Eid on Tour Brings Communities Together at Highcross Leicester 

Leicester’s Highcross Shopping Centre came alive this weekend as Eid on Tour rolled into town, bringing food, music, and a celebration of culture to thousands of visitors.

Led by Bilal Khan, CEO of the Halal Food Festival, Eid on Tour aims to show how different Muslim communities celebrate Eid — from Middle Eastern Dabke dancing to Nigerian drumming and South Asian traditions.

Picture credit: Pukaar News

“I wanted to bring something fresh to the way we celebrate Eid in the UK,” said Mr Khan. “It’s about sharing our culture and bringing people together.”

The event has already visited Manchester and Sheffield, drawing nearly half a million people across three weekends. In Leicester alone, over 115,000 people visited St Peter’s Square, Highcross on Saturday.

Across Saturday and Sunday (June 28 and 29), visitors enjoyed food from 14 popular street vendors, including Meat & Eat (Wolverhampton), Dutch Fishman (Manchester), and local favourite Marhaba. More than 60 small businesses also took part, with many coming from Leicester.

Picture credit: Pukaar News

“This isn’t just about Eid. It’s about showcasing culture, supporting small businesses, and creating a space where everyone feels welcome.

“The Muslim community loves its food — it’s a massive part of our culture and our celebrations,” Mr Khan explained. “We wanted to give people a chance to discover new flavours and support local and national businesses.”

Far from being a strictly religious gathering, Eid on Tour is positioned as a cultural celebration open to all. “It’s about culture, food, and showcasing businesses,” said Khan. “We’ve seen people from all walks of life dancing and enjoying themselves — it’s been fantastic.”

The event also helped boost local business. Restaurants offering Halal options — like Maki & Ramen, and Slim Chickens — saw more customers and new interest.

Khan, who grew up in Leicester, said the event had special meaning for him. “I went to school with kids from all backgrounds — Hindu, Sikh, Muslim. This weekend reflected that. I even saw friends I haven’t seen in 25 years,” he told Pukaar.

With such a big turnout and positive response, Eid on Tour is set to visit even more cities in the future.

“We’re just getting started,” said Khan. “Eid on Tour is here to grow — and we can’t wait to see where it goes next.”

Centre Director at Highcross Leicester, Michelle Menezes, expressed her delight at the event’s success.

“We’re delighted to have welcomed Eid on Tour to Highcross this past weekend – a bustling and dynamic event that brought such a rich blend of culture, community and culinary flair right into the heart of the city,” she said. “The vibrant, high-impact event resonated strongly with our visitors and truly reflected everything Leicester stands for: diversity, creativity and togetherness.

“Eid on Tour is another brilliant example of  our vision to position Highcross as having a vibrant calendar of events throughout the year for all of our visitors to come and enjoy. This year’s event was a real celebration of Leicester’s identity and heritage, and we look forward to hosting more exciting pop-ups in the future.”