Lap up all of the painting classes, outdoor films and festival vibes that Leeds has to offer this August
There's more to August than beach vibes, tan lines, and disposable BBQs. Some of the best events in and around Leeds this month include bees, bongos and brush skills.
Dreaming of jetting away to a far-flung destination? Where the waters are crystal clear and the crickets chirp at sunset? Where the winding tracks are dusty and the trees are dripping with ripe apricots? Yes us too.
However, if your August is looking less inflatable lilo, and more Ilkley lido, we've rounded up a list of events to keep you in Summertime spirits all month long.
Read below for a list of the best things to do in and around Leeds in August 2022.
Prima Facie | City Varieties | Thursday 4 August
With a critically acclaimed performance from Jodie Comer and an original soundtrack by unapologetic pop sensation Self Esteem, you know you're in for a treat. Catch the one-night-only screening of the West End theatre hit Prima Facie on Thursday 4 August at Leeds' oldest music hall. The storyline sees Comer play a troubled young barrister, whose morals come into question when working on a sexual abuse case. The show starts at 7pm.
City Varieties, 46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU
A cutting-in masterclass | Seagulls Reuse | Saturday 6 August
With long, light evenings upon us, August is a great time to re-decorate your home. Painting can be fiddly and time-consuming, but once you've learnt the simple trick of cutting-in, it's a bit more breezy. There'll be no more ripped-up Frog Tape on the skirting boards when you've tried one of Seagulls' cutting-in workshops, and led by expert decorator Ruksar, your brush strokes will be envied by friends and neighbours alike. The class is only an hour too, so you can get back to decorating pronto.
Seagulls Reuse, 103 Kirkstall Road, Aire Place Mills, Leeds LS3 1JL
Frontier Sapiens Film Festival| Kirkstall Abbey | Saturday 13 August
Showcasing inspiring untold stories, usually about extraordinary feats of human endeavour, the Frontier Sapiens Film Festival is coming to Kirkstall Abbey this August. Expect cultural insights and environmental campaigns from a bunch of the world's best filmmakers at this evening of shorts, and dive into the world of elephants, snowboarding and the Amazon rainforest. The films are also shown in the great outdoors itself, so pack a picnic, a blanket, and cross your fingers for good weather.
Kirkstall Abbey, Abbey Rd, Kirkstall, Leeds LS5 3EH
Wrongsemble Presents... The Not So Grimm Twins | Leeds Libraries and Space 2 | Monday 15 August - Friday 19 August
If you thought kids theatre was all a bit stuffy and elitist, get acquainted with Leeds-based storytellers Wrongsemble, a company that brings family shows to life with an eclectic mix of melody charm. Committed to working with creatives in the North of England, Wrongsemble are resident artists at Slung Low in Holbeck, and have a prestigious Child-Friendly Leeds Award under their belt for "Inspiring creativity through arts and culture". The Not So Grimm Twins is a magical reimagining of the German fairy-tale featuring original live music and puppetry. The show is touring Leeds libraries and Space 2 for a week in August.
Space 2, The Old Fire Station, Gipton Approach, Leeds LS9 6NL
The Honeybee Maze| The White Rose shopping centre | Friday 24 June - Sunday 18 September
You wouldn't know it, but The White Rose is one of the greenest shopping centres in the UK. Recycling rainwater, digesting food waste, electric charging points and solar panels are just some of the initiatives Landsec have instigated to minimise the huge site's carbon footprint. However, their new Honeybee Maze invites shoppers young and old to discover more about the 100,000 bees on its roof. Located in The Village, next to the centre's covered all-weather play area, the maze features scratch and sniff walls, a bee xylophone and a family tree.
The White Rose Shopping Centre, Dewsbury Road, Leeds LS11 8LU
Learn to Dance | Mabgate Mills, Mill 6 | Varied timetable
August is the perfect time to pick up a new skill, as classes tend to go quiet when people hop off on their holidays. Mabgate has been a bit of a building site over the last few years, but good things are coming to the area as the council invests in its major re-development. The Dance Studio is at the heart of the Mill complex and offers a super-inclusive environment to learn the art of dance. They are now taking bookings for their August timetable which features everything from Ballet to Burlesque.
The Dance Studio, first floor, Mabgate Mills, Mill 6, Macaulay St, Leeds LS9 7SW
Leeds Running Festival| Roundhay Park | Sunday 21 August
If glowsticks and baby wipes aren't really your scene, and if your weekends are mainly spent in trainers jogging around the woods, then head to Leeds Running Festival at Roundhay Park on Sunday 21 August. Enjoy 700 acres of forests and lakes whilst taking part in either a 5k, a 10k or a half marathon. Plus every single entrant gets a medal, so don't worry if you don't do a full Mo Farah.
Roundhay Park, Mansion Lane, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 2HH
Sean Paul| The First Direct Arena | Wednesday 24 August
Who doesn't love a bit of Seandepaul? Temperature, Got 2 Luv U, Dynamite, Breathe, etc. are all on our "summer bangerz" playlist. There's no denying this Jamaican dancehall mastermind has had hit after hit and has featured on tracks with everyone from Beyoncé to Little Mix. On Wednesday 24 August, the global chart-topper brings his Scorcha tour to The First Direct Arena, but the big question is, who will be joining him on stage?
The First Direct Arena, Arena Way, Leeds LS2 8BY
Active Weekend at Leeds Waterfront Festival | Leeds & Liverpool Canal | Saturday 27 August - Sunday 28 August
Ever wanted to paddleboard like a Kardashian? Or play the bongos like Tito Puente? Well now's your chance. Who needs Santorini when you've got Granary Wharf? The Canal and River Trust are back for another Waterfront Festival over the August bank holiday weekend, and activities include rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding. There will also be arts and crafts, face painting, and even an African drumming workshop hosted by Unbeatable Energy - a percussion collective set up by a guy whose name fits the waterside vibes (Steve Rivers).
River Aire, Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Leeds Festival | Bramham Park | Friday 26 - Sunday 28 August
No August line-up would be complete without Leeds Festival, where indie-rock can be heard alongside grime, techno, and drum and bass. This year sees Rage Against the Machine grace the main stage alongside Lil Simz, Dave, and The Arctic Monkeys, with the full line-up now available to view online. The three-day event is set to host over 80,000 revellers at Bramham Park as they glamp, camp and everything in between over the full bank holiday weekend. If you're hankering after some more summer festival fun, we've also listed the best of the North West til September in our handy festival guide.
Bramham Park, Bramham Lane, Wetherby, LS23 6ND
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