The rockets will eventually be auctioned off.
Summer takes off with a blast today with 40 individually designed, hand-painted giant rocket sculptures as part of the Rocket Round Leicester art trail.
Organised by local charity LOROS Hospice and art event producers Wild in Art, Rocket Round Leicester will run for 10 weeks from today until Sunday, September 26.
John Knight, LOROS Hospice Chief Executive said: “We’re over-the-moon to bring the first-ever sculpture trail to Leicester’s city centre. It’s an exciting venture for LOROS as it’s our biggest ever fundraising event and comes at a very important time for the charity.
“Rocket Round Leicester will help us raise significant funding towards the vital work of the Hospice, meaning that we can continue to provide specialist care for over 2,500 people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland every year.
“We’re also very proud to be helping to revitalise our incredible city and thankful to our partners and sponsors who have remained so supportive of the hospice and in making this massive event become a reality.”
As LOROS' flagship fundraising event of the year, Rocket Around Leicester will see these spectacularly decorated sculptures steer a voyage of discovery across the city’s streets and open spaces like never before.
Standing at over 8ft in height, each Rocket has been designed by an artist and sponsored by a local business.
Over 35 local schools and community groups have also joined the fun by designing and decorating their own miniature rocket sculptures, Junior Jets, as part of the Rocket Round Leicester Learning Programme.
Creating their own trail, these smaller technicolour sculptures can be found across the city’s cultural hubs and LOROS shops, including; LCB Depot, Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, Abbey Pumping Station and the Guildhall.
Trail-goers are encouraged to pick up a Trail Map from the Rocket Round Leicester Trail Hub Shop in Highcross shopping centre (upper mall) to discover all of the sculpture locations and complete the trail.
Visitors can download the official app to begin their quest in ‘unlocking’ all of the sculptures for exciting rewards, such as giveaways, competitions for family-fun adventures, and discounts for local activities.
Alongside exploring the trail, visitors can experience 10 different themed weeks; from music, space, challenge and wellness to name a few.
With each unique week, LOROS has organised themed events for everybody to enjoy the summer holiday.
LOROS’ 10km Twilight Walk is back with an out-of-this-world theme, alongside exhilarating new challenges from a daring Bungee Jump and Firewalk to an astronomical 100km Space Race.
Visitors can also escape to a magical world of cinema with LOROS’ Outdoor Cinema weekend showing space-themed films, as well as experiencing a unique opportunity to Send a Message to the Stars in remembrance of a loved one.
There will be one final time to see the sculptures together at the Farewell Weekend from October 9-10.
Sponsored by the University of Leicester, all 40 giant Rocket sculptures and miniature Junior Jets will congregate at the National Space Centre for a weekend of entertainment.
The grand finale will see the giant Rocket sculptures auctioned off on October 13 to raise money for LOROS Hospice.
Leicester City Council and BID Leicester have jumped aboard the event as Presenting Partners.
Leicester City Council’s Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment Mike Dalzell said:
"These stunning artworks will bring a splash of colour to Leicester's streets and spaces as we launch our Summer in the City programme.
"We hope people will enjoy discovering all 40 rockets and will put their hands in their pockets to support LOROS – a brilliant local charity."
The city-wide trail will contribute towards delivering care services to the hospice’s patients and their families’ at the most difficult time of their lives.
The much-loved local charity largely relies on the generosity of the community to fund the care provided.
The Rocket Round Leicester app costs £1.99, with a percentage of the proceeds contributing towards patient care at LOROS Hospice.
