Derbyshire Festivals Guide

The festival scene in Derbyshire is a lively and vibrant one with specialist festivals as well as those that include many different artforms and genres.

Summer of Festivals 2010

We have made a special Summer of Festivals round up for the 2010 season , so read on to find out more about what's happening in July and August, or take a look at our 'at-a-glance' table below that will take you through the autumn season too.

July and August are all about carnival and music!  

The month of July starts with a trio of festivals at very opposite corners of the county.   

The Ashover Well Dressed Festival is a folk and roots music festival in the small village of Ashover that takes place 2-4 July.   The National Forest Folk Festival  will be taking place also on the weekend of 2-4 July, at the award-winning Conkers attraction, offering some of the most unique and talented contemporary folk acts from around the country.  And in Matlock, for £5 per head is Ciderfolk 2010  (4 July) which is an inspiring blend of the best traditionally produced cider the UK has to offer entwined with some of the best folk music in the Midlands. Need we say more?!

Buxton Festival Logo 2010The much bigger, and thoroughly established,  Buxton Festival kicks off at the start of July also (7-25 July), which is a celebration of opera, music and literature.  This year there are operas by Verdi, Mozart, Handel, Benjamin and Cornelius; music to suit all tastes including classical, jazz, folk, swing and readings to music. The literature element of the Festival allows the audiences to share the latest work by big names in the literary world, and it offers the opportunity to hear some up-and-coming authors in an intimate environment.  

For the under-30s, there's a bargain not to be missed this year with all the seats available seats at just £5 for all events.  With some seats retailing at £54, this is an offer not to be missed, so dust off your ID and give the box office a call! 

If you'd like to do your research then you can see a list of  this year's operas , which are the Festival's main draw, but there are also gems on the music programme and the literature events programme including names such as Cherie Blair,  Melvyn Bragg, Prue Leith and Vince Cable . You can order a brochure on 01298 70395 and book tickets on 0845 12 72 190. 

Giselle at this year's Buxton Festival

Giselle at this year's Buxton Festival

Buxton Festival Fringe 2010Running alongside the Buxton Festival is the Buxton Festival Fringe . The Fringe run a varied and exciting programme that gets bigger and better every year, showcasing artists and performers of all kinds. The Fringe is a family friendly festival that provides a showcase for performers and artists of all kinds in a variety of venues.  Dance, drama, music, poetry, comedy, film, exhibitions and magic are just some of the artforms that have appeared - everyone is welcome to come along and join in with the fun! 

The Festival Fringe launches on 7 July with a Fringe Launch Party starting at 8pm and partying on until midnight.  And you can catch the whole of the fun of the Fringe at Fringe Sunday, which is a free outdoor event based around the bandstand in the park and featuring music, drama, street theatre, kids' tent and tasters of Fringe shows. Bring the family plus picnic and enjoy the Fringe atmosphere.

Included for the first time this year is an Arts Trail on the weekend of 10-11 July .  Visitors can find art in the homes and studios of artists who will be opening up for public access this year.  It promises to be a 'whole town experience' and so dust off your walking shoes (or drive between venues) to explore the town of Buxton in your quest for wonderful art in unexpected places. 

When you've worn down your shoe leather and need to rest your feet, then head over to the Art Cafe in the Pavilion Gardens complex where you can enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake and view more art!  Visuals from Verse will be on display in the Art Cafe which is an exciting exhibition featuring paintings, ceramics & jewellery all inspired by lines from poetry or literature.

The Buxton Art Trail at Buxton Festival Fringe

The Buxton Art Trail at Buxton Festival Fringe: artists featured here, Norman Eliot and 'Laid off Guy'

The Ripley Music Festival (11-18th July) is an annual week-long event that showcases the best local talent and has a diverse selection of music ranging from rock to classical.   Stainsby Festival arrives on the weekend of 16-18 July at Brunt's Farm near Chesterfield.  There is music, music and music on offer, or if you like to jam, then meet up at one of the open jams and workshops that are scheduled throughout the event and meet the artists you've just been watching on stage.  It promises to be a relaxing and child-friendly event with all this music and some storytelling and poetry thrown in for good measure too. 

Also in July is the Belper Food, Real Ale and Craft Festival on the 18th, held in the town centre and celebrating local produce. This year, the festival will be opened by stall holder, cheese-maker and ex-Coronation Street actor Sean Wilson, otherwise known to many people in the UK as Martin Platt.  

Derby Caribbean Carnival

The Caribbean Carnival returns to Derby 17 and 18 July

South of Belper and into Derby on the same weekend is the Caribbean Carnival (17-18 July) which has been taking to the streets of Derby since 1975.  The 17th sees the Procession Day and the carnival taking to the streets with troupes from all over the UK, floats and glittering costumes.  On the 18th is the family day in Osmaston Park with music, a funfair, food and arts and crafts on offer.

The Matlock Live! Bands in the Park series was hugely popular last year and it is back again in 2010. Bands from around the county fill the bandstand in Hall Leys Park every Sunday with the sweet, and sometimes bombastic sounds, of Brass, Wind and Silver. Take along a picnic and make a day of it!

Later in the month in Ripley at the Midland Railway Centre is the Indietracks Indiepop Festival (23-25 July) where you can choose between the music on offer or unlimited train rides!  The Buxton Puppet Festival runs 26-31 July, now in its 8th year and celebrating with a range of performances and workshops at a variety of locations around Buxton.

The Great Dome Art FairOver the weekend of the 24-25th of July, over 60 Peak District Products members will be exhibiting their arts and craftwork at the Great Dome Art Fair in Buxton.  The fair has become a highlight in the art and craft collector's calendar with everything from paintings and sculpture, textiles and jewellery, to furniture and wood carvings on display - and, of course, for sale. 

