Get ready for Festive Derby and our Christmas Lights Switch On

Fri 15 Nov 2024

Get ready to enjoy a winter wonderland as Festive Derby returns. Featuring a magical new light trail and the ever-popular Cathedral Quarter Ice Rink, the city’s celebrations will offer a stack of family fun and exciting events, seasonal shopping and festive dining.

It all kicks off on Sat 30 Nov with the Christmas Light Switch-On in Corporation Street, in partnership with Smooth Radio, and a sparkling Lantern Parade with Surtal Arts. Enjoy the festivities with live entertainment in the city centreprovided by Derby LIVE and the Cathedral Quarter and St Peter’s Quarter BIDs, grab a photo in the Giant Snow Globeand count down to the big moment with our exciting stage show!

It will also be the opening day of the impressive tipis of the cosy Nordic Bar, which are back for 2024 alongside the Cathedral Quarter Ice Rink in Market Place. As well as a delicious selection of festive drinks, the bar will have a packed programme of free entertainment taking place including live music, children’s entertainment, quiz nights and more. It’s the perfect spot for relaxing after a spin around the ice rink with family and friends.

New for 2024 is the Festive Derby Light Trail, which will be illuminated on the same day as the Christmas Lights Switch-On (30 Nov). It will see several stunning light installations through the city centre from The Spot all the way to Cathedral Square. The highlight of the trail – the UK’s largest light-up Santa installation, powered by Tomato Energy – will be the perfect spot for a festive family shot! Take a wintery stroll around the city centre, following the trail on the LoyalFree app and be in with a chance to win fantastic prizes.

Also lighting up the dark days of winter will be World of Flowers – Derby Lantern Sculpture Trail, with 11 awe-inspiring giant lantern sculptures dotted around the city. Created by eight emerging artists from Derby and Derbyshire, the installations are inspired by the theme of climate change.

There’s so much for families to enjoy, with the free Family Festivities at Markeaton Park on Sat 30 Nov and Sun 1 Dec, featuring live music, festive activities, market and walkabout characters. If they’re on the nice list,  children can meet Father Christmas at the enchanting Cathedral Quarter Christmas Grotto at Derby Museum & Art Gallery, or head to Santa’s Magic Cabin at Derbion. Step into Christmas at Pickford’s House, inspired by the Tiny World of Toy Theatre and the classic story Jack and the Beanstalk, where you’ll find charming activities for all the family. If you’re feeling creative, you can make tinselled Victorian characters or a festive wreath.

The cherished and charming tale of Chicken Licken at Derby Theatre is also a perfect treat for little ones. Live music, songs, puppetry and fun combine to tell this classic tale for children aged 3+. For older theatre fans, Derby Theatre also presents the timeless tale A Christmas Carol, while you can enjoy FairyTale: An Adventure with Lockheart and Hawkins at QUAD, where you can also catch the Lost Boys Gallery Exhibition and a selection of classic Christmas films.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without Derby Arena’s smash hit pantomime Cinderella. Everyone gets to go to the ball with this sparkling production starring Mina Anwar, from Happy Valley and Thin Blue Line, and Derby’s favourite pantomime dame Morgan Brind.

Get into the spirit of giving and get your Christmas shopping done whilst supporting local artists at Artcore, St Peter’s Quarter Christmas Market, Banks Mill Open Studios and the Museum & Art Gallery and the Museum of Making shops. Head over to the Cathedral Quarter for boutique shopping, St Peter’s Quarter for independent retailers and cafes or Derbion to find national brands during late night shopping and some delicious festive dining.

The Bustler Winter Weekender will kick off the festive eating and drinking on Fri 22 Nov and Sat 23 Nov. The two-day, indoor street food festival will be packed with wintery fun, festive entertainment and, of course, the top-notch food & drink!

If all that’s not enough, Derby Cathedral, St Werburgh’s and St Peter’s Church have a fantastic line up of Christmas carol concerts, special services and events. The Cathedral’s programme includes the return of G4’s Christmas Concert and, new for this year, Karl Loxley with The Songs of Christmas.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council, said:

Every year Festive Derby gets bigger and better. It’s a joy to work with our partners across the city to create such a brilliant variety of fun and festivities. 

Our Christmas Lights Switch-On and Lantern Parade, with Surtal Arts, is always a magical event that draws huge crowds to the city centre, and we’re thrilled to have the Cathedral Quarter Ice Rink and Nordic Bar – which was such a big hit last year – back on the Market Place. So get your skates on and celebrate the festive season with us!

Derby city centre is easy to reach by public transport and the bus station is just across the road from the Market Place festivities. If you’re travelling by car, there are lots of parking options including Chapel Street and Bold Lane multi-storey car parks and several surface car parks, such as Darwin Place.

There’s so much to see and do, so pick up a copy of the Festive Derby Guide or check out the Festive Derby website for the full line up of events.