Diwali Festival

[LucyBucy]

Hi, we'll be visiting my parents in Nottingham at the beginning of November. I'll be with my 4 and 6 year old daughters and was wondering about taking them to Leicester to see the Diwali celebrations. I've never been to Leicester before and I'm not sure how suitable/practical it will be to take my daughters along (I've heard that 30,000 people attend?!). Does anyone have any experience of it, any tips or recommendations?
Thanks!

I have 3 children who are 8,6 and 4. We went to the Diwali celebrations last year for the first time (live in Leicester), and my 3 absolutely loved it. The girls really enjoyed the music and dancing, and my son loved the fireworks.

I guess it would depend how good yours (and you!) are with crowds, as it does get very busy. Having said that, there are side streets you can dive into easily for a breather and to give your ears a rest.

If you do decide to come, I'd recommend getting into Leicester early, and parking a fair distance away from the Belgrave area where the Diwali celebrations happen. You could then either walk or bus to Belgrave. The National Space Centre is on the same side of the city, if you fancied making a full day of it.

The Diwali lights stay lit until Christmas, so if you felt the celebrations themselves would be too much, you could always come after to enjoy the lights. The area is really friendly, and a walk up and down the Golden Mile with all the vibrant colours in shop windows is something my DC really enjoy.