Check out the full programme on the Peak District Products website for more details of workshops, talks and demonstrations taking place.  You can also get a flavour of all the arts, crafts and products on offer to help you plan taking a little piece of Derbyshire home with you.

Also taking place this weekend on the 25th of July is the South Asian Arts Festival that will be starting at 1pm in the Market Square in Derby.  It will be a spectacular celebration of South Asian culture with music and dance, arts and crafts showcases and Asian cuisine.  It'll be an outdoor music and dance extravaganza from the world of Bollywood to Bhangra with a twist of urban flavours!  So, go along and be a part of one of the biggest outdoor live Asian music events in the East Midlands.

South Asian Arts Festival

Take part in the South Asian Arts Festival for outdoor music and dance, Bollywood and Bhangra... and food!

Ahead of the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival at the end of the month comes the Gilbert & Sullivan Youth Festival  that takes place in Buxton 26-30 July, introducing a younger audience to the delights of G&S! The Pirates of Penzance (29 July) and HMS Pinafore(30 July) are amongst the programme of youth theatre companies bringing productions to Buxton ahead of the main G&S Festival.

The month ends with the Y Not Music Festival in Pikehall, near Bakewell which takes place on the weekend of 30th July to 1st August.  It offers a varied range of food, hands-on workshops, performance and visual artists all in one intimate and friendly small festival environment. Also taking place on this weekend (29 - 1 August) is the Rock and Blues Custom Show at the Coney Grey Showground in Pentrich, if you like your music a little heavier.

As we head into the heat of August (or indeed the rain, judging by years past!) we have Bakewell Arts Festival (6-15 August), with venues dotted around the town of Bakewell and events as diverse as folk, pop and rock music, theatre and art exhibitions and poetry. Also in Bakewell 13-15 August is the Bakewell Acoustic Music Festival , that otherwise goes under the acronym of BAMF.  BAMF takes place over 3 days, with 20 artists performing folk, blues, latin, country, bluegrass, rock and jazz!  As if that isn't enough to fill your ears, you can also fill your tums with real ale and good food and take part in workshops and browse the stalls.

Dronfield Music Festival takes place on the 8th of August across two stages for the first time this year - it promises to be a family fun day out and raises money for charity at the same time, so worth a look in!   If your penchant is for Heavy Metal music, then you’ll be catered for with Bloodstock!, near Castle Donington over the weekend of 13-15 August.

At the southern most parts of Derbyshire in Moira, kicking off on 20 August (and running on until late on 22 August) is the Moira Furnace Folk Festival that promises to be affordable family fun.  There are craft and food stalls, concerts, open mics, folk sessions and morris dancing and ceilidhs - worth going along to if you can muster the energy!

International Gilbert & Sullivan FestivalThe International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival starts on the 31st of July and runs through until the 21st of August.  The festival is the world's biggest celebration of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan with 28 full scale productions in the magnificent Buxton Opera House.  This year three new productions will be appearing - The Mikado, The Yeomen of the Guard and Iolanthe. There's also a packed fringe programme running alongside the main events.  Over 75 Festival Fringe events take place during the day along with a nightly Festival Club with food and cabaret so you can G&S from dawn til dusk!!

International GIlbert & Sullivan Festival 2010

Always colourful, always vibrant, always fun!  The International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival 2010 descends on Buxton in August

At A Glance Calendar of Festivals

July

August

September and October

  • Onboard the Craft Music Festival : 3 - 5 September in South Wingfield, near Alfreton 
  • Off the Tracks: 3 -5 September in Castle Donnington
  • Dovedale Arts Festival: 10-12 September near  Hartington
  • Wirksworth Festival : 10 - 26 September in Wirksworth, near Matlock 
  • Melbourne Festival:  10 - 25 September in Melbourne 
  • New Mills Community Festival: 10 - 26 September in New Mills
  • Derby Feste: 24-26 September in Derby
  • Black Rocks Woodland Festival: 2-3 October at Black Rocks near Cromford 
  • The Big Draw: throughout the month of October, across the County
  • Bolsover Festival of Brass: 3 October in South Normanton and Pinxton
  • Great Peak District Fair: 16-17 October in Buxton
  • Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Discovery Days:  23-31 October at the World Heritage Site at various locations in the Derwent Valley
  • Chesterfield Arts and Market Festival: 28-30 October in Chesterfield 
  • Matlock Bath Illuminations: throughout September and October in Matlock Bath 

At other times of the year

  • Autumn Peak Festival
    The Spring Peak Festival comes back in the late autumn.  Dates for 2010 to be confirmed yet
  • Erewash Festival of Light
    Erewash host a series of festivals of light over the winter each year including Diwali, the Winter Solstice, Christmas and Chinese New Year Celebrations
  • Bolsover and Whitwell Lantern Parades
    Taking place in December each year, Bolsover and Whitwell host beautiful lantern parades to celebrate the festive season.
  • Bonnie Prince Charlie Parade
    Hosted by Derby in December each year, the unfortunate turn of events for Bonnie Prince Charlie are remembered with an impressive parade and battle re-enactments
  • Four-Four time
    Held annually in February, the Four-Four Time Festival of Live Music presents a diverse programme of the very best rock, pop, folk, blues, jazz and world music.
  • Emerge Festival, Shipley Country Park
    A bi-annual event, not happening in 2010, but will be back in 2011.

If these festivals get you in the 'getting out and about mood' then why not take a trip along to some of the magnificent well dressings on display around the County too?

Involved in organising a festival?

For artists involved in the organisation or running of a festival, we've created a comprehensive festivals toolkit, to help you if you are planning an arts festival, big or small.