeds Grand Theatre, New Briggate, LS1 6NZ (2.30 & 7.30pm; tickets from £17.50 at leedsgrandtheatre.com)
MACRAMÉ WALL HANGING WORKSHOP | Anthropologie | Saturday 18 August
Keep idle fingers at bay with a summer workshop, courtesy of Stitch-Up. Taking place within the #interiorgoals that is the Victoria Gate Anthropologie Store, learn how to craft your own stylish macramé wall hanging and embrace the inner glow of pride that comes from owning your own bespoke piece of homeware.
Anthropologie, 26 Eastgate, LS2 7JL (2.30-4.30pm; tickets £35 at eventbrite.co.uk, redeemable against purchases of £45 or more)
WEST INDIAN CARNIVAL | Potternewton Park | 19-27 August
Leeds’ biggest party celebrates its 51st year of cultural celebration, starting with the Carnival Prince and Princess Show at the West Indian Centre on the 19th and culminating in the city-wide parade on Bank Holiday Monday. Expect colourful costumes, smiling faces and a whole lot of Rum and Ting.
Potternewton Park, Harehills Avenue, LS7 4HB (parade from 2pm on 27 July, free entry; all fringe events ticketed via leedscarnival.co.uk)
THESE NORTHERN TYPES BOOK LAUNCH | Munro House | Friday 24 August
Celebrating These Northern Types - a book exploring northern identity through artwork, poetry, music and prose - this launch evening also includes live DJs, £1 drinks and live printing. PS: Fancy trying your own writing? Acclaimed indie publisher Comma Press is launching one of its renowned short story courses next month - highly recommended.
Munro House, Duke Street, LS9 8AG (6-8pm; free registration at eventbrite.co.uk)
LEEDS FESTIVAL | Bramham Park | 24-26 August
Time to dig out your flower crown and facepaint - it’s Leeds Fest time again. Get your nostalgia kick from Fall Out Boy, Kings of Leon and The Kooks, raise a glass (well, plastic cup) to Kendrick Lamar and keep your eyes peeled for Team Confidential - our style snappers will be out in force to spot the best festival fashion.
Bramham Park, LS23 6ND (day tickets £69.50, full weekend camping pass £205 at leedsfestival.com)
TEMPLE NEWSAM BEER FESTIVAL | Temple Newsam Park | 25-26 August
Who doesn’t love a cool pint of the good stuff? Take in the stunning surrounds of Temple Newsam at this lovingly organised event, put together by the Friends of Temple Newsam team, who regularly campaign for the park’s upkeep. Tickets include a programme and two halves of beer to get things started.
Temple Newsam Park, LS15 0AE (doors from 10am; tickets £6 at friendsfesttemple-newsam.co.uk)
ST VINCENT | O2 Academy Leeds | Tuesday 28 August
A rare UK visit outside of London, watch American axe-slinger Annie Clark (aka St Vincent) throw down cuts from latest record Masseduction in what promises to be a highly conceptualised, super-slick performance. Tickets are selling fast, so snap yours up soon to avoid disappointment.
O2 Academy Leeds, Cookridge Street, LS2 3AW (7pm; tickets £28.65 at ticketmaster.co.uk)
HOME X NORTHERN MONK CRAFT BEER DINNER | Home | Thursday 30 August
Treat yourself to an upmarket dining experience from two killer Leeds favourites. Teaming six dishes of sumptuous tasting menu with six different styles of beer, this collaboration will also see the launch of HOME Brew, a brand new beverage designed to showcase the limitless possibility of craft brewing.
Home, Kirkgate, LS1 6BY (7pm; tickets £75pp at exploretock.com)